PARTNERING OPPORTUNITY FOR EARTH VENTURE CONTINUITY

This Partnering Opportunity for an Earth Venture Continuity-1 (EVC-1) Mission focuses on a radiation budget capability that provides continuity for the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) measurements, under the Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) science team. This opportunity is in alignment with the recent recommendations in the Earth Science Decadal Survey (2017) which calls for an Earth Venture Continuity program consisting of competed small missions that are focused on continuity-driven observation while providing an opportunity for low-cost sustained observations. The CERES project, part of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS), is an on-going NASA climatological mission comprised of a suite of instruments that measure the reflected solar and emitted thermal radiation at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) from the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Cloud properties are determined using simultaneous measurements by other EOS instruments such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS). The combined results from the CERES instruments and other NASA missions, lead to a better understanding of the role of clouds and the energy cycle in global climate change. For more information on CERES please refer to https://ceres.larc.nasa.gov/ Background - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to release a DRAFT Announcement of Opportunity for the first in the series of continuity measurements in the Fall of 2018 with a final AO to be released in December, 2018. It is assumed that the Earth Venture Continuity (EVC) line will be in keeping with the goals outlined in the National Academies of Science Decadal Survey - Thriving on Our Changing Planet A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space (see https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/decadal-surveys). The Decadal Survey recommends extending the very successful Venture Program for competed small missions to add a focus on continuity-driven observations and provide the opportunity for low-cost sustained observations. The Program provides opportunities for new and innovative ways to continue existing measurements, and seeks to address the tension between making new measurements vs. continuing existing measurements by bringing forward innovative approaches to sustain measurements at lower costs. The first EVC-1 solicitation will target radiation budget science capability that is cost-capped at $150M for the total mission. It is anticipated that this will be a one-step solicitation process. The EVC-1 is expected to be a Class C payload in order to enable a greater number of hosting options (including JPSS-3). NASA Earth Science Division has announced that it intends to offer proposers for EVC-1 NASA-owned hardware from the recent Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI) mission as Government Furnished Equipment in the upcoming AO (see Decadal Survey Community Forum at https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/decadal-surveys). Additional details are expected to be provided in the draft AO. NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is seeking partners from industry, academia, non-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), and other government agencies to participate in developing a proposal addressing the goals and objectives of the EVC -1. Science Instrumentation - The CERES instrument design builds upon the successful legacy of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) (Barkstrom et al. 1990). The CERES project has challenging goals of defining the Earth-emitted longwave and Earth-reflected solar radiances, with accuracy (1s) approaching 0.5 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively, at the instrument level, and measuring the filtered radiance over the three unique spectral bands: shortwave (SW) reflected solar radiation in the 0.3 to 5 - m wavelength range, outgoing longwave (LW) radiation in the 5 and 50 - m range, and a total (TOT) outgoing radiation between 0.3 to >100 - m range. CERES instruments FM1-FM5 consisted of a SW,TOT and a window (8-12 - m) channel, while CERES FM6 consisted of SW, LW and TOT channels. Each instrument uses three independent and identical coaligned and coregistered telescopes. In addition, the ERB science team produces products that define the physical properties of clouds, define the surface radiation budget, and determine the divergence of energy throughout the atmosphere (Barkstrom 1990, Wielicki and Barkstrom 1991, Wielicki et al. 1996). For more information on CERES, please refer to https://ceres.larc.nasa.gov/ LaRC is seeking potential partner(s) with expertise in one or more of the following areas for an EVC-1 proposal : (a) compact, long-life, moderate resolution broadband radiometers for shortwave and infrared spectra, (b) optical design and analysis of radiometers, (c) detector technologies over the range of wavelengths relevant to CERES, (d) calibration technologies and hardware including development and implementation of SI-traceable standards, (e) instrument test facilities consistent with calibration and thermal vacuum testing of spaceflight prototypes, and (f) validation and verification capability of instrument overall performance. It is expected that selected partner(s) will work jointly with NASA LaRC to develop and demonstrate an instrument capable of meeting the measurement objectives of the EVC-1 mission defined in the upcoming Announcement of Opportunity. This partnering opportunity does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts or other agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for the information solicited. It is expected that the partner or partners selected for one or more of the items listed in (a)-(f) would provide (at no cost to NASA) conceptual designs, technical data, proposal input, project schedules, and cost estimates. Potential partner(s) must demonstrate the capabilities and experience consistent with the requirements for the EVC-1 mission identified. Partner(s) must work collaboratively with NASA. LaRC encourages the submission of unique and innovative responses which will further the Agency's mission. Partner selections will be made by NASA LaRC based on the listed criteria in the following order of importance: (1) Technical Capability, Calibration Skills, and Facilities - The respondent's technical capability to build similar developmental space hardware including but not limited to: (a) the respondent's ability to develop successful plans for meeting rigorous instrument calibration requirements; (b) availability of key personnel skilled in similar space hardware, and (c) the proposers facilities (development, testing, and analyses) to conduct the development and demonstrate successful completion of the objectives as well as the availability and access of proposed facilities. (Resumes of key personnel are also requested, but will not count against the total allotted page count of 15.) (2) Past Performance - The respondent's relevant experience and past performance in building similar developmental space hardware, and availability of key personnel. Substantive evidence of successful participation in similar developments should be included along with point of contact information for references. This criterion also evaluates the respondent's past performance and experience with controlling both cost and schedule. The ability of the respondent to complete projects on time and within the modest, fixed budgets which are characteristic of the Earth Venture line. The respondent should provide evidence of successfully controlling cost and schedule for similar development programs and provide evidence of management processes in this area. (3) Contributions. This criterion evaluates the extent and type of contributions proposed (e.g., existing instrument hardware, calibration equipment) and the potential partner's commitment to provide them, if selected. NASA will not reimburse organizations for the cost of submitting information in response to this partnering opportunity. NASA will not pay for technical assessment or proposal preparation costs incurred by the respondent. Potential partners are asked to provide a notification of intent to respond to this partnering opportunity within two weeks after its release. The LaRC point of contact (POC) for this opportunity is Dr. Kory Priestley (see contact information below). For all questions submitted in writing, answers will be forwarded to those who have expressed an interest in responding to this opportunity, however, the source of the question(s) shall be held in confidence. Electronic or written responses to the Partnership Opportunity Document shall: 1) Not exceed 15 pages. 2) Use a font size of 12 or larger. 3) Address all requirements described in this document. 4) Provide a Point of Contact to address questions from NASA. If marked as such, responses will be treated as proprietary information and controlled as such. Brad Gardner Mail Stop 12 NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23681-2199 757.864.2525 Robert.b.gardner@nasa.gov Dr. Kory Priestley Mail Stop 420 NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23681-2199 757.775.3846 (cell) 757.864.8147 (office) kory.j.priestley@nasa.gov All responses shall be submitted to NASA LaRC via e-mail by 4:00 PM Eastern Time on September 6, 2018 to Kory Priestly and Brad Gardner.