IDIQ Launch Service Contract for High Risk Tolerant Launch Services

IDIQ Launch Service Contract for High Risk Tolerant Launch Services SOURCES SOUGHT The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) commercial launch service contract for dedicated and rideshare launch services. Payloads will be of a higher risk tolerance than those delivered under the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract. The information from interested parties will be used to determine industry capabilities and assist the Government in refining the requirements. NASA/KSC is seeking information regarding various approaches in order to determine the appropriate balance of cost, schedule, and technical risk for future missions. It is anticipated that the acquisition will draw on launch vehicle services and capabilities, both currently available in the market and those under development. NASA anticipates that the launch service requirements will include dedicated and rideshare launch service capabilities and accommodate a payload mass up to ~1,000 kg. Payloads will have a high risk tolerance and may include those with a risk tolerance of Class D per NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8705.4, Risk Classification for NASA Payloads. Payloads will be delivered to a variety of orbits, including escape trajectories. Missions may require NASA Category 1 (CAT 1) Certification Requirements per NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 8610.7D, Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy and LSP document LSP-PLN-324.01 Launch Vehicle Certification (attached to this sources sought). Per NPD 8610.7D, a CAT 1 level launch vehicle certification allows NASA to perform a high-level review of commercial provider processes and qualification results. CAT 1 is a risk assessment, not an approach that will mitigate risks unless those risks are unreasonably high. The Launch Service Contractor (LSC) will be responsible for obtaining a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license and securing any necessary Range assets for the launch. Milestones will be established to ensure vehicle and mission integration are progressing. NPD 8610.23C, Launch Vehicle Technical Oversight Policy, Attachment C: Class D Mission Launch Vehicle Modified Technical Oversight, is intended to be fully employed for missions designated as Class D. NASA will use a limited combination of specified approvals and targeted insight in order to manage the mission integration technical requirements. NASA will implement a modified technical oversight approach more consistent with commercial risk postures and will not retain control of the launch in the same way it does for Class A, B, and C missions. Specific areas from NPD 8610.23C Attachment C requiring Government approval are: Spacecraft-to-launch vehicle interface control documents (ICD)/drawings and requirement waivers. Decisions/resolutions of action items as determined by joint NASA/contractor mission integration teams. Spacecraft launch commit criteria. Spacecraft handling procedures and deviations. Integrated spacecraft/vehicle mate, test, and closeout procedures and planned or real-time deviations, impacting the spacecraft (e.g., handling, spacecraft power-on, or mission-unique requirements). Launch countdown procedures and planned or real-time deviations that affect spacecraft interface in the ICD. Anomaly resolutions that affect the spacecraft interface in the ICD. Spacecraft Launch Readiness Go/No-Go. Specific areas from NPD 8610.23C to be open to Government insight are: Baseline vehicle configuration to confirm the common launch vehicle configuration as defined in NPD 8610.7. NASA mission production program reviews, plans, and schedules. NASA mission pre-ship reviews. Major/critical problems affecting the NASA mission's production or launch schedule and their resolutions. NASA mission launch site support work schedules and plans. Conduct of contractor-chaired NASA Mission, Launch, and Flight Readiness Reviews. Post flight anomaly, as defined by the launch service provider, investigations/closeouts. Mission-unique hardware design, analysis, manufacture, and test. Mission-unique software design, analysis, and test. Contractor's spacecraft-to-launch vehicle ICD verification matrix development and closeout. Baseline and changes to contractor's risk management, safety and health, and quality management plan/approach. The NPD 8610.23C Attachment C requirements listed above may be tailored as applicable for payloads that are more risk tolerant. NASA will not assist in providing access to Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) as part of a commercial launch system or launch site. NASA will use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 481212 (Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation) with a size standard of 1,500 employees for this procurement. