Fourth Technology Transfer Industry Day; Plan to Facilitate Commercial On-Orbit Robotic Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM)

Plan to Facilitate Commercial On-Orbit Robotic Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM) Fourth Technology Transfer Industry Day Purpose: NASA invites domestic companies to attend the fourth Technology Transfer Industry Day addressing on-orbit spacecraft servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (OSAM) on September 18, 2019, at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The focus of this industry day has expanded from previous years to include assembly and manufacturing. During the all-day event, NASA will share and present to industry technologies that facilitate servicing (to include repair, refueling, relocation, etc.), assembly, manufacturing, and repurposing of existing on-orbit spacecraft. NASA will also present technologies that, when incorporated in a spacecraft design, allow them to be more easily serviceable. These transformational technologies will herald a shift in spaceflight leading to increased sustainability, reliability, and affordability, an ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances, and the overcoming of fairing constraints. Applications enabled by OSAM technologies include resident space object inspection, life extension and anomaly recovery, reuse of recycled materials, persistent platforms, very large observatories, human exploration of the Moon and Mars, lunar surface manufacturing and construction, sample collection and return from near-Earth objects, orbital debris mitigation/remediation, and much more. Background: NASA is currently working on several projects to develop OSAM technologies and operations including Raven, RRM3, Restore-L, Dragonfly, Archinaut. These projects are tangible progress towards making OSAM a reality, by allowing NASA to test technology needed to put humans on the Moon and Mars space exploration in both the government and private sectors. To facilitate OSAM, NASA is proactively transferring technologies to the commercial sector. By providing early access and an equal playing field to OSAM technologies for U.S. companies, NASA is helping to jumpstart multiple new space-related industries including a satellite servicing market. Numerous new and unforeseen opportunities are certain once OSAM capabilities are fully developed and utilized. NASA is interested in a robust domestic commercial satellite servicing, assembly and manufacturing industry that could provide the U.S. government with cost-effective options for meeting future mission needs while also bolstering the domestic economy. Plan for the Transfer of Technologies NASA is offering the following to domestic industry through its OSAM Technology Transfer Plan: - Direct transfer of a rolling portfolio of technologies and software through patent licenses and other agreements-NASA will provide an updated catalog of technologies with a description of the current capability and maturity of each technology, environments for which each technology will be qualified, and an overall target timeline for technology transfer; - Access to NASA's programmatic, technical and operational expertise through reasonable contact/engagement with the NASA teams during the development, execution and conclusion of its OSAM projects; - Invitations to attend industry days, which provide a forum for up-to-date data and information from OSAM projects such as Restore-L, Dragonfly, Archinaut; - Access to major review packages from the aforementioned projects after the reviews have taken place (note that packages will be redacted to remove some programmatic information and all third-party intellectual property) for those with whom NASA establishes a technology transfer agreement; - The benefit of NASA's mature, vetted technology transfer processes already in place; - An open and level playing field for all domestic entities; - Opportunities to discuss best practices and Concept of Operations (ConOps) for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing; - Forums for the government to facilitate additional opportunities for commercial companies to demonstrate use of technologies, such as identifying public-private partnerships. Note that participation in these activities and offerings is limited to domestic entities and persons, since many of these items will contain International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) data. Participants must show that they have a legitimate use for and are capable of implementing and enhancing the technology. They must also demonstrate that they are capable of handling ITAR/EAR data responsibly. Technology Transfer. Under the current plan NASA would transfer its OSAM technologies, including software, to domestic industry. NASA foresees use of agreements such as Space Act Agreements (SAAs) and/or Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) to implement this plan, with transfer of commercial rights via non-exclusive licenses. Such agreements would require that any NASA support (beyond reasonable access) be reimbursable. Industry Days. NASA plans to host industry days for domestic companies to receive data from major OSAM project reviews. The initial industry day was held on 4/19/17, with others following on 1/30/18 and 12/6/18, and the upcoming fourth one planned for 9/18/19. NASA will host future industry days as it makes additional technological progress. Access to Facilities. NASA also plans to provide domestic industry controlled access to the Mission Operations Control rooms for Restore-L and the Robotic Operations Center (ROC) at NASA GSFC during specific times before/during Restore-L. Langley Research Center (LaRC) and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) facility tours will be made available in the future. In-Space Satellite Servicing Technologies The satellite servicing technologies useful to the developer of a servicer that will be presented at Industry Day fall into the following general categories: - Relative navigation algorithms and technologies - Servicing avionics & software - Dexterous robot arm and software systems - Robotic tools, tool drive system and mating mechanisms - Fluid Transfer Systems( Storables and Cryogens) - Modular/Cooperative servicing interfaces and systems In-Space Assembly Technologies The In-Space assembly technologies useful to the developer of in space assembled structures that will be presented at Industry Day fall into the following categories: - Modular Mechanical, Power, and Data Interfaces - Robotic Assembly Joining Technology (Structures and Mechanisms) - Ebeam Welding for Erectable Joints - Lunar Surface Manipulator System - Tendon Actuation for Long Reach In-Space Manipulation - Deployable Composite Booms and Sheet Materials - Impact Detection and Location Technology. In-Space Manufacturing Technologies The on-orbit manufacturing technologies useful for the developer of manufacturing technologies being developed and presented at Industry Day: - Cutting, joining and machining processes - Manufacturing process - In-process inspection, repair, verification and validation - Material manipulation for manufacturing Response to Synopsis This invitation is intended for organizations interested in commercializing OSAM technologies being developed by NASA. Due to the content of the presentations and facility security requirements, only U.S. persons (U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents) may attend. All attendees will be required to present government-issued photo identification upon entry to the event. Attendance is not required to participate in the technology transfer process, but if interested contact NASA by sending an e-mail to the point of contact listed below. Each company represented is also required to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) (attached) prior to NASA disclosing to its personnel-or confirm that its company still honors the NDA from a previous industry day. Domestic industry or U.S. government employees interested in attending the 4Th industry day on 9/18/2019 shall provide the following information for each potential attendee at least ten (10) business day prior to the announced industry day (Note, NASA may need to limit the number of representatives from each company based upon the total of registered attendees.): - Name (first name, middle initial, last name) - Affiliation/Company - Citizenship (US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident [LPR/Green Card holder]) - E-mail - Phone number All synopsis queries must be submitted via e-mail to the points of contact listed below. Please reference the title of this posting in any response. Disclaimers It is not NASA's intent to publicly disclose respondents' proprietary information obtained in synopsis responses. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary or Confidential" will be kept confidential. It is emphasized that this synopsis is NOT a Request for Proposal, Quotation, or Invitation for Bid. This Synopsis is for information and planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3 titled "Solicitation for Information or Planning Purposes," and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement. The Government will NOT pay for information submitted in response to this Synopsis. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the FedBizOpps (https://www.fbo.gov/) website. It is the responsibility of any potential offerors/bidders to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation, synopsis, or related documents. As part of its assessment of industry capabilities, the NASA may contact respondents to this synopsis for clarifications or further information. Points of Contact Zulma Phillips Title: Logistics facilitator Phone: 301.286.7973 e-mail: zulma.phillips@nasa.gov Michele Connerton Contracting Officer Phone: 301.286.6640 e-mail: michele.r.connerton@nasa.gov