Partnering Opportunity Document – Thermosphere Infrared Emission Research Sensor (TIERS)

NASA Langley Research Center is seeking partners to develop and propose advanced instruments to anticipated NASA opportunities offered by both the Earth Science Division and the Heliophysics Division. Specifically, partners are sought to develop new instruments to measure infrared earth-limb radiances in the middle and upper atmosphere for the derivation of composition and structure. Of particular interest are concepts that would substantially reduce the mass, volume, and power requirements over current sensors while retaining the radiometric fidelity required to produce accurate scientific data (e.g., temperature, ozone, etc.) at high vertical and spatial resolution.  The intent of this study and subsequent hardware development is for the instrument to fit on small or cube satellites. The new sensors must also be accurately calibrated and have on-board calibration systems to enable, at a minimum, verification of radiometric stability over the life of the instrument. The anticipated spectral coverage spans 1 to 18 microns, and the specific spectral features will be tailored to the anticipated NASA opportunities.  

Participation in this partnering synopsis is open to all categories of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as NASA Centers and other U.S. Government Agencies. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Other Minority Universities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned small businesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBzone small businesses, and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are encouraged to apply. Participation by non-U.S. organizations is welcome but subject to NASA's policy of no exchange of funds, in which each government supports its own national participants and associated costs.

If selected through this synopsis, it is expected that the selected partner(s) will work with NASA LaRC scientists and engineers to jointly develop a Heliophysics proposal. If the proposal is selected, NASA LaRC anticipates issuing contracts or other agreements to the selected partner(s) for performance of the proposed elements.

This partnering opportunity does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts or other agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for the information solicited. It is expected that the partner(s) selected would provide (at no cost to NASA) technical requirements, conceptual designs, technical data, proposal input, project schedules, and cost estimates for the spaceflight instrument concepts. It is expected that the selected partner(s) will work with NASA LaRC scientists and engineers as a team to jointly develop the technical requirements for an instrument concept with sufficient detail to enable accurate mass, volume, power, telemetry requirements, cost and schedule estimates for development, integration, and test; an assessment of areas of technical, cost and schedule risk and approaches for addressing those risks; and the technical and cost volumes of the proposal. If the proposal is selected, it is anticipated that the partner(s) will work with LaRC on design, development, integration, and testing of the instrument; development of ground support equipment (GSE); development of software for the instrument and GSE; and other potential mission specific elements.

Partner selections will be made by NASA LaRC based on the listed criteria in the following order of importance:

1. Relevant experience, and past performance. This criterion evaluates the responder’s relevant recent experience, past performance in similar development activities. Substantive evidence of successful participation in similar development shall be included.
2. Technical capability and key personnel. This criterion evaluates technical capability to perform the development and key personnel available to support the development. Evidence of staffing estimates with available key personnel shall be included. Past successful programs and technical contributions shall be included.
3. Facilities. This criterion evaluates the proposers’ facilities (development, testing, and analyses) to conduct the development or demonstration of the proposed task. Instrument facilities for testing of space hardware and prototype hardware are considered important to this opportunity. The proposer should discuss facility availability, access, and the ability to meet the proposed objectives.
4. Cost and schedule control. The respondent should provide evidence of successfully controlling cost and schedule for similar development programs and provide evidence of management processes in this area.

NASA will not reimburse organizations for the cost of submitting information in response to this partnering opportunity. NASA will not pay for technical assessment or proposal preparation costs incurred by the respondent.

The LaRC points of contact (POCs) for this opportunity are Dr. Martin Mlynczak and Michelle Crawford (see contact information below). For all questions submitted in writing, answers will be forwarded to those who have expressed an interest in responding to this opportunity, however, the source of the question(s) shall be held in confidence. Electronic or written responses to the Partnership Opportunity Document shall:

1) Not exceed 15 pages.

2) Use a font size of 12 or larger.

3) Address all requirements described in this document.

4) Provide a Point of Contact to address questions from NASA.

If marked as such, responses will be treated as proprietary information and controlled as such.

Point of Contact              

Michelle Crawford, Mail Stop 12 NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23681-2199, 757.864.8357 ([email protected]).

Martin Mlynczak Mail Stop 420 NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23681-2199 757.864.5695 ([email protected] ).

All responses shall be submitted to NASA LaRC via e-mail by 4:00 PM Eastern Time on 9 September 2020 to Martin Mlynczak and Michelle Crawford.

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Questions and Answers for this Opportunity:

Q:  Do you require a specific specialty or [is NASA] locked into a specific technology?

A: The specialty we are looking for is expertise in building space based infrared sensors for observing Earth’s upper atmosphere. We have not settled on a specific measurement approach. The idea is that we will assemble a team from the selected partner(s) and then together work to define the optimal observing technology.

Q: Is NASA looking for a satellite bus provider along with a sensor provider?

A: NASA is interested in concepts that include instruments and Cubesat combined solutions.