Secondary Payloads Avionics Unit Development

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) invites industry to submit a response to this Request for Information (RFI) to assist NASA in the acquisition planning for the purpose of determining the appropriate level of competition for a self-contained flight qualified avionics unit (AU), which will control the deployment of Secondary Payloads on the Space Launch System (SLS) from the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Stage Adapter (MSA). The information obtained will be used by NASA for planning and acquisition strategy development and to assess feasibility of competition by allowing industry to identify data needed to facilitate competition, potential barriers to competition, transition risk, and Government resources needed to ensure lowest possible cost. This RFI will also allow industry to express interest in competing in the contemplated acquisition and provide suggested contract type(s) for the Government's consideration. NASA will use the information obtained as a result of this RFI on a non-attribution basis. Providing data/information that is limited or restricted for use by NASA for that purpose would be of very little value and such restricted/limited data/information is not solicited. The information received will not be released in its submitted form, but may be used in developing the best approach for fulfilling these requirements, and therefore may be recognizable to the interested party. Upon receiving and reviewing responses to this RFI, NASA may choose to post a subsequent revision to this RFI to request further information from industry to support NASA's acquisition planning for the contemplated procurement. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. The Government does not presently intend to award a contract at this time. A determination by the Government to procure this requirement based upon responses to this notice or other market research is solely within the discretion of the Government. 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. This RFI is subject to FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information of Solicitation for Planning Purposes. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation of responses to this RFI. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Any responses to this RFI that are subject to export controlled items should be properly marked as such. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at https://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html. Please submit responses no later than June 5, 2019, in the form of written and illustrated concepts, ideas, and descriptions of capabilities. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail to charlene.c.booth@nasa.gov. The subject line of the submission should be "RFI Secondary Payloads Avionics Unit Development" and attachments should be in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or PDF format. Files should not be greater than 15 pages (no less than 10 point font except in figure captions). The e-mail text must give a point-of-contact and provide his/her name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. The information is requested for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled "Solicitation for Information for Planning Purposes." No solicitation for this requirement currently exists. However, if an amendment to this RFI or solicitation is released, it will by synopsized on FedBizOpps. It is the potential Offeror's responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any amendments to this RFI or if released, future solicitation documents related to this synopsis. Potential Offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this RFI, or if released, any future solicitation documents.