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS Interested offerors/vendors are requested to submit a capability statement of 10 pages or less describing their abilities to perform effort described herein. It is not sufficient to provide only general brochures or generic information. Capability statements should be submitted using a Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat software. Responses must include the following: 1) Company name, address 2) DUNS number and Cage Code 3) Number of employees 4) Number of years in business 5) Business size and category (Large, Small, Small Disadvantaged, 8(a), Woman-owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone and HBCU/MSI) 6) Affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime) In addition to the information above, responses should address the following: Describe the following items provided in your standard commercial launch service: Launch sites, mass, and orbit capabilities. Commercial prices. Standard commercial payment schedule. Describe the following as they relate to the standard commercial mission management practices employed by your company: The customer's level of involvement. Frequency of meetings with the customer. Standard milestone integration event schedule/timeline from ATP to launch. Shortest feasible milestone integration event schedule/timeline from ATP to launch. Analysis products and deliverables provided to customers. Number of customer personnel allowed at launch facility on the day of launch and capability to transmit the information provided to that customer to an off-site location. Describe your standard commercial approach for payload separation systems, including CubeSat dispensers. Include whether the payload separation systems are contractor provided or if the customer is expected to provide. Describe your standard approach for verifying that the assembled payload fits properly with the separation system. Provide information about standard payload processing facility services, if any, and address your approach for processing payloads with hazardous commodities and/or fueling requirements. Identify the cleanliness levels achievable in payload processing facilities (ex., ISO Class 8, ISO Class 7, etc.). Describe your standard commercial mission terms and conditions for launch delays. Describe the standard commercial mission remedies employed by your company in the event of a launch vehicle anomaly that destroys a customer's payload, results in damage to the payload or results in deployment to a less than optimal orbit. Describe your standard commercial approach for rideshare payloads. For primary payloads, describe any rights a primary payload will have on the mission (e.g. approval of the other payloads on the launch vehicle, launch date selection, etc.) For rideshare payloads (non-primary), describe rights that the rideshare payloads have if the primary mission delays Describe do-no-harm requirements imposed on the payloads Describe Go/No-Go rights of rideshare payloads Provide a sample of your standard commercial contract for a dedicated launch service and/or rideshare launch service. (Not included in page count) Describe your mission management approach for rideshare missions: Approach for handling missions with no primary payload and missions where there is a tiered priority level (e.g., launch date, launch commit criteria) Approach for handling missions with a primary/anchor payload, including any rights the primary/anchor payload will have on the mission (e.g., approval of the other payloads on the launch vehicle). Provide development status of launch vehicle if still under development along with a schedule to achieve first flight and any identified risks to completing development. Specifically, discuss engine maturity and the plan to mature the engines to meet your stated performance capabilities. For the following services, if not included in your standard service price, provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates and assumptions: Payload Processing Facility Services Additional integration meetings and reviews (calls, face to face meetings, mission specific reviews such as requirements, design, and/or verification) Identify individual items (if any) from NPD 8610.23C Attachment C requiring Government insight and approval, listed above, that are difficult to comply with or implement. Identify any costs and/or schedule impacts associated with those items. Provide a copy of the current launch manifest through 2025 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in Beta.sam.gov. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. NASA intends to evaluate all data received and respondents may be contacted with follow-up questions on an as needed basis. Please note, NASA as well as support contractors and/or their subcontractors working on behalf of the Government, may be reviewing the information. NASA may utilize the information provided in developing its acquisition strategy. This requirement is considered to be a commercial item is defined in FAR 2.101. This sources sought 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. It is anticipated that this procurement will consider domestic sources only as Public Law 105-303, 51 U.S.C 50131, et. seq., states that the Federal Government shall acquire space transportation services from United States commercial providers whenever such services are required in the course of its activities. Accordingly, it is anticipated that this procurement will consider domestic sources only. All responses shall be submitted via email to Jason Siewert at jason.r.siewert@nasa.gov and Kathy Owen at kathy.l.owen@nasa.gov no later than 14 days after the release of this sources sought. Please reference 80KSC020R0058-SS in any response.