REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI), ROBOTIC LUNAR EXPLORATION PROGRAM (RLEP), ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR SPACE PLATFORM ARCHITECTURES
THIS IS *NOT* A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, QUOTATION, OR INVITATION TO BID NOTICE.
RFI Purpose:
NASA/GSFC is seeking advanced technology in order to best achieve and execute the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program (RLEP). We are therefore requesting information regarding technologies, approaches and techniques for accomplishing this. While our intent may be to team with industrial partner(s), we are not bound by this RFI to do so. It is neither a Request for Proposal, nor a Request for Quotation, nor an Invitation to Bid. Therefore, this RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor will the Government pay for information provided in response to this RFI.
Technology Advances:
The traditional subsystem elements that current space system architectures embody are typically too heavy and power intensive. The extreme challenges for weight efficiency on lunar missions makes it essential that the space systems utilized in RLEP place a lower burden on system resources then the current state of the art in order that meaningful payloads can be supported. Therefore the RLEP is seeking technologies that would substantially advance space platform architectures in a manner that materially expands functional capability, adaptability, and reliability while significantly reducing power and weight as compared to current systems. The technologies sought must be of sufficient maturity that they could be readied for utilization in the early RLEP missions. This inquiry seeks information on specific, focused applications ideas, not generic technologies, which could substantially improve the efficiencies of the potential system that may be flown.
Information:
The NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is interested in soliciting the overall concepts, estimates of cost and development schedules, and development risk evaluations. The objectives of this RFI are: 1) to improve NASA's knowledge of industry's capabilities; 2) to improve the overall understanding of what the technology options are for RLEP; and 3) to invite industry to submit information that will allow NASA to assess the partnering opportunities that exist within industry.
NASA has established a website ( http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov ) containing the latest information regarding the RLEP and its associated missions. Interested parties can visit this site to learn more about the program and how it fits into NASA's overall exploration initiative.
To consolidate our planning, we request responses from industry within 30 days of the release date of this RFI, in the form of written and illustrated concepts, ideas, and descriptions of capabilities. We plan to invite formal presentations and discussions at GSFC of the more compelling responses within 45 days of the RFI issuance. Responses can be submitted via email. The subject line of the submission should be "RFI for RLEP Advanced Technology for Space Platform Architecture," and attachments should be in Microsoft WORD, POWERPOINT, or PDF format. The email text must give a point-of-contact and provide his/her name, address, telephone/fax numbers, and email address. The information is requested for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled "Solicitation for Information for Planning Purposes."
It is not NASA's intent to publicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtained during this solicitation. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary or Confidential" will be kept confidential.
It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and information purposes only and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.
No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.
Technical questions should be directed to: Joe Burt at (301) 286-2217 or Joe.Burt@nasa.gov and Martin Houghton at (301) 286-3875 or Martin.Houghton@nasa.gov. Procurement related questions should be directed to: Julie Janus at (301) 286-4931 or Julie.A.Janus@nasa.gov.
Interested offerors shall address the requirements of this RFI in written format as described in the previous paragraphs by electronic mail to: Martin Houghton at Martin.Houghton@nasa.gov, no later than 5:00 PM EST on October 12, 2004.
An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B".
The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will be in Microsoft Office 97 format and will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/GSFC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=C&pin;=51 . It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet cite for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
