Laser Optical Near Earth Satellite System Payload Switch Router Request For Information

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SD-VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of market research to explore the ability of industry to meet the Laser Optical Near-Earth Satellite System (LOCNESS) payload switch requirements. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses hereto. The LOCNESS Project within the Human Exploration and Operation (HEO) Mission Directorate and Space, Communications and Navigation (SCaN) is responsible to design and build the first satellite of an optical space communications network to enhance the existing RF network. NASA is currently planning for a geosynchronous-orbiting optical communications relay node with a 2025 commissioning. This optical communications relay node will serve as an initial element of an optical relay constellation to supplement the TDRSS fleet. It will support high-rate communications with users from the earth's surface, LEO, MEO, GEO, Cislunar and Earth-Sun L1/L2 distances, as well as optical crosslinks between nodes to minimize ground station constraints. The optical communications network concept consists of a three relay satellite system to provide global coverage. The GSFC LOCNESS Project is charged with building an operational Optical Relay including the spacecraft and Payload. The Optical Relay consists of the Optical Communications Payload (OCP) (with a Ka-band system) and the Spacecraft (Bus) to provide user relay services. The OCP consists of four (4) Optical Relay Terminals (ORT) and the Payload Electronics (PE). Each ORT consists of the: Optical Module (OM), Controller Electronics, Modems (10 and 100 Gbps), HPOA, and a fiber coupler. The Payload Electronics consists of the: Payload Controller, Switch, PSIM, DTN Router and Data Storage. NASA is soliciting responses from interested parties in regard to vendor capability and interest related to only the switch capability and functionality within the Optical Communication Payload. NASA is seeking capabilities from both large and small businesses for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and small business subcontracting goals for this requirement. 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 complete draft statement of intent for the LOCNESS switch is hereby provided as a point of reference. This document is for information and planning purposes only and is to allow industry the opportunity to submit responses describing their relevant capabilities for the LOCNESS Switch requirement. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Potential offerors are requested to submit information in the form of a Capabilities and Qualifications Statement that includes: (1) Addressing all of the functional areas outlined in the attached draft LOCNESS Switch Statement of Intent and (2) summarizing relevant past experience. The statement of capability shall be UNCLASSIFIED. Companies also must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.sam.gov) to be considered as potential sources. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary. Your responses will not be returned nor will respondents be notified of the results of the evaluation. The information obtained from industry responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and a future RFP (if applicable). No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. All written documents shall be in Microsoft Word and shall be no more than 25 pages (8.5"x 11", using not smaller than 12 point Arial font) in length. A one-page summary shall be included with the capability statement(s), which identifies the company's specific capabilities that are relevant to the requirement. In addition, the summary should also include the following: Name and address of company, average annual revenue for past 3 years, number of employees, type of business ownership (i.e., Large Business, Small Business, Women-Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) Business, HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, and Veteran-Owned Small Business), affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime), and location of the business. The one page summary page will not count against the maximum page limit. Submit any questions to: Kendall Mauldin (Code 450.2) at kendall.d.mauldin@nasa.gov The deadline to respond to this RFI is Friday, December 14, 2018, 11:59 PM EST. Statement of Intent: It is the intent of the Laser Optical Near-Earth Satellite System (LOCNESS) Project Office to survey industry on the capabilities of existing high speed switch designs that could meet the requirements for the LOCNESS optical relay satellite. This Industry Survey Data Package includes the key assumptions, requirements and a functional diagram. The key study parameter is, "Can your organization build, integrate and test a space based switch that meets the below stated assumptions and requirements?" Second, what are the predicted power and mass estimates, for power provide start of mission, end of mission 5 years and end of mission 8 years (goal). Basic Concept of Operations Scenario for Optical Communications Earth Relay: - LOCNESS Optical Relay Node has four optical modules with modems capable of <10 Gbps (User data) or <100 Gbps (Backhaul/Trunk) and a Ka-Band sub-system capable of <6 Gbps. 1. Data comes in on Optical Modules at <10 Gbps or 100 Gbps depending on modem type being used a. Each optical signal is demodulated and decoded at the modem (10Gbps or 100Gbps) b. Frames (Link Layer) are sent through the switch c. Frames are multiplexed in the switch (the < 100Gbps can be an aggregation of multiple <10Gbps user streams Multiplexed) d. Frames sent to a modem (<10 Gbps or <100Gbps) e. Modem encodes, modulates and transmits at appropriate optical link rate - <10 Gbps from User-to-Relay, <100 Gbps Relay-to-Relay, and <100 Gbps Relay-to-Ground - Worst case is two 100 Gbps Relay-to-Relay, one 100 Gbps User-to-Relay and one 100 Gbps Relay-to-Ground Mission level assumptions provided for context: - The LOCNESS Optical Relay Node will operate in a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) - The LOCNESS Optical Relay Node will operate 5 Years at GEO (required), 8 year goal - The LOCNESS Optical Relay Node will be a level 1 EEE parts program (EEE Parts, TELCORDIA parts, up screened commercial parts where appropriate, or some combination) - Optical Relay Terminals configuration will be identical & functionally interchangeable - All four relay terminals can be operated simultaneously with any combination of data rates & controlled independently of one other High Speed Switch - Managed Switch Application o The switch shall be reconfigurable for switching by command or table upload o The switch shall be autonomous after configuration/re-configure o The switch shall include a Management Interface for monitoring / control - Performance o The switch shall have at least 410 Gbps aggregate switch capacity (non-blocking) (throughput; effective User/Data throughput rate (not baud rate)) - Functional o The switch shall forward frames based on header or other meta data AND o The switch shall forward frames based on managed look-up table (routing table) o The switch shall allow loopback at any given port for testing purposes o The switch shall have a broadcast mode from one to all other ports - Interfaces o The Physical Interfaces will be fiber or copper (TBR) (Open trade; Considerations for current implementations (Between modem and switch)) - Overhead o The switch will assume there are no requirements for FEC processing or fill processing (all handled in modems) - Questions 1. Are there any current, or planned, capabilities above 100 Gbps? 2. Do you have a low cost solution using commercial vendors packaged for space? 3. What is/are your Link Layer protocol(s)? 4. What Interoperable commercial standards are currently implemented? 5. Identify any components that are space qualified, and in the process to be space qualified? 6. Identify any components that are space qualified or in the process to be space qualified. 7. Are there any QoS capabilities implemented in your product lines? If so, what capabilities?