Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-1 (TSIS-1) Mission Operations and Data Processing

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS) Project is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (SD-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) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for the TSIS Mission Operations and Data Processing procurement. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small 8(a), WOSB, SD-VOSB, or HUBZone Business set-aside based on responses hereto. 1.0 Overview A total solar irradiance (TSI) and spectral solar irradiance (SSI) sensor system is being built to fly on the International Space Station (ISS) in FY2018 for a 5 year mission. The mission will be designed to continue the collection of (1) TSI and (2) SSI irradiance data for the long-term climate record. TSIS-1 is a mission that contains the Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS) from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) of the University of Colorado. The TSI sensor collects high accuracy, high precision measurements of total solar irradiance to monitor changes in solar irradiance incident at the top of the Earth's atmosphere. The SSI sensor collects high accuracy, high precision measurements of solar radiation as a function of wavelength. LASP is responsible for performing instrument operations and science data processing during the 90 day on-orbit commissioning period of TSIS-1. LASP is currently performing Mission Operations and Data Processing for Total Irradiance Monitor and Spectral Irradiance Monitor instruments on the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) and Total Solar Irradiance Calibration Transfer Experiment (TCTE) missions. 1.1 TSIS-1 Operations Objectives The overall mission operations objectives are to monitor health and safety of the instruments, and provide instrument commanding, scheduling, anomaly resolution (requires detailed knowledge and understanding of instrument and its calibration), and coordination with the ISS. Contractor shall generate periodic reports documenting performance and operations of TSIS-1. 1.2 TSIS-1 Data Processing and Distribution Objectives The data processing objective is to process raw data into four classes of observables (Level 0, 1, 2, and 3) including quality checks of data. Contractor shall also distribute processed data and deliver meta-data and documentation to Goddard Earth Science Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC). All data processing shall use the systems and software developed under the TSIS-1 development contract for the 90 day commissioning period. 1.3 TSIS-1 Operations Requirements The contractor shall perform TSIS-1 mission operations for TSIS-1 following the nominal 90 day commissioning period for 5 years. Direct TSIS payload operations shall be managed by the Johnson Space Center Mission Operations Directorate and the Marshall Space Flight Center Payload Operations Integration Center (POIC). TSIS command and control shall emanate from a TSIS Science Operational Center (TSOC). Provisions for TSIS safety critical commands, primary payload execution protocols, and telemetry data shall be jointly planned/coordinated with the POIC at the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) and a TSOC. POIC will monitor the TSIS critical functions such as fault detection and control and take predefined actions such as issuing safing commands to TSIS. All TSIS raw data is to be routed to a TSIS TSOC for science data processing and analysis. 1.4 TSIS-1 Data Processing and Distribution Requirements A TSIS Science Data System (TSDS) receives the Level 0 science data from a TSOC, and processes the data into standard data products. These include three levels of processing; Level 1, calibrated irradiances; Level 2, instantaneous geophysical parameters; and Level 3, averaged geophysical parameters. A TSDS is also responsible for data calibration and validation of their standard data products. As needed during the mission life, a TSDS provides updates of the processing software to accommodate calibration updates, algorithmic improvements arising from improved validation, and for improving processing efficiencies. A TSDS distributes all four levels of science data products to the science community and to the GES DISC for archival. Information Requested Interested vendors/potential offerors having the required specialized technical capabilities to meet the above requirements should submit a capability statement of 10 pages or less indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort described herein. The response should include experience and past performance in the area of mission operations. Responses must include the following: 1. Business name and address 2. Size of business, average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees, ownership, whether they are large, or any category of small business, number of years in business, affiliate information, parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contract (if potential sub) or subcontractor (if potential prime) 3. Past performance information covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed) Provide a brief description of the topic/effort; the value of the action; if your company was the prime contractor or the subcontractor; and the point of contact (name of the company/Agency, customer's name, phone number, & email address). This Request for Information (RFI) is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirements. 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 the site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. RFI responses and procurement related questions should be directed to NASA GSFC, Attn: Ann Kearney, Code 210.Y, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, Email: Ann.L.Kearney@nasa.gov. Responses are requested within 15 days after issuance of the synopsis.