Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness (SOLAR) Series X-ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS)

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center seeks design, development, and fabrication of two flight X-ray Irradiance Sensors (XRIS) for the Space Weather Next program's Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness (SOLAR) mission, with proposals due July 6, 2026. No set-aside applies; competition is full and open under NAICS 336414, Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing, with a 1,300-employee small business size standard.

Work will be performed offsite at the contractor's facility. The contract runs from November 2, 2026, through January 2034 (15 months post-launch), with FM-1 delivery November 2029 and FM-2 delivery May 2030. Anticipated award is October 27, 2026.

The XRIS instrument shall measure solar X-ray irradiance across two bands (0.05–0.4 nm and 0.1–0.8 nm) with 20 percent accuracy, provide flare location data within five arcminutes for M1-class and above flares, and refresh irradiance data every three seconds with one-second instrument latency. Maximum mass is 6.0 kg; operational power is 12.1 watts. Deliverables include two flight models, one engineering development unit, two Electrical System Test Equipment sets, four X-ray Irradiance Sensor Emulators, one Ground Processing Development System, and associated ground support equipment. The specification mandates comprehensive environmental testing, vibration, thermal vacuum, acoustic, shock, and radiation hardness assurance testing with contamination control per NASA standards. Radiation hardness requirements establish Single-Event Latchup Linear Energy Transfer thresholds exceeding 37 MeVcm²/mg for destructive Single-Event Effects; Total Ionizing Dose and Displacement Damage effects must not cause permanent damage after 95th percentile mission exposure.

The contract is structured as three Firm-Fixed-Price CLINs (Flight Instrument, Post-Delivery Support, Pre-Priced Change Options) and one Time & Materials CLIN (Additional Engineering Analysis). T&M labor rates are capped per Attachment L. Performance-based payments are linked to milestones with 90 percent payment ceiling until final delivery. A small business subcontracting plan is required.

Contractor personnel must complete IT Security Awareness Training prior to system access with annual recertification. Contractors must obtain Authorization to Operate status for any Federal Information System and third-party certification against NIST SP 800-171 for non-federal systems processing NASA data. A Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management plan compliant with NIST SP 800-161 is mandatory before processing NASA information.

Foreign travel requires Department of State Country Clearance approval 30 business days prior to departure and Foreign Affairs Counter Threat E-Learning completion. All IT products and services require Office of Chief Information Officer Commercial IT Request approval before purchase. Contractors must disclose any intent to use Artificial Intelligence and obtain written approval before implementation. Amendment 1 corrected clause GSFC 52.217-92 on period of performance; Update 2 posted additional Questions and Answers addressing pointing requirements and CREME96 modeling.

Questions are due June 18, 2026, to Daniel S. Han, daniel.s.han@nasa.gov. Proposals must be submitted through NASA's Enterprise File Sharing and Sync Box by 5:00 PM EST July 6, 2026.