Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) Mission Launch Services

****Questions and Responses uploaded, along with an updated Cover letter and LSIRD****

****Updated Milstone #8 in RFP to match DRFP to RFP responses****

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), is pleased to release the RFP for the TROPICS acquisition. 

In accordance with provision 6.5, Communications Regarding This Solicitation, questions regarding the RFP must be received no later than August 10, 2020, to allow for analysis and dissemination of responses in advance of the proposal due date.  All questions and the Government's response, as well as any amendments to the RFP will be posted on the beta.SAM.gov website under solicitation number 80KSC020R0036-RFP.  It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the above-referenced websites for responses to questions and amendments to the RFP.

NASA has reviewed all written questions and comments received from prospective offerors on the Draft RFP, and where applicable, changes have been made in the RFP.  Please review the attached document titled "Change Log from DRFP to RFP", posted to the Draft RFP, 80KSC020R0036 for the summary of significant changes.  Prospective offerors are cautioned to review the RFP carefully and in its entirety to discern all changes, as the RFP takes precedence over and replaces the Draft RFP.

Late Delivery of Offers:

Late offers will be processed in accordance with FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (Jun 2020).

The information provided in this description is not intended to be construed differently from information in the RFP. Should an apparent conflict in the interpretation exist, the information the in the RFP should be considered to take precedence.

This solicitation neither commits the Government to pay any cost incurred in the submission of the offer or in making necessary studies or designs for preparing the offer, nor to contract services or supplies.  Any cost incurred in anticipation of a contract shall be at the offeror's for own risk.

******************************************************************************************

NASA/KSC plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) Mission Launch Services contract.  Previous notice regarding TROPICS was the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036). 

The TROPICS contract will be limited to Contractors from the United States launch vehicle/services industry pursuant to the Public Law 105‐303, Title II, Section 201; the United States National Space Transportation Policy, dated November 21, 2013.  The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 481212 and 1,500 employees, respectively.  The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about July 31, 2020, with an anticipated proposal due date on or about August 31, 2020.

It is anticipated TROPICS will award a firm-fixed price contract for Launch services to place the TROPICS satellite constellation three low-Earth orbital planes with two CubeSats in each plane.  NASA will have sole responsibility for the payloads on the launch vehicles.  In order to meet science objectives, all CubeSats must launch within a window of 120 days. 

This synopsis is not a solicitation.  The Government is not requesting proposals, and this should not be construed as a commitment by the Government.

Prospective Offerors are requested to notify the Contracting Officer, Jason Siewert, at jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov of their intent to submit an offer.

All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer only via email to jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov.  Telephone questions will not be accepted.

Additional information and clarifications:

The Government posted responses to questions regarding the Draft RFP on July 23, 2020.  The TROPICS team reviewed all of the questions submitted.  In order to reduce duplication and minimize the number of responses for Industry to assess, the following were performed:

• Where there were duplicate questions or topics received from Industry, the Government either grouped questions or selected a representative question and provided a single response. 
• Where Industry made a recommendation instead of asking a question, the Government considered this a comment and did not provide a response.  The Government is assessing all recommendations and any revisions will be reflected in the RFP.

Please be aware that the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036) on beta.sam.gov is for the Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) only.  The Government will utilize (80KSC020R0036-RFP) for RFP-related information. 

Questions on the TROPICS RFP are anticipated to be due from Industry on or about August 10, 2020.  Government responses are anticipated to be posted on or about August 17, 2020.

****Updated Milstone #8 in RFP to match DRFP to RFP responses****

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), is pleased to release the RFP for the TROPICS acquisition. 

In accordance with provision 6.5, Communications Regarding This Solicitation, questions regarding the RFP must be received no later than August 10, 2020, to allow for analysis and dissemination of responses in advance of the proposal due date.  All questions and the Government's response, as well as any amendments to the RFP will be posted on the beta.SAM.gov website under solicitation number 80KSC020R0036-RFP.  It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the above-referenced websites for responses to questions and amendments to the RFP.

