A--CON-X SCIENCE ENHANCEMENT PACKAGE

NASA GSFC is hereby soliciting concepts for its Con-X mission under a streamlined mission design. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. This notice is a call for white papers. This notice 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 any review of the submitted information. Con-X is a flagship mission in NASA's Beyond Einstein program. Using high-throughput x-ray spectroscopy, Con-X will investigate black holes and General Relativity, the formation of large scale structure, galaxy formation and cosmic feedback processes, supernova remnants, stellar coronae, neutron stars, and other high energy processes in a cosmic setting. Information on the Con-X mission can be found at http://constellation.gsfc.nasa.gov . To substantially reduce mission costs, the Con-X project is studying a streamlined mission design that can be launched on a single Atlas V 551 launch vehicle. The basic payload of this implementation approach consists of a set of Spectroscopy X-ray Telescope (SXT) mirrors, each with an X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer (XMS) at its focus. This instrumentation satisfies the Con-X mission throughput and spectral resolution requirements from 0.6 to 10 keV. This notice calls for white papers containing concepts for Science Enhancement Packages (SEP) to extend this performance so as to achieve the full Con-X science objectives. Specifically, SEP concepts should provide increased spectral resolution at low energies (< 0.6 keV) to maintain a resolving power of R > 300, and/or additional throughput at high energies (>10 keV). In the reference Con-X mission configuration (launched on a single Delta IVH), these capabilities are provided by Reflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS) and Hard X-ray Telescopes (HXT). A maximum of 100kg and $100M have nominally been allocated for implementing the SEP. Proposed SEP concepts can involve both new instrumentation, or modifications to the existing XMS and/or the SXT mirror designs. New instrumentation must fit within the available envelope. Preliminary information on the Con-X observatory configuration and estimated capabilities for the Single Atlas V launch can be found at https://conxproj.gsfc.nasa.gov/business/Con-X_RFI.htm. The concepts submitted in response to this call may be used by the project for mission study purposes. The project may use one or more SEP concepts as part of the planning and development of this single Atlas V launch vehicle approach as a new mission reference design. No Government funds are available for this phase of the SEP. Guidelines 1. Responses should address SEP concepts that provide high energy coverage and/or high spectral resolution at low energies. Papers should include the following elements: - Science - Description of the SEP science capabilities and how it augments the capabilities provided by the basic payload to achieve the Con-X science objectives - Technical - Description of the overall SEP concept, the associated technology, and how it would interface with or modify the basic payload or mission concept - Estimated mass, power and dollar cost as they relate to the maximums given above. - Brief discussion of any significant impact on the SEP concept of modifying the basic payload from 4 SXTs to 3 SXTs. - Performance - Estimated performance of the SEP concept, including the bandpass, efficiency, spectral resolution, and angular resolution as appropriate - Any estimated reduction in capability of the basic payload due to implementation of the SEP concept - Technology Readiness - Status of the technology (including Technology Readiness Level, or TRL) needed to implement the SEP concept - Overview of major steps required to achieve TRL 6 for the proposed SEP 2. Submissions must be limited to no more than 10 pages (8.5 x 11 inch) single sided. Figures, tables and other supplementary material must be included within the page limit. 3. Respondents are invited to present their SEP concepts at an open workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to provide a forum for discussion and input from the community and from the Con-X Facility Science Team. The workshop will be held on 18 December, in conjunction with the Con-X Facility Science Team meeting scheduled for the 19th and 20th of December. Further details will be posted at https://conxproj.gsfc.nasa.gov/business/Con-X_RFI.htm. 4. Respondents should not include any information that is limited or restricted. By submitting information in response to this notice, submitters of such information thereby consent to the release and dissemination of submitted information to any U.S. Government or non-U.S. Government entity to which NASA releases and disseminates the information for review. Review teams may be comprised of U.S. Government personnel from NASA and/or other U.S. Government agencies. Moreover, review teams may include third parties, such as contractor personnel who support NASA. As such, information submitted in response to this notice shall not be proprietary or business-sensitive, and shall not be marked as such, as this information may be disclosed to third parties. Submission of information in response to this notice shall constitute consent to such handling and disclosure of submitted information. All responses must be submitted in hard copy and electronic format to Ms. Lorrie L. Eakin, Contracting Officer, no later than 4:00 p.m. (EST) on November 13, 2006. Ms. Eakin's email address is contact@example.gov. Please reference 210S-GBG-06-001 in any response. Technical questions may be directed to Ms. Jean Cottham at contact@example.gov.