Near Earth Orbit Network Program's Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Goddard Space Flight Center is soliciting proposals under solicitation number 80GSFC26R0028 for the Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications, a mission-critical payload for near-Earth orbit operations. The contract is structured as a hybrid vehicle combining cost-reimbursement for development (CLIN 0001), firm-fixed-price for production of two flight models (CLIN 0002), and a time-and-materials indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) component (CLIN 0003) with a ceiling of $52,800,000 for post-launch support and special studies. Work spans the full life cycle from design and fabrication to integration, testing, and on-orbit commissioning, with delivery points at the spacecraft contractor facility and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Statement of Work, detailed in Attachment A, mandates strict adherence to NASA technical standards including NASA-STD-6016, GSFC-STD-6001, and IPC J-STD-001 Class 3, with comprehensive quality, contamination control, and materials traceability requirements governed by MIUL and part-level identifiers. Packaging, preservation, and marking protocols align with spaceflight hardware standards, though specific MIL-STDs are not explicitly cited beyond EMI controls. Evaluation will be conducted using a trade-off process prioritizing mission suitability over cost, with the technical approach earning 500 points, management approach 400 points, and small business utilization 100 points within the mission suitability category; past performance will be assessed for relevance and risk, and cost realism will be evaluated qualitatively. Proposals must be submitted in four volumes via NASA’s EFSS Box platform by June 1, 2026, with strict formatting rules including page limits, PDF specifications, and Excel file transparency. Amendments to the RFP have added Supply Chain Visibility Reporting, revised milestone payment percentages, incorporated responses to questions 1–14, aligned clauses with the Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul, and introduced Clause 52.222-90 addressing DEI discrimination. Special contract requirements include PIV card management, strict ITAR/EAR export compliance, mandatory notification of funding thresholds at 75%, and performance of contractor-proposed enhancements in Attachment L. Payment is managed by the NASA Shared Services Center, requiring electronic submission