NASA has reviewed all written questions and comments received from prospective offerors on the Draft RFP, and where applicable, changes have been made in the RFP.  Please review the attached document titled "Change Log from DRFP to RFP", posted to the Draft RFP, 80KSC020R0036 for the summary of significant changes.  Prospective offerors are cautioned to review the RFP carefully and in its entirety to discern all changes, as the RFP takes precedence over and replaces the Draft RFP.

Late Delivery of Offers:

Late offers will be processed in accordance with FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (Jun 2020).

The information provided in this description is not intended to be construed differently from information in the RFP. Should an apparent conflict in the interpretation exist, the information the in the RFP should be considered to take precedence.

This solicitation neither commits the Government to pay any cost incurred in the submission of the offer or in making necessary studies or designs for preparing the offer, nor to contract services or supplies.  Any cost incurred in anticipation of a contract shall be at the offeror's for own risk.

******************************************************************************************

NASA/KSC plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) Mission Launch Services contract.  Previous notice regarding TROPICS was the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036). 

The TROPICS contract will be limited to Contractors from the United States launch vehicle/services industry pursuant to the Public Law 105‐303, Title II, Section 201; the United States National Space Transportation Policy, dated November 21, 2013.  The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 481212 and 1,500 employees, respectively.  The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about July 31, 2020, with an anticipated proposal due date on or about August 31, 2020.

It is anticipated TROPICS will award a firm-fixed price contract for Launch services to place the TROPICS satellite constellation three low-Earth orbital planes with two CubeSats in each plane.  NASA will have sole responsibility for the payloads on the launch vehicles.  In order to meet science objectives, all CubeSats must launch within a window of 120 days. 

This synopsis is not a solicitation.  The Government is not requesting proposals, and this should not be construed as a commitment by the Government.

Prospective Offerors are requested to notify the Contracting Officer, Jason Siewert, at jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov of their intent to submit an offer.

All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer only via email to jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov.  Telephone questions will not be accepted.

Additional information and clarifications:

The Government posted responses to questions regarding the Draft RFP on July 23, 2020.  The TROPICS team reviewed all of the questions submitted.  In order to reduce duplication and minimize the number of responses for Industry to assess, the following were performed:

• Where there were duplicate questions or topics received from Industry, the Government either grouped questions or selected a representative question and provided a single response. 
• Where Industry made a recommendation instead of asking a question, the Government considered this a comment and did not provide a response.  The Government is assessing all recommendations and any revisions will be reflected in the RFP.

Please be aware that the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036) on beta.sam.gov is for the Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) only.  The Government will utilize (80KSC020R0036-RFP) for RFP-related information. 

Questions on the TROPICS RFP are anticipated to be due from Industry on or about August 10, 2020.  Government responses are anticipated to be posted on or about August 17, 2020.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), is pleased to release the RFP for the TROPICS acquisition. 

In accordance with provision 6.5, Communications Regarding This Solicitation, questions regarding the RFP must be received no later than August 10, 2020, to allow for analysis and dissemination of responses in advance of the proposal due date.  All questions and the Government's response, as well as any amendments to the RFP will be posted on the beta.SAM.gov website under solicitation number 80KSC020R0036-RFP.  It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the above-referenced websites for responses to questions and amendments to the RFP.

NASA has reviewed all written questions and comments received from prospective offerors on the Draft RFP, and where applicable, changes have been made in the RFP.  Please review the attached document titled "Change Log from DRFP to RFP", posted to the Draft RFP, 80KSC020R0036 for the summary of significant changes.  Prospective offerors are cautioned to review the RFP carefully and in its entirety to discern all changes, as the RFP takes precedence over and replaces the Draft RFP.

Late Delivery of Offers:

Late offers will be processed in accordance with FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (Jun 2020).

The information provided in this description is not intended to be construed differently from information in the RFP. Should an apparent conflict in the interpretation exist, the information the in the RFP should be considered to take precedence.

