Space Weather Next Lagrange 1 Series X-ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS)

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is soliciting information from potential sources for a prospective procurement of
X-ray Irradiance Sensors for the Space Weather Next Lagrange 1 Series (L1 Series) Satellites.

The L1 Series is a high priority joint undertaking by NASA and the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The L1 Series Observatories will provide NOAA with the continuity of solar wind data and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) imagery, which is the National Weather Service's highest priority for space weather observations.

The X-ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS) instrument is used to measure the energy power from solar radiation per unit area. This can be used to detect changes in solar activity like solar flares and help predict solar energetic particle events that can penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field. It is also important to understand the X-ray input into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The instrument is essential in monitoring X-ray flares that can cause changes in the Earth’s ionosphere like strong radio bursts that may interfere with radio frequencies and cause problems for satellite communication and navigation systems. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are sometimes associated with solar flares which can lead to geomagnetic storms.

For the Space Weather Next L1 Series, the Government anticipates procuring two instrument copies to be launched and flown on a series of satellites. As part of the Request For Information (RFI), the Government is providing draft technical documentation to aid vendors in responding to this RFI.

The NASA GSFC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI), and members of the underserved communities as defined by Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for the XRIS acquisition. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received.

The Government is seeking the following information:

• A brief capability statement, no more than 5 pages, indicating the company’s ability to perform all aspects of this effort.

• Company’s assessment of the feasibility of using the sensor in other orbits, besides L1, including L4, L5, Geostationary and other orbits, without redesign. (No more than 1-page)

• Company’s assessment on the feasibility or impact of adding a flare location identification requirement in addition to the performance requirements in the Specification. (No more than 1 page)

• An assessment of the schedule as described in the SOW and CDRL (No more than 1 page). In particular, the Government is seeking contractors estimates for the following:
  1. An accelerated schedule (Flight Model 1 No Later Than April 2028 Delivery Date)
  2. A nominal schedule with typical project margins
  3. A conservative schedule with additional margin
     
     No detailed schedules are expected in this response, however, identifying risks would be beneficial to the Government.

The Government will accept comments regarding the attached technical documentation including the Statement of Work (SOW), Specifications (SPEC), Contract Deliverables Requirements List (CDRL), Mission Assurance Requirements (MAR), and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

This RFI is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government will use this information to finalize the RFP as necessary. The Government will provide interested parties the opportunity to have one on one discussions regarding the XRIS instrument at a future time after the RFI period.

All responses, comments and/or questions shall be submitted electronically to suzanne.k.sierra@nasa.gov, no later than 5:00 pm EDT Friday, June 14, 2024. Please reference L1 Series X-Ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS).

It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website site for the release of any amendments.

NASA 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.

It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website 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.