SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- INTENSITY-MODULATED CONTINUOUS-WAVE LIDAR FOR REMOTE SENSING OF CO2 AND O2FROM SPACE
- Notice Date
- 4/6/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton,VA 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- SS-IMCW
- Response Due
- 6/1/2011
- Archive Date
- 4/6/2012
- Point of Contact
- Rosemary C. Froehlich, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-2423, Fax 757-864-8541, Email Rosemary.C.Froehlich@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Rosemary C. Froehlich
(Rosemary.C.Froehlich@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/LaRC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources forIntensity-Modulated Continuous-Wave Lidar (IM-CW) For Remote Sensing of CO2 and O2 fromSpace.NASA seeks information from entities which have successfully demonstrated theability to measure CO2 and O2 with an IM-CW lidar in laboratory or field tests. Also,the technology used to make the measurement should have a clear path to being scaled anddeveloped to successfully meet the goals set forth below within a spaceflight mission. Engineering feasibility to do so should be fully demonstrable within three years. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If asolicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA AcquisitionInternet Service. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these sitesfor the release of any solicitation or synopsis.NASA LaRC is assessing active optical approaches for global measurements of atmosphericCO2 mixing ratios (XCO2) and is interested in determining feasible approaches for makingday/night, all-latitude, all-season CO2 and O2 column measurements from space using anintensity-modulated continuous-wave lidar system. Three objectives of such measurementsare to (1) quantify global spatial distribution of atmospheric CO2 on scales of weathermodels in the 2019-2024 era, (2) quantify current global spatial distribution ofterrestrial and oceanic sources and sinks of CO2 on 1-degree grids at weekly resolution;and (3) provide a scientific basis for future projections of CO2 sources and sinksthrough data-driven enhancements of Earth-system process modeling. NASA LaRC hasdemonstrated the feasibility to make atmospheric CO2 column measurements using1.57-micrometer IM-CW lidar on both a test range and from aircraft platforms. Simultaneous laser remote sensing of CO2 and O2 is needed to convert CO2 concentrationsto XCO2 mixing ratios. The mixing ratio needs to be measured to a precision of 0.5percent of background (slightly less than 2 ppm) at 100-km horizontal scales over landand at 200-km scales over open oceans. The objective is to provide full seasonal samplingto high latitudes, day-night sampling, and some ability to resolve (or weight) thealtitude distribution of the CO2-column measurement, particularly across the middle tolower troposphere. CO2 lines are available in the 1.57- and 2.06- micrometer bands, whichminimize the effects of temperature errors. Lines near 1.57 micrometers are identified aspotential candidates because of their relative insensitivity to temperature errors,relative freedom from interfering water-vapor bands, good weighting functions for columnmeasurements across the lower troposphere, and the high technology readiness of lasers.To further reduce residual temperature errors in the CO2 and O2 measurements, aconcurrent passive measurement of temperature along the satellite ground track with anaccuracy of better than 2 degrees K may be required. Atmospheric pressure and densityeffects on deriving the mixing ratio of CO2 columns can be addressed with a combinationof simultaneous CO2 and O2 column density measurements down to the surface or cloud tops. Concurrent active O2 measurements can be based on measurements that use O2 absorptionlines in the 0.76- or 1.27- micrometer band. Such measurements require a polar orbit atan altitude of about 450 km. A lifetime in orbit of at least 3 years is required. Thereare no strict requirements for specific temporal revisit or map revisit times, becausethe data will be assimilated on each pass and the large-scale nature of the surfacesources and sinks will emerge from the geographic gradients of the column integrals. Theimportant coverage is day and night measurements at nearly all latitudes and surfaces toseparate the effects of photosynthesis and respiration. Swath size would be about 200 m.Interested parties should respond with the following information:1.General Descriptiona.Physically describe the measurement approach concept providingdiagrams/photographs if available, to include mass and volume. b.Describe remote sensing system operation (e.g., how the sensor is or would bepackaged and deployed on both aircraft demonstration flights and a spaceflight mission).2.Flight or Technology Heritage/Qualificationa.Describe relevant experience to include experience with atmospheric remotesensors and atmospheric measurements described above.b.Describe the extent to which existing proven technology can be leveraged tominimize technical and schedule risk.c.Describe any new technologies to be employed on this effort, and anymodifications to existing technology, necessary to meet the measurement requirements. Describe risks associated with incorporating the new or modified technology and how therisks can be minimized.d.Briefly describe any other issues or considerations that the Government should beaware of for implementation of the atmospheric remote sensor device in this application. e.Testing since NASA is seeking sources with demonstrated experience in makingthe measurements described above, please provide information regarding the type andresults of testing which demonstrate that the remote sensor will meet the missionrequirementsf.Describe whether the device is qualified for flight and if so, describe thequalification program including environments used (e.g., against a MIL spec. or other).Interested organizations having the required specialized capabilities to meet the aboverequirement should submit a capability statement indicating the ability to perform allaspects of the effort described herein. We request that this capability statement belimited to 15 pages.Responses must include the following: name and address of firm, size of business;average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees; ownership; whether theyare large, or any category of small business, number of years in business; affiliateinformation: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, primecontractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); list of customerscovering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers,contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact - address and phonenumber). This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as acommitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Response requested by 4:30 p.m. EST June 1, 2011. Interested firms should submit responses and any routine communications concerning thisnotice to Mr. R. Barry Bryant at richard.b.bryant@nasa.gov and Ms. Rosemary C. Froehlichat rosemary.c.froehlich@nasa.gov
- Web Link
-
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- Record
- SN02418124-W 20110408/110406234246-59a81941e167b108c30be17d201648dc (fbodaily.com)
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