This solicitation neither commits the Government to pay any cost incurred in the submission of the offer or in making necessary studies or designs for preparing the offer, nor to contract services or supplies.  Any cost incurred in anticipation of a contract shall be at the offeror's for own risk.

******************************************************************************************

NASA/KSC plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) Mission Launch Services contract.  Previous notice regarding TROPICS was the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036). 

The TROPICS contract will be limited to Contractors from the United States launch vehicle/services industry pursuant to the Public Law 105‐303, Title II, Section 201; the United States National Space Transportation Policy, dated November 21, 2013.  The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 481212 and 1,500 employees, respectively.  The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about July 31, 2020, with an anticipated proposal due date on or about August 31, 2020.

It is anticipated TROPICS will award a firm-fixed price contract for Launch services to place the TROPICS satellite constellation three low-Earth orbital planes with two CubeSats in each plane.  NASA will have sole responsibility for the payloads on the launch vehicles.  In order to meet science objectives, all CubeSats must launch within a window of 120 days. 

This synopsis is not a solicitation.  The Government is not requesting proposals, and this should not be construed as a commitment by the Government.

Prospective Offerors are requested to notify the Contracting Officer, Jason Siewert, at jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov of their intent to submit an offer.

All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer only via email to jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov.  Telephone questions will not be accepted.

Additional information and clarifications:

The Government posted responses to questions regarding the Draft RFP on July 23, 2020.  The TROPICS team reviewed all of the questions submitted.  In order to reduce duplication and minimize the number of responses for Industry to assess, the following were performed:

• Where there were duplicate questions or topics received from Industry, the Government either grouped questions or selected a representative question and provided a single response. 
• Where Industry made a recommendation instead of asking a question, the Government considered this a comment and did not provide a response.  The Government is assessing all recommendations and any revisions will be reflected in the RFP.

Please be aware that the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036) on beta.sam.gov is for the Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) only.  The Government will utilize (80KSC020R0036-RFP) for RFP-related information. 

Questions on the TROPICS RFP are anticipated to be due from Industry on or about August 10, 2020.  Government responses are anticipated to be posted on or about August 17, 2020.

NASA/KSC plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) Mission Launch Services contract.  Previous notice regarding TROPICS was the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036). 

The TROPICS contract will be limited to Contractors from the United States launch vehicle/services industry pursuant to the Public Law 105‐303, Title II, Section 201; the United States National Space Transportation Policy, dated November 21, 2013.  The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 481212 and 1,500 employees, respectively.  The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about July 31, 2020, with an anticipated proposal due date on or about August 31, 2020.

It is anticipated TROPICS will award a firm-fixed price contract for Launch services to place the TROPICS satellite constellation three low-Earth orbital planes with two CubeSats in each plane.  NASA will have sole responsibility for the payloads on the launch vehicles.  In order to meet science objectives, all CubeSats must launch within a window of 120 days. 

This synopsis is not a solicitation.  The Government is not requesting proposals, and this should not be construed as a commitment by the Government.

Prospective Offerors are requested to notify the Contracting Officer, Jason Siewert, at jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov of their intent to submit an offer.

All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer only via email to jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov.  Telephone questions will not be accepted.

Additional information and clarifications:

The Government posted responses to questions regarding the Draft RFP on July 23, 2020.  The TROPICS team reviewed all of the questions submitted.  In order to reduce duplication and minimize the number of responses for Industry to assess, the following were performed:

• Where there were duplicate questions or topics received from Industry, the Government either grouped questions or selected a representative question and provided a single response. 
• Where Industry made a recommendation instead of asking a question, the Government considered this a comment and did not provide a response.  The Government is assessing all recommendations and any revisions will be reflected in the RFP.

Please be aware that the Draft Request for Proposal (80KSC020R0036) on beta.sam.gov is for the Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) only.  The Government will utilize (80KSC020R0036-RFP) for RFP-related information. 

Questions on the TROPICS RFP are anticipated to be due from Industry on or about August 10, 2020.  Government responses are anticipated to be posted on or about August 17, 2020.