SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Innovative Approaches to Earth Science Data Acquisition
- Notice Date
- 7/12/2016
- 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, Virginia, 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- NNL16ZB1006L
- Point of Contact
- Concepcion Snapp, Phone: 7578647928, Brad Gardner, Phone: 7578642525
- E-Mail Address
-
c.snapp@nasa.gov, Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov
(c.snapp@nasa.gov, Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Background: The growing availability of capable small satellites, miniaturized instruments and flight components, and the maturation and expansion of low-cost launch options are opening possibilities for the design and deployment of constellation-based, spaceborne Earth observation systems that can reliably provide high-quality measurements to advance Earth System Science research. Given the diminishing cost of fielding spaceborne constellations made up of small satellites, it is increasingly possible for non-governmental entities to build, launch, and operate such systems and to provide data products for purchase by NASA. NASA, in turn, is considering acquiring and making such purchased data products available to its funded investigators and the public - through the NASA Earth Science Data and Information System - in order to advance the Agency's substantial research and applications development objectives. In short: 1) small satellite technological advances and miniaturization appear to have lowered the economic barriers facing non-governmental entities that desire to acquire and provide space based research quality data; 2) small satellite constellations may result in robust, high quality observational systems that have similar or better measurement quality, greater resiliency, and more flexibility than traditional approaches based on larger, multi-instrumented, focused "research" spacecraft; and 3) thriving commercial enterprises are now - and others may soon be - operating small satellite-based constellations, collecting data relevant to Earth science research, and making unique and tailored data sets available to a broad customer base that might include NASA. In support of its strategic efforts to structure data acquisition budgets and plans for the next 1-7 years, NASA's Earth Science Division wishes to determine the present and near-future availability, expected contractual constraints on utility, and scientific quality and value of Earth observation information products derived and purchased from non-governmental, small-satellite constellations. NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program Office is thus providing this opportunity for non-governmental entities to identify their current and/or planned near-future offerings of relevant data products derived from small-satellite constellations. Informed by the results of this Request for Information (RFI) and contingent on Congressional appropriation of the specific Small Satellite Constellation Initiative line item proposed in the Administration's Fiscal Year 2017 President's Budget Request that was submitted to Congress in February 2016, NASA may invest several tens of millions of dollars in one or more pilot data purchases in the FY17-18 timeframe, tangibly exploring alternate approaches to the acquisition of Earth observation data. RFI Objective: NASA's Earth Science Division is exploring strategic approaches for the acquisition of measurements by small-satellite constellations, and the potential of these products to advance NASA's Earth system science and applications development goals. Specifically, NASA is considering the feasibility of purchasing from the private sector, and evaluating, small-satellite data products that might augment or in the future even replace NASA-collected data. This RFI and any future solicitation will serve as pathfinders for data purchase options that can stimulate the economy and support/continue Government-led and -funded science research. As a result of this RFI and subsequent solicitations, enhanced industry/government partnership opportunities may be identified. While all Earth-relevant data products derived from small-satellite constellations are of interest to NASA and will be considered responsive to this RFI, the needs of NASA scientists for global, high-quality atmospheric profiling and moderate resolution, multi-spectral land imaging information are well-documented. Further, NASA funds significant research portfolios that can rapidly evaluate and exploit these data products. In particular, profile data obtained by GPS or GNSS Radio Occultation (GRO) is used by researchers to advance understanding of atmospheric temperature, pressure, and water vapor distributions; to elucidate physical processes determining global and regional climate; and to improve global predictions of weather and extreme meteorological events. Similarly, moderate resolution, multispectral, spatially and temporally extensive land imaging data is used by researchers to advance understanding of changes in the Earth's ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles, including land cover, biodiversity, and the global carbon cycle, as well as to characterize the dynamics of the Earth's surface and interior. The land imaging data also improve our capabilities to assess and respond to natural hazards and extreme events. If Congressional appropriation of the President's FY17 budget request for NASA and its Earth Science Division becomes a reality, the Earth Science Division has identified a potential opportunity to invest up to $25M total in two or more data purchases in FY18. Solicitation intent: Through this RFI, NASA is particularly interested in obtaining information on three aspects of potential privately provided Earth observation products obtained from small satellite constellation measurements: 1) The quality and suitability of offered data products for advancing NASA-supported Earth Science research and applications development activities (the characteristics of the existing or planned data products, in terms of radiometric and geophysical product accuracy, spatial resolution, temporal sampling frequency, coverage, stability, etc.); 2) Any short- and/or long-term constraints desired to be levied by the provider on the use by NASA-funded researchers of the data products, and constraints on hosting and distribution of the purchased products on open NASA data systems; and 3) The present and near-term (3-5 year) planned availability of data products for purchase and evaluation by NASA. The quality, suitability, utility, and availability information included in responses to this RFI will influence the selection criteria of any future solicitation. Based on its analyses of responses to this RFI, NASA hopes to formulate and release a solicitation to purchase and evaluate data products from privately-funded/non-governmental spaceborne Earth observation systems comprising small satellite constellations. It is possible - contingent on available funding - that such a solicitation could be released about 6 months after receipt of the RFI responses, resulting in contract award to successful proposers by 10/1/2017. No solicitation currently exists. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps. It is the potential offerors' responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any synopsis or solicitation. RFI Response Format: Interested offerors/vendors having or planning to have operating small satellite-based Earth observation constellations generating products for purchase by NASA's Earth Science Division should submit a capability statement of 10 pages or less indicating the ability or plans to perform/meet all aspects of the effort described herein, and specifically information related to the quality and suitability of the data products, desired constraints (if any) on the data products, and plans for the availability of small satellite constellation-based products over the next 3-5 years. Responses should include the following: 1) Company name and address; 2) Business size classification, if applicable; 3) Information demonstrating technical capability and description of the data offering ("quality and suitability" (1) from previous section); 4) Information on desired government data distribution limitations ("constraints" (2) from previous section); 5) Detailed future plans for product availability over the next 3-5 years ("availability" (3) from previous section) 6) Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate of the fixed price for the purchase of at least one year of data. If the ROM is for more than one year, provide cost by year. 7) Any additional ideas for consideration by NASA for a future Request For Proposal. It is not sufficient to provide general brochures, web sites, or generic information. Response Submission Deadline: All responses shall be submitted electronically via email by 4:00pm EST on August 12, 2016, to Christina Moats-Xavier (Christina.D.Moats-Xavier@nasa.gov) and Connie Snapp (c.snapp@nasa.gov). Point of Contact for Inquiries and Submissions: Technical and Programmatic questions regarding this synopsis should be directed to Christina.D.Moats-Xavier@nasa.gov and procurement questions should be directed to c.snapp@nasa.gov.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/LaRC/OPDC20220/NNL16ZB1006L/listing.html)
- Record
- SN04180041-W 20160714/160712235552-e7ae2acb5c8d061b38a6dda473a772a0 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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