NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a concept study to validate a strategy for NASA to work collaboratively with industry to build the WFIRST Wide-Field Instrument (WFI). One of two instruments, the WFI is fed by a 2.4m telescope that is also equipped with a coronagraphic instrument. The study is intended to determine a feasible WFI implementation approach and assess the critical development, verification and interface requirements that drive the WFIRST WFI design. The study will also assess cost, schedule, technical performance and risk drivers, and develop cost and schedule estimates for the design, build, and test of the WFI. NASA contemplates evaluating and selecting multiple offers (approximately 2) based on the proposals as submitted and providing each of the study participants a not-to-exceed cost of $500K for the four-month study. The WFIRST mission is a space-based astrophysics observatory with a science program comprising: (1) supernova, galaxy redshift, and weak lensing surveys optimized to study dark energy and cosmology, (2) a galactic bulge survey that will use microlensing observations to complete the exoplanet census begun by Kepler, (3) coronagraphic observations of nearby planets and proto-planetary systems, and (4) a Guest Observer program that will utilize the power of both the WFI and the coronagraphic instrument to address a wide-ranging set of astrophysics phenomena. This planned program will make major contributions towards all three of the goals identified for astrophysics in the NASA Strategic Plan: - Probe the origin and destiny of our universe, including the nature of black holes, dark energy, dark matter and gravity. - Explore the origin and evolution of the galaxies, stars and planets that make up our universe. - Discover and study planets around other stars, and explore whether they could harbor life. The WFI is comprised of a wide field camera (WFC) and an Integral Field Unit (IFU) with a much smaller field of view. Its two major elements consist of a cold instrument module and a warm electronics module. One scenario, to be assessed in this study, assumes that GSFC will develop the Focal Plane Assemblies (FPAs) in the WFC, the FPA electronics, and the IFU. The remaining elements of the WFI, aside from those named in the preceding sentence, are collectively known as the WFI Opto-Mechanical Assembly (WOMA). While future solicitations are never certain, this concept study will assume a follow-on Phase A study and a later hardware solicitation that would result in delivery of the flight WOMA by an industry provider. As mentioned above, other implementations are possible, and these may also be studied during the initial four-month study that is described by this NOI. Further details of the WFIRST implementation approach, study goals and deliverables will be provided with the study RFP. The results of the study will inform decisions on the optimal approach that maximizes the strengths of NASA and industry to achieve the mission. For further information on the WFIRST mission, observatory and science refer to: http://wfirst.gsfc.nasa.gov and, specifically, the WFIRST-AFTA 2015 Report at: http://wfirst.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/sdt_public/WFIRST-AFTA_SDT_Report_150310_Final.p df This procurement will be a full and open competition. NASA/GSFC anticipates awarding approximately two (2) Firm Fixed-Price type contracts for this effort with an anticipated award date on or about late March 2016/early April 2016. The Government does not intend to acquire commercial items using FAR Part 12. See NASA Specific Numbered Note 26 -- this can be accessed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.h tml . The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this procurement is 541330. The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about January 4, 2016 with an anticipated offer closing date on or about February 3, 2016. The actual due date for receipt of offers will be stated in the prospective RFP. Upon issuance of the RFP, all qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by this agency. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/p ub_library/Omb.html . The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA Business Opportunities home page is http://procurement.na sa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin= . All contractual and/or technical questions shall be submitted in writing, via e-mail. Questions must be submitted to the following e-mail address:
contact@example.gov . Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any).
