Support to NOAA satellite environmental monitoring programs including space weather observation capabilities

[UPDATE# 2] Provided response to submitted question. 

Q: Can you confirm you are looking for companies to provide spacecraft and mission capability? Or are you looking for a company to operate in an advisory role as in a SETA contract?

A: Both, and also with the ability to firewall the SETA activities from any competitive spacecraft and mission procurements.

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[UPDATE# 1] Response date extended to Dec 05, 2023 at 12PM Eastern Time.

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This is a Request for Information (RFI). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is seeking sources that can support NOAA's initiatives related to satellite environmental monitoring programs including space weather observation capabilities. The selected institution(s) will play a crucial role in advancing NOAA's mission to enhance its understanding and prediction of environmental factors affecting the Earth, Earth/Sun systems, and space weather in the FY2025 through FY2030 timeframe. This RFI is for informational purposes only; it is not a request for proposals or a solicitation for a contract or grant award and it does not obligate the Government in any way. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with responding to this request.

Background

The PROSWIFT ACT of 2020calls for NOAA to develop options to build and deploy space-based observational capabilities, beyond the baseline capabilities, that may improve space weather measurements and observations. These supplemental observational capabilities could include commercial solutions, prize authority, academic partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on and upcoming launch.

H.R. 353, “Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017”, calls for NOAA to prioritize observation data requirements key to ensuring weather forecasting capabilities, evaluating data and information to meet those requirements, identify data gaps, and determine options to address those gaps. It also calls for completing and operationalizing the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate.

Purpose

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit additional information from industry to inform NOAA agency plans for technical, programmatic, and scientific support for environmental satellite programs to accomplish NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship by understanding and predicting changes in the environment such as climate, weather, ocean and coast, and the effects of space weather and sharing that knowledge and information with others.

For NESDIS, a critical and essential capability required is the ability to execute satellite programs over the full end-to-end mission life cycle. This includes science and mission concept and formulation; design, construction, integration, and testing of spacecraft instruments; and data analysis and science support. These missions can range from single instruments or small, quick turn-around missions to flagship scale observatories. The need to supplement NESDIS expertise with the essential capabilities has become more acute based on current and projected workload within the organization, as well as the introduction of new initiatives. 

NOAA may use the results of the RFI to inform multiple future Requests for Proposals for acquisition of capabilities related to environmental satellite observation.

Information Requested

Suppliers are encouraged to submit Capability Statements describing their offerings. NOAA is seeking an institution with the following capabilities:

1. A proven track record in satellite technology, encompassing satellite design, construction, and deployment for environmental in-situ and remote sensing applications. This expertise should align with NOAA's mission, covering various domains such as the atmosphere, ocean, magnetosphere, heliosphere, biosphere, and land processes.
2. Proficiency in satellite-based environmental observation, including the development of space-based assets for terrestrial and space weather measurements and observations. This expertise should span instrument design, satellite observatories, constellations, commercial solutions, academic partnerships, microsatellites, hosted instruments, and secondary payload systems.
3. Expertise in space weather phenomena, including solar and geomagnetic activities and their impacts on the Earth and space environment. The institution should have the ability to translate this knowledge into requirements for observing and measuring space weather phenomena through satellite-based instrumentation and systems. This expertise should encompass areas such as solar flares, coronal mass ejections, solar wind, geomagnetic storms, their effects on the interplanetary medium, Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, and their impacts on infrastructure and individuals on Earth and in space.
4. Multidisciplinary expertise, covering various aspects of satellite environmental monitoring, including space science, Earth science, atmospheric science, remote sensing, data analysis, and instrumentation development.
5. Robust project management capabilities for effectively leading the design and development of satellite missions. This includes collaboration with NOAA and other agencies, ensuring technical excellence, budget compliance, and adherence to timelines.
6. Access to state-of-the-art research and development facilities supporting satellite and instrument design studies, development, integration, testing, and on-orbit activities. These facilities should include mission design facilities, clean rooms for satellite and instrument fabrication and assembly, and integration and environmental testing facilities. The institution must also demonstrate established relationships with other organizations capable of providing specialized capabilities that complement its own.
7. Capability to support NOAA's on-orbit space-based observational assets throughout their operational life, including on-orbit operations, consultation on routine operational matters, support for special operational events, and end-of-life disposal. Additionally, the institution should provide subject matter support for spacecraft and instrument anomaly resolution.
8. A willingness to collaborate with NOAA and other agencies, sharing scientific findings and participating in environmental satellite instruments, systems, and observation initiatives.
9. A successful track record of academic partnerships and affiliations, providing access to a diverse pool of researchers and expertise.
10. The ability to handle projects related to national critical infrastructure with appropriate security measures, including the maintenance of security clearances and protocols to safeguard classified data and projects.
11. Must have processes and procedures in place to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure impartiality to provide objective and unbiased advice to the government on matters of programmatic design; acquisition strategy; source evaluations; and prime contractor oversight related to environmental satellite programs.

Submission Instructions

Capability Statements may address one or more of the categories listed above and should include the following information.

1. Business information including: Company name, address, Unique Entity ID number, and CAGE Code; Point of contact with email and phone number; Size of company to include number of employees and revenue for the last three years; Office locations; any current SBA small business designations.
2. A description of the offering for each category from the above list, or other if applicable.
3. A description of the corporate history, resources, affiliations, other markets being served, and any other information to demonstrate the viability of providing sustained technical, scientific, programmatic, and satellite systems related support.
4. Projected costs and associated business models.
5. Business risks to the proposed approach and the means for mitigating those risks.[1] 

Capability Statements must be received via email by the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist[2]  at the address provided below no later than 2:00 pm Eastern Time on November 27, 2023. The Government is not obligated to review responses received after the deadline.

Responses shall be limited to 20 pages, including supporting appendices, title page(s), tables, graphics, pictures, and figures. A page is defined as an 8.5 by 11-inch area with information contained within an image area of 7 by 9 inches. Type size shall be 12-point proportional font. Information shall be submitted in Microsoft Word DOCX or Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Use of Information Received

This RFI does not guarantee that the Government will issue a request for proposal (RFP) or award a contract for supplies or services. No specific RFP is planned to follow this RFI; however, the responses could impact the Government’s decision to release RFPs in the future.

Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable government regulations. Any material received will be considered to be public domain unless clearly marked (on each page) as proprietary. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified.

Respondents are hereby notified that as part of this evaluation, NOAA may share the information obtained from this market research with representatives from other agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Interior. Respondents are also notified that in the process of evaluation, agencies may use Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and support contractors.

Not responding to this RFI will not preclude an entity from submitting a proposal to any subsequent NOAA solicitations.

Point of Contact

Suzanna A. Espinoza

Contracting Officer

Email: Suzanna.espinoza@noaa.gov

Cherron Bennett-Pettus

Contract Specialist

Email: cherron.bennett-pettus@noaa.gov[3] 

Comments and Questions

Comments and questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer at the email address provided above by November 15, 2023 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time.

Respondents are advised that questions submitted and Government responses may be posted publicly on SAM.gov, although the identity of the requesting organization will be withheld.