Systems engineering contract for in-space servicing

Added: Mar 19, 2010 4:59 pm Modified: Dec 30, 2010 4:34 pmTrack Changes NASA has awarded a sole source contract to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company(LMSSC) of Greenbelt, Md., for Systems Engineering for In-Space Servicing (SEISS). LMSSCwill provide systems and discipline engineering support to develop and execute twodemonstrations to test and verify new robotic servicing capabilities using the Dextrerobot aboard the International Space Station. <P>NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., is developing both demonstrationpayloads. These demonstrations are intended to increase NASA's technical capability toconduct robotic in-space servicing. The contract encompasses requirements definition andverification, hardware design, support of flight and ground hardware/softwaredevelopment, and mission planning support.

Added: Mar 19, 2010 4:59 pm NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source contract to Lockheed Martin Space SystemsCompany (LMSSC) 7474 Greenway Center Drive, Greenbelt, MD 20770 for systems anddiscipline engineering services in support of the development and execution of two GSFCdeveloped Station Development Technical Objectives (SDTOs). These infrastructuredemonstrations will take place on the International Space Station (ISS) and are designedto be launched on a space shuttle or a government-provided expendable launch vehicle withan October 2010 delivery to the launch site. NASA/GSFC plans to award LMSSC a cost plusfixed fee contract pursuant to 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source, with anestimated 18 month period of performance. The proposed cost plus fixed fee contract will include the following efforts related tothe SDTOs: requirements definition and verification, hardware design, support of flighthardware fabrication, development of avionics, assembly of ground support equipment (GSE)and harnesses, software development support, interface control planning anddocumentation, mission planning, support of mission execution, and mission analysis. TheContractor will provide the integration and testing support as well as the necessaryprogram management and quality assurance to support the contract activities. The LMSSC team has unique knowledge and experience in several specific areas required forthis effort: flying a payload on a man-rated vehicle, working with the ISS robot, Dextre,developing space-qualified tools, interfacing with the ISS infrastructure, and performingsystems engineering support within the GSFC development environment in accordance with anaggressive schedule requirement. LMSSCs involvement with the Hubble Space Telescope(HST) servicing missions has given them experience in the critical systems engineeringskills required for planning, developing and executing activities in a man-rated spaceenvironment. In addition to having experience with designing for an astronaut-rated environment, LMSSCis also experienced with the Dextre robot having worked with this robot during the HSTRobotic Servicing and De-orbit Module (HRSDM) effort. The extensive knowledge of roboticservicing gained by LMSSC and its understanding of the workings of Dextre has producedengineering results critical to the successful performance of these, especially withinthe timeframe needed to meet the aggressive schedule of these payloads. Furthermore, theLMSSC team has unique and extensive experience in space-rated tool development gained onfive previous HST servicing missions and has been working with NASA on developing robotictools. The body of knowledge and expertise accumulated by LMSSC and its subcontractorteam during nearly 20 years of on-orbit servicing activities makes it the onlyresponsible source capable of meeting the technical requirements within the scheduleconstraints. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform theeffort in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 5:00 PM EDT on April3rd 2010. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose ofdetermining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Adetermination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and opencompetition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretionof the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.