SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMAITON FOR SXT FMA ACQUISITION
- Notice Date
- 7/21/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.S, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-CONX-GBH
- Response Due
- 8/18/2003
- Archive Date
- 7/21/2004
- Point of Contact
- Jerry P Edmond, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 286-8772, Fax (301) 286-0530, Email jedmond@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Jerry P Edmond
(jedmond@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov)
- Description
- NASA/GSFC is solicitating responses for Market Research purposes for the Constellation-X Mission. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by NASA to enter into a contract. Constellation-X is a NASA Mission to perform X-ray spectroscopy with a space-borne sensor array. The Constellation-X Project Office at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is soliciting information from industry to support planning for a Spectroscopy X-ray Telescope (SXT) Flight Mirror Assembly (FMA) contract. A phased procurement is planned with the initial award in May of 2004. The objective of the Constellation-X mission is to observe X-rays from Galactic and extra-galactic sources to accomplish the following science objectives: 1) Measure the effects of strong gravity near the event horizon of supermassive black holes; 2) Trace visible matter throughout the universe and constrain the nature of dark matter and dark energy; 3) Study the formation of supermassive black holes and trace their evolution with cosmic time; 4) Study the life cycles of matter and energy and understand the behavior of matter in extreme environments. The Constellation-X flight segment consists of a constellation of four identical observatories in orbit at the L2 Sun-Earth Libration point. All four observatories simultaneously observe the same target and the data are combined on the ground. Each observatory has two types of telescope systems: the SXT which covers the 0.25 to 10 keV bandpass and the Hard X-ray Telescope (HXT) which covers from 6.0 to 40 keV. Each SXT has a Flight Mirror Assembly (FMA) shared by two detector systems: an X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer (XMS) and a Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) Focal-Plane Camera (RFC). The reference SXT FMA consists of four major components: the SXT mirror, the RGS Grating Array (RGA), pre- and post- collimators and mounting structure as required to attach and maintain alignment of these sub-assemblies. The mirror consists of highly nested reflectors utilizing a two-reflection Wolter Type I design, in which the incident X-rays reflect off confocal paraboloid and hyperboloid surfaces of revolution at shallow angles. A fraction of the reflected rays focus on the XMS detector and a fraction of the X-rays reflect off the RGA and are dispersed onto the RFC detector. Subject to formal approval, the project starts development (Phase C/D) in the year 2009 with a first launch in 2013. The Constellation-X web site http://constellation.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/main.html describes the science objectives of the mission; the proposed mission itself, the SXT FMA, spacecraft and instruments; and some of the technology challenges that must be met. As a result of this Request for Information (RFI), NASA anticipates entering into a Partnering Phase activity with potential offerors who are determined to be viable competitors for the SXT FMA contract. (A separate, similar acquisition for the mission prime contractor is planned to commence at a later date.) The SXT FMA acquisition schedule is as follows: July 2003 ? January 2004 Partnering Phase: Viable competitors will be given the opportunity to meet with NASA, both in groups and in one-on-one sessions. During this phase there will be exchanges of information that will enable potential offerors to prepare for the subsequent acquisition, and to make recommendations to NASA concerning its requirements and its acquisition approach. May 2004 ? November 2004 Study Phase: Two contractors will provide parallel design and analyses in support of the Constellation-X SXT FMA definition and will prepare a plan to complete a mirror prototype and provide the SXT FMA. This phase will result from a Request for Proposals (RFP) to be issued in January 2004, with contract award in May 2004. NASA anticipates awarding two parallel Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts, each worth ~$1 M. August 2005 ? SXT Prototype and FMA Development ? Execution Phase: A single Contractor will be selected to develop the SXT mirror prototype and provide the four FMA?s for the flight observatories. The planned release date for the RFP is January 2005 with contract award August 2005. NASA anticipates a Cost-Reimbursable contract with Award and Incentive features. NASA is currently developing new technology required for the SXT mirrors including reflector fabrication, mounting, alignment and metrology. Descriptions of these technologies are available at https://conxproj.gsfc.nasa.gov/business/business.htm and in various publications (e.g., SPIE). It is envisioned that some or all of the technology will be transferred to the FMA Study contractors, with complete transfer to the FMA contractor team. Technology transfer for the Study Phase will consist of technical interchange meetings, designs, procedures, demonstrations, etc. The scope of work of the FMA Study contract is expected to be as described in the following paragraph. However, this scope is very preliminary at this time. NASA anticipates that during the Partnering Phase, it will solicit input and recommendations that will be considered in determining the scope of work for the subsequent Request for Proposal. Scope of Work for SXT FMA Study Contractor The SXT FMA Study contractor will perform tasks, which may include: ? Design definition and trade studies ? Error budgets and requirements flow down ? Manufacturing and assembly flow concepts ? Prototype and technology transfer planning ? System verification and validation planning ? Metrology requirements identification and implementation planning ? Interface definition ? Risk identification, assessment and mitigation ? Cost and schedules estimates Presolicitation This RFI is a solicitation for information and planning purposes. NASA