Europa Clipper Launch Service

Revision 2 to the RFP is being issued to update Section C, Clause 32.4 to incorporate 51 U.S.C 20112(a) and 51 U.S.C 20113(m) and remove 42 U.C.C 2473(a) and 42 U.S.C 2473(c).

See SF 30 attachment.

Revision 1 to the RFP is being issued to incorporate Questions received in response to the RFP and their Answers.

Revision 1 also incorporates NFS 1852.239-73 Review of the Offeror's Information Technology Systems Supply Chain (SEP 2018) (Deviations 15-03D).

Revision 1 also includes SF30 for Amendment 1 Revision 1

Revision 1 to the RFP is being issued to incorporate Questions received in response to the RFP and their Answers.

Revision 1 also incorporates NFS 1852.239-73 Review of the Offeror's Information Technology Systems Supply Chain (SEP 2018) (Deviations 15-03D).

This notice is being issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP) under solicitation number 80KSC021R0018 for the Europa Clipper Launch Service. The Europa Clipper Launch Service will include the launch vehicle (LV), ground support facilities and equipment, test hardware and software, and all launch services required to integrate the payload to the launch vehicle and deliver the Spacecraft (SC) to its required orbit.

The provisions and clauses in the RFP are those in effect through FAC 2021-03, dated February 16, 2021, which can be obtained from  https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 336414 and 1,250, respectively. The offeror shall state in their offer their size status for this acquisition.

This acquisition is restricted to domestic launch service providers. Eligibility requirements are set forth in Section C, Clause 31.0 of this RFP. Proposals submitted by Offerors that are not domestic launch service providers pursuant to Section 201 of Public Law 105-303 “Commercial Space Act of 1998”, will be determined non-compliant and excluded from Europa Clipper evaluation.

Potential offerors shall be AS9100 certified by a registrar accredited by a body recognized by either the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) or the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG).

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable.  The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html 

This posting, will be available on www.beta.sam.gov. Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this solicitation and amendments (if any). A Launch Service Interface Requirements Document (LSRID) is available to domestic launch service providers capable of meeting Europa Clipper’s requirements. LSIRD requests must be submitted in writing (e-mail) to Jennifer D. O’Neill at the below email address.

All contractual and technical questions must be submitted electronically via email to Jennifer D. O’Neill at Jennifer.L.Dorsey@nasa.gov not later than 4:00pm eastern time on March 19, 2021. Telephone questions will not be accepted.

Responses to this solicitation must be received no later than 4:00pm eastern time on April 16, 2021.   Refer to instructions in RFP.

The Government is not responsible for any failure attributable to the transmission or receipt of documents submitted using electronic means, including the missing of any established deadlines.

Failure to submit a complete electronic proposal by the due date and time specified for this RFP shall result in the proposal being considered late, and shall be handled in accordance with FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (JUN 2020).

NASA/KSC plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the following Commercial item/services: Europa Clipper (EC) Launch Service. Europa Clipper will conduct a detailed survey of Jupiter’s moon Europa to determine whether the icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life. Europa Clipper will explore Europa and investigate its habitability utilizing a set of five remote sensing instruments that cover the spectrum from thermal emission through the ultraviolet, four in-situ fields and particles instruments, a two-channel radar, and a gravity science investigation. Key mission objectives will be to produce high-resolution images of Europa's surface, determine its composition, look for signs of recent or ongoing activity, measure the thickness of the icy shell, search for subsurface lakes, and determine the depth and salinity of Europa's ocean. The Europa Clipper launch service will include the launch vehicle (LV), ground support facilities and equipment, test hardware and software, and all launch services required to integrate the payload to the launch vehicle and deliver the Spacecraft (SC) to its required orbit.

Europa Clipper will be launched during a 21-day launch period beginning October 10, 2024 and ending on October 30, 2024. The proposed launch service for the Europa Clipper mission shall be capable of delivering at a minimum, a 6065 kg Europa Clipper SC with Mars-Earth-Gravity-Assist (MEGA) trajectory characteristics as follows: C3 value of 41.69km2/sec2 and a DLA range of 30-32 degrees. Europa Clipper is classified as a Class A payload, pursuant to NASA Procedural Requirements 8705.4 Risk Classification for NASA Payloads.  The launch vehicle must meet Category 3 certification requirements per NPD 8610.7D Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy prior to launch. In accordance with NPD 8610.7D, an offeror-proposed common launch vehicle configuration shall have a minimum of three (minimum two consecutive) successful flights prior to launch of Europa Clipper.

The NAICS Code is 336414 and Size Standard is 1,250 employees. 

The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about March 1, 2021 with an anticipated proposal due date on or about April 14, 2021. The firm date for the receipt of proposals will be stated in the RFP.

Potential offerors shall be domestic launch service providers in accordance with 51 USC § 50131 “Commercial Space Act of 1998”. All responsible domestic sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.

A draft Launch Service Interface Requirements Document (LSRID) is available to domestic launch service providers capable of meeting Europa Clipper’s requirements. Draft LSIRD requests must be submitted in writing (e-mail) to Jennifer O’Neill (jdoneill@mail.nasa.gov).

Domestic launch service providers capable of meeting Europa Clipper’s requirements will be able to request a teleconference with the Government to review the draft LSIRD and submit questions to the Government during the teleconference.  Teleconference requests must be submitted in writing (e-mail) to Jennifer O’Neill (jdoneill@mail.nasa.gov) no later than February 8, 2021.

This Notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. Moreover, the Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this notice, nor will the Government reimburse a potential offeror for any costs incurred to prepare responses to this request. 

NASA FAR Supplement Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable.  The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf. The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available on beta.sam.gov unless specified otherwise.

Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer by the closing response date of this synopsis, February 17, 2021. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor beta.sam.gov for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EXPORT CONTROLLED DOCUMENTATION:

The draft LSIRD has been designated as Export Administration Regulations (EAR) controlled, and will not be posted to beta.sam.gov. Review NFS 1852.237-72 Access to Sensitive Information, https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf, and NID 1600.55 for further guidance and requirements pertaining to EAR. Upon receipt of these documents you shall not transfer to foreign nationals in the U.S. or abroad without specific approval of a knowledgeable NASA export control official, and/or unless an export license or license exemption is obtained/available from the United States Department of Commerce. Violations of these regulations are punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.