Small Satellite Data Buy, On-RAMP
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Headquarters (HQ) is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (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 (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition for multiple award Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) for Small-satellite Commercial Data Buy Program. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses hereto.
The objective of the Small-Satellite Data Buy Program is to identify, evaluate and acquire data from commercial sources that support NASA’s Earth science research and application activities (https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science). Commercially acquired data may provide a cost-effective means to augment and/or complement the suite of Earth Observations acquired by NASA and other US government agencies and those by international partners and agencies. Emphasis is placed on data acquired by small-satellite constellations, affording the means of complementing NASA acquired data with higher resolutions, increased temporal frequency or other novel capabilities in support of existing Earth science and application activities.
Participation in this RFI provides an opportunity or “on-ramp” for vendors with new or significantly enhanced capabilities to enter the next evaluation phase of the Small-Satellite Data Buy Program. NASA intends to provide the purchased data sets to a broad set of separately selected NASA-funded researchers who will be supported to examine and analyze the data set(s) to help determine the utility of the constellation-based products for advancing NASA’s research and application development goals.
The evaluation phase is expected to take approximately 12-18 months from start of award. NASA may enter into a longer term agreement for continued access to data pending a favorable evaluation. Further it is recommended that vendors selected during the previous pilot data buy program do not resubmit to this RFI unless they have developed new data products (or data products based on new instruments) that were not available to NASA at the time the contracts were signed. It is anticipated that on-ramp opportunities will be issued on a 12-18 month interval to identify new vendors or substantially improved capabilities for evalution.
For this program, NASA desires to procure one or more data sets/information products and associated meta-data (documentation, access routines, precision orbits, basic characterization information and other necessary information) based on Earth observations derived from Earth-orbiting, small-satellite constellations designed and operated by non-governmental entities, particularly the private sector. NASA intends to provide the purchased data sets to separately selected NASA-funded researchers who will be supported to examine and analyze the dataset(s) to help determine the utility of the constellation-based products for advancing NASA’s research and applications development goals. The license for data products evaluated by the NASA-funded researchers should allow Scientific Use for Non-Commercial Purposes (see below) to ensure the NASA community of reviewers can be engaged in the evaluation and publish results.
The offeror shall deliver Earth-relevant data products obtained from commercial small-satellite constellations, associated metadata and ancillary information. Data, including associated metadata, is needed for the purpose of technical assessment and assimilation into current algorithms and models to determine the viability of these data for existing research and application investigations. Support on best practices for accessing and using data to address issues that may be encountered is expected.
As part of responding to this RFI, the offerors shall demonstrate that it has an operational constellation of small-satellites. A constellation shall be comprised of a minimum of three satellites supporting consistent global coverage (e.g., with identical or nearly identical instruments). Additionally, the offeror shall provide the following information:
o Description of the instrument(s) used in the data acquisition and their sampling characteristics.
o Detailed description of pre-launch instrument characterization and calibration as well as on-board calibration and stability metrics.
o Launch date(s), commissioning information and anticipated lifetime.
Scientific Non-Commercial Use License: NASA has determined a necessity for the U.S. Government to acquire minimum rights to Data for any and all Data procured under any agreement to support intended Scientific Non-Commercial Use. At a minimum, the U.S. Government and its related entities shall have the ability to copy, store, share and use Data and any Derivatives for Scientific Use including but not limited to inclusion in scientific and technical articles and publishing academic, technical or professional journals, symposia proceedings, or similar works. The minimum data rights apply to all phased of the Small-Satellite Data Buy Program.
All interested offerors having small-satellite-based Earth observation constellations generating products for purchase by NASA’s Earth Science Division should submit a capability statement of 10 pages or less indicating the ability to perform/meet all aspects of the effort described herein, and specific information related to the quality and suitability of the data products. Responses shall also include the following:
1. Company name and address;
2. Business size classification;
3. Information demonstrating technical capability and description of the data, including supporting dataset quality information.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541990 this industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the provision of professional, scientific, or technical services.
Estimated award date for these BPAs is May 2020.
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.
Point of Contact for Technical and Programmatic questions shall be directed to Kevin Murphy via email @ Kevin.j.Murphy@nasa.gov.
This synopsis 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.
All responses shall be submitted to Rhea Frazier via electronic mail @ Rhea.P.Frazier@nasa.gov in either Microsoft Word or ADOBE PDF format no later than 5:00 PM EST October 2, 2019.
FAQ:
Question: Can you please clarify the definition of an operating constellation?
Answer: For the purpose of this RFI, an operating constellation is defined as 3 or more satellites that have been launched, commissioned and are routinely operating to produce data at the time of this announcement.
Rhea Frazier, Contracting Officer, Phone 3012865029, Email rhea.p.frazier@nasa.gov