has posted certain information at a Constellation-X business web site https://conxproj.gsfc.nasa.gov/business/business.htm to enable potential offerors to learn more about the Constellation-X SXT FMA, and to enable them to respond to this RFI. The information contained on this web site is useful for developing an understanding of the Constellation-X program. Of particular importance is the Constellation TRIP report, which contains within it discussions of the SXT FMA requirements, design concepts, technology descriptions and development plans. The objectives of this RFI are the following: to invite potential offerors to submit information that allows NASA to advise them about their potential to be viable competitors; to promote competition; to improve potential offerors? understanding of the requirements; and to improve the NASA?s knowledge of industry?s capabilities. This preliminary information is being made available for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled ?Solicitation for Information or Planning Purposes.? It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by NASA to enter into a contract. This procurement is subject to review or cancellation at any time. This notice constitutes all information concerning the Constellation-X SXT FMA procurement that will be furnished at this time. Firms interested in obtaining other information must submit a request, in writing, to Jerry Edmond, Code 210.6, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771. Please do not request other information until you have read the documentation available through the web site described above. Offerors who intend to respond with a capabilities statement are requested to notify Jean Grady at Jean.F.Grady@nasa.gov within seven calendar days of receiving this notice. Interested firms are requested to submit their capability statements, as well as any comments and suggestions on the acquisition approach to the address cited above. Capability statements must be submitted electronically within 28 calendar days of the date of this notice. The subject line should be ?SXT FMA RFI? and attachments should be in Microsoft WORD or PDF format. In the body of the email message please include a contact point with name, address, phone, fax, and email. It is not the NASA's intent to publicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtained during pre-solicitation discussions. Information that is identified by a respondent as "Proprietary or Confidential" will be kept confidential to the extent it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the NASA Acquisition Internet Service for information concerning the release of future solicitations. Government Assessment of Viability 1. NASA invites potential offerors to submit information that will allow it to advise them of their potential to be viable competitors. This procedure is described in Part 15.202 of the FAR. NASA desires to have one-on-one meetings with all offerors who are considered to be viable competitors. These meetings will allow for exchange of information and will provide an opportunity to provide feedback on NASA?s requirements and its acquisition approach. In order to be evaluated for viability, potential offerors must submit the information described below. NASA will utilize this information in order to advise respondents of their potential to be a viable competitor for the Constellation-X SXT FMA contract. 2. Information Requested ? provide a capabilities and qualifications statement that includes: a. A discussion of the respondent?s past experience in optical system development similar in nature to that needed for the Constellation-X SXT FMA, including a listing of contracts/subcontracts, contract number, dates of performance, contract value and a brief description of the quality of performance of these contracts. b. A brief description of the respondent?s staffing, facilities, and all other resources necessary for developing the Constellation-X SXT FMA. Discuss the availability of facilities and other resources during the Study and Execution Phases. c. A demonstration of the respondent?s understanding of the Constellation-X program and the role of the SXT FMA contractor, as evidenced by the following: (1) Describe what the respondent believes to be the unique challenges required to implement the Constellation-X SXT FMA ? considering technical, programmatic (including technology transfer), cost and schedule aspects. (2) Provide a brief preliminary description of how the respondent will structure the Study Phase to deal with these challenges. This statement should be no more than 15 pages (8.5" x 11") in length. Responses should be provided in a narrative format with graphics, as appropriate, using Microsoft Word or PDF. Font size should be no smaller than 12 point. 3. NASA will evaluate the submitted capability and qualification statements by considering the following: a. The depth and relevance of experience and past performance history b. The adequacy and availability of necessary staffing, facilities, and other resources for developing the Constellation-X SXT FMA c. The discussion of the key challenges identified for the Constellation-X SXT FMA development and the approach in dealing with these NASA?s Evaluation of Capability and Qualification Statements NASA will advise each respondent, in writing, as to its assessment of viability as a competitor under this potential acquisition. To be considered a viable competitor, a respondent must be rated potentially viable for the three criteria. NASA anticipates completing this evaluation within four weeks of receiving qualification statements. NASA may ask for supplemental information about the respondent?s qualification statement. Respondents will be contacted after this evaluation with the results. NASA will arrange future one-on-one meetings with those respondents found to be viable competitors. NASA will advise other respondents as to the basis for its determination and will meet one-on-one upon written request to the Contract Specialist, Jerry Edmond, at the address listed above.
- Web Link
-
Click here for the latest information about this notice
(http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=51#106689)
- Record
- SN00376716-W 20030723/030721213902 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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