L1 Series Project Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWIPS)

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is soliciting information to procure Solar Wind Plasma Sensors for the Space Weather Next Lagrange 1 (L1 Series) Project. The L1 Series is a successor to the Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Mission that is currently in development. The L1 Series is a high priority joint undertaking by NASA and the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The L1 Series Observatories will provide NOAA with the continuity of solar wind data and X-Ray irradiance measurements plus Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) imagery, which are the National Weather Service's highest priorities for space weather observations. The Solar Wind Plasma Sensor is used to measure solar wind, a supersonic flow of hot plasma from the Sun and provide early warning of changes which affect the geomagnetic environment. The measurements are used to characterize coronal mass ejections (CMEs), corotating interaction regions (CIRs), interplanetary shocks and high-speed flows associated with coronal holes. The Solar Wind Plasma Sensor measurements include the bulk ion velocity, ion temperature and density and derived dynamic pressure. For the Space Weather Next Program, the Government anticipates procuring multiple instrument copies to be launched and flown on a series of satellites. As part of the RFI, the Government is providing a Draft SOW to aid vendors in responding to this RFI. The Government is seeking a brief capability statement, no more than 5 pages, indicating the company's ability to perform all aspects of this effort. The Requirements Specification (SPEC) for the L1 Series Solar Wind Plasma Sensor instruments is under development. It is anticipated that L1 Series Solar Wind Plasma Sensor requirements will be very similar to SWFO-L1 SWiPS requirements which are available at SAM.gov (see the link below). https://sam.gov/opp/c24a16a6752c4d19b68faab3dbc76bd9/view The following is a summary of the anticipated changes to the Specification requirements: Four instrument flight models as described in the Draft Statement of Work; Refinement of the science and and latency requirements; Review and updating of the L1 Series Spacecraft accommodation requirements; Updating of the launch vehicle loads to envelope launch as a primary payload from a range of launch vehicle providers; Other changes as necessary. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government will use this information to finalize the RFP as necessary. All responses, comments and/or questions shall be submitted electronically to Contract Specialist Charis Murray at charis.m.murray@nasa.gov, no later than 5pm EDT Friday, June 23rd. Please reference L1 Series Project Solar Wind Plasma Sensor. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of any amendments. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html . If a solicitation is released, then it and any additional documents will be available on www.beta.sam.gov. 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.