Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness (SOLAR) Series X-ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Goddard Space Flight Center is soliciting proposals for the Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness (SOLAR) Series X-ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS), identified under solicitation number 80GSFC26R0006, with a response deadline of July 6, 2026. This contract requires the design, development, fabrication, and delivery of two flight-ready X-ray Irradiance Sensors, with the first intended for integration onto the SOLAR-B spacecraft and the second serving as a spare or for future missions. The sensors must measure solar X-ray irradiance across two specified spectral bands—0.05 to 0.4 nm and 0.1 to 0.8 nm—with precise flux ranges, and the system must include all associated hardware, software, and ground processing algorithms. Deliverables also encompass Ground Support Equipment including test fixtures, calibration tools, and Electrical Ground Support Equipment, as well as comprehensive Transportation, Handling, and Packaging Plans that detail environmental controls, shipping methods, and compliance with safety regulations. Performance is governed by a detailed Contract Deliverables Requirements List, with mandatory milestones tied to payment events including the Flight Model delivery, Observatory Pre-Storage and Pre-Shipment Reviews, Mission Rehearsals, Launch, and Final On-Orbit Acceptance. Payment structure is performance-based, with CLIN 001 funded through a series of milestone-driven payments and CLIN 002 covering post-delivery support, with cumulative funding tracked across Government Fiscal Years 2027 through 2033. The contract is subject to an extensive set of compliance and security requirements, including mandatory adherence to NASA’s Information Technology and Controlled Unclassified Information directives, as well as security protocols for unclassified IT resources under FAR and NFS clauses such as 52.240-91, 52.240-93, and 1852.240-76. Contractors are required to maintain a quality management system compliant with SAE AS9100 and implement a closed-loop system for reporting and correcting nonconformances across all tiers of the supply chain. Organizational conflicts of interest are a significant concern, and offerors must submit an OCI Avoidance Plan referenced in NFS clauses 1852.237-72 and 1852.237-73, with ongoing