NASA/GSFC has a requirement for the following:
Multicasting:
Examine techniques (protocols and architectures) for seamless and efficient dissemination of large volumes of data in real-time directly from an instrument onboard a spacecraft to multiple (on the order of 100 users simultaneously), and from one spacecraft to/through others.
This area of research will consider:
· Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard protocols that are at a minimum Technology Readiness Level
(TRL)3.
· Both reliable and non-reliable multi-file transfers selectable by user simultaneously
· Spacecraft-to-ground & spacecraft-to-spacecraft requirements
· Highly asymmetric bandwidth (2kbps to 150Mbps) links and unidirectional links
· Intermittent connectivity (up to multi days) on the return channel
Store and Forward:
Examine techniques (protocols and architectures) for standardizing automated file store and forward services at tracking stations.
This area of research will consider:
· IETF standard protocols that are at a minimum TRL 3.
· Support file delivery rate buffering services
· Providing virtual spacecraft-to-spacecraft communications with connection through the ground, assuming non-simultaneous contacts.
· Security aspects for both directions of data transfer
High Rate Data Communications Technology:
Identify appropriate high-rate network and test equipment in collaboration with other GSFC organizations to ensure that components selected are relevant to multiple missions. Input will be collected from current Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Ka-band studies that look into communication solutions to support data rates up to 1.5 Gbps at White Sands Complex (WSC).
Identify Commercial Off The Shelf(COTS) high-rate framing standards supported in ground network equipment that could be implemented onboard spacecraft and operate over space links (e.g. DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting), GFP (Generic Frame Protocol))
Automated Time Services:
Time synchronization of spacecraft clocks with ground-based time standards has always been a tedious task. Clock offsets are determined manually by analysis of spacecraft timestamps, ground receipt times, and propagation delays. These offsets are then corrected by a manual command. Many future missions are now planning formation-flying constellations with very precise timing requirements for both navigation and science data. The manual methods in place today do not provide a scalable solution for constellations of spacecraft.
The industrial world has seen its timing precision requirements increase with the advance of data communications network technology and robotic automation in factories, power plants, and laboratories. The development of automated time synchronization and distribution technology has followed these requirements and has resulted in a number of techniques for synchronizing large numbers clocks to very high precision.
This task proposes to develop guidelines and parameter envelopes for using industrial time synchronization solutions both with remote time references and local GPS (Global Positioning System) references in the space flight environment.
Networking Technology:
Examine a new integrated communications system for use by all future NASA cislunar missions including robotic science missions, ISS (International Space Station), man rated reusable launch vehicles as well as Moon-based missions. The overall communications vision is presented as an end-to-end system design and architecture based on Internet technologies to support a wide range of cost-effective communications options for handling voice, video, and data. This architecture uses commercial communications technology to extend NASA’s terrestrial network capabilities into space and to enable new types of communications services. It must be a low-cost, interoperable, scalable communications solution that provides commercially supported, standardized access among ground systems, NASA space systems, and DOD (Department of Defense) systems and meets NASA security regulations.
This will include options for incorporating non-network traffic such as point-to-point circuits and isochronous traffic.
Data Communications Security:
Evaluate future mission concepts that involve network connectivity among spacecraft, ground stations, and control centers, and examine IT security techniques that meet end-to-end addressability and secure network access requirements. These approaches must be consistent with NASA Policy Directive NPD (NASA Policy Directive) 2810.1 (1998), yet scalable to accommodate widely varying ranges in asset values and risk assessments. It should incorporate not only typical spacecraft-to-ground data transfers, but also spacecraft-to-spacecraft data transfers. It should also factor in the various open and mission classes of networks used across NASA.
This activity should evaluate the following technologies: IPSec, Secure Socket Layer (SSL), High Assurance IP Encryption (HAIPE), Mobile-IP/Mobile-Router, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), and IPv4/IPv6.
Complete Handbook version 1.0 to include all GSFC activities to date (CANDOS (Communications And Navigation Demonstration On Shuttle), GPM, etc.)
Examine COTS, network-based time synchronization services (e.g. Network Time Protocol NTP, Precision Time Protocol PTP (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE 1588)) and identify candidates for future use onboard spacecraft to synchronize time with ground time references and/or other spacecraft
Identify COTS high-rate framing standards supported in ground network equipment that could be implemented onboard spacecraft and operate over space links (e.g. DVB, GFP).
The contractor will support the Operating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI) project by providing engineering and consulting support to the Space Network IP Services (SNIS) project.
NASA/GSFC intends to purchase the required services from Computer Sciences Corporation. The Statutory Authority permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition is 10 U.S.C 2304 (c)(1). Only One Responisble Source. Computer Sciences Corporation is the industry leader in the field of Internet Technology in the Space Domain and are the only company capable of meeting NASA/GSFC's requirements as stated in the attached Statement of Work.
All offerors who think that they are capable of performing should refer to the attached Statement of Work to ensure that they can complete all aspects of this requirement.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26.
See note 22.
Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.
All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.
An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B".
Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
