Recovery innovative approach to near-real time assessment of community responseto low amplitude sonic booms

RECOVERY This notice is provided for informational purposes only. NASA Langleyintends to award a firm-fixed-price contract to Fidell and Associates for InnovativeApproach to Near-Real Time Assessment of Community Response to Low Amplitude Sonic Booms. This action will be partially funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act(ARRA) and is the result of a competitive selection under the NASA Headquarters releasedNASA Research Announcement (NRA) entitled "Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA)2009," NNH09ZEA001N. The contract will support the Fundamental Aeronautics Programstrategy of developing systems level multidisciplinary capabilities for supersoniccivilian and military applications. The Supersonics Project is a broad-based effortdesigned to develop knowledge, capabilities and technologies that support vehicles thatfly in the supersonic speed regime with a focus on eliminating the efficiency,environmental and performance barriers to practical supersonic cruise vehicles. Specifically, the Contractor shall design and execute an experiment to gather datarelating the annoyance of community residents to sonic boom exposure consisting ofmultiple low-boom events generated by existing aircraft. The Contractor shall acquiredata to enable a thorough evaluation of the survey methods used, data acquired, andanalysis methods employed. The effectiveness of the test methodology for communityresponse testing shall be demonstrated. A major focus of the Project is eliminating the efficiency, environmental and performancebarriers to practical supersonic air transportation. One of the projects initial researchconcentrations is the development and validation of sonic boom reduction technologies andrelated vehicle design and analysis processes that could reduce sonic boom noise tolevels that allow supersonic flight over land while maintaining adequate efficiency ofoperation. This award is consistent with NASA's continuing investment in high-risk, cutting-edgetechnologies and is responsive to congressional direction to conduct research ontechnologies that will enable commercial aircraft to fly over land at supersonic speeds. The referenced solicitation is a broad agency announcement as specified in FAR 35.016 andNFS 1835.016. Additional information regarding the 2009 ROA solicitation can be found athttp://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={8AA62753-0F6B-3791-4A43-3DEF562FA257}&path=open (ROA-2009 CompleteSolicitation as of November 24, 2009). This announcement will not result in a Request forProposal; this announcement is for informational purposes only. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes maybe viewed at the following URLs linked below. All contractual or technical questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail toLisa.M.Harvey@nasa.gov. Telephone questions will not be accepted.