Commercial Aviation Services to Support NASA Science Observations

Response date extended to March, 30, 2020. No other changes to this announcement have been issued. Request for Information Commercial Aviation Services to support NASA Science observations The importance of aircraft to NASA Earth Science been clearly defined in the National Academies - NASA Earth Science Decadal Survey. Science aircraft with ports and inlets for instruments, serve as a platform to aid in the development and maturation of new scientific instruments, to calibrate on-orbit observations, provide correlative measurements for data product validation, and to make unique measurements in and above the atmosphere. Modified aircraft are critical for collecting in situ characterization of atmospheric chemistry and dynamics to complement indirect measurements of these properties from orbit. The Airborne Science Program within the NASA Science Mission Directorate, supports the science community by enabling access to aircraft to meet project or mission requirements. The Program funds maintenance and operations of government unique, highly modified aircraft at several NASA field centers. Not every instrument or concept requires these high value assets for testing. The Program also encourages the use of commercial aviation services for projects where commercial aviation services are available and proven to be safe and reliable. This RFI seeks information on commercial aircraft providers that can support NASA flight project requirements to safely and effectively carry host NASA-funded science payloads and instrument operators. Given the wide variety of different types of payloads and flight regimes, outlined below are general categories of requirements for which we are seeking platforms: High altitude observations Large Payload (1000-10,000lbs); High Altitude (55k-70k ft) High Power; Medium to Long Endurance Examples include NASA Aircraft include ER-2, Global Hawk, WB-57 Heavy lift aircraft; Medium range Very Large Payload (8000-30,000lbs); High Power; Medium Altitude Examples include NASA Aircraft include DC-8, WB-57 Medium Altitude, Medium lift, Long range Moderate payload capacity; 40kft ceiling Examples include NASA P-3 and NASA G-V Medium Altitude, Medium lift, medium speed 3000lb payload; 30,000ft altitude Example NASA B200 Low altitude, Medium payload, Low speed 100-500lb payload; Example: NASA SIERRA UAV, or Cessna The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather and assess industry availability and capability to provide Commercial Aviation Services to supper NASA Science Observations. Vendors having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation, literature, photographs/ brochures, and references. NASA has recently changed the requirements under NPR 7900.3D Chapter 10, requiring PART 135 certification for aircraft providers ( https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPR&c=7900&s=3D ). Responses should detail what FAA PART Certification they hold. The capabilities statements submitted in response to this RFI should be very clear on the flight status of the aircraft proposed to support NASA Flight Operations. Please include information on all aircraft modifications and payload accommodations to include: - ports (size, location, orientation, etc.) - inlets for gas sampling, - power supplies, - onboard computing, - telemetry radios, - antennae, - other relevant modifications for science payloads Responses might include manned, remotely piloted aircraft or both. Response might also include lighter than air vehicles and rotorcraft. If you have conducted recent work for another Federal Agency please include information and a POC. All questions regarding this RFI must be submitted no later than 30 days after the posting date of this notice. Responses by the government will be provided 15 days later at https://beta.sam.gov . Final submissions of capabilities statements must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Submissions shall not exceed 15 pages. DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION IN YOUR RESPONSE. Information in your response may be made available to the public through the NASA database. Material marked - Proprietary will not be reviewed. This RFI is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government will not pay for information solicited. No solicitation is planned at this time, although the collective responses may serve to direct future acquisitions. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized on https://beta.sam.gov . It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.