Solicitation Number:

NNC08ZRC029L

Notice Type:

Presolicitation

Synopsis:

This notice is issued by the NASA GRC via the Internet to post a Request forInformation (RFI), seek product availability, and solicit responses from interestedparties. Responses are to be forwarded to the technical point of contact, Robert E.Jones only via e-mail to Robert.E.Jones@nasa.gov or facsimile transmission at Fax: (216)433-8705. The voice phone is (216) 433-3457. Prospective offerors are also invited tosubmit initial written or verbal comments or questions for clarification to the technicalpoint of contact. Prior to any facsimile transmission, please contact the technicalpoint of contact via phone. Do NOT call the procurement primary point of contact listedon this notice to clarify technical information. See the 2 attachments to this notice for the specifications and other details. FedBizOpsmay not post all the attachments so you are encouraged to check the Internet site, orURL, for the NASA/GRC Business Opportunities home page which ishttp://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=22; It is the offeror'sresponsibility to monitor the Internet cite for the release of the solicitation andamendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their owncopy of the solicitation and amendments, if any.A previous RFI was issued for a DFI S-Band telemetry system in February 2008 whichincluded preliminary information. However, it was well noted that comprehensiveenvironmental and performance conditions for perspective hardware were incomplete andwere not available at that time. This request includes more comprehensive informationabout system operation, storage, and transport environmental requirements, as well astest and verification parameters in the form of attachments containing a draft Statementof Work and Component End Item (CEI) Specifications which are hereby posted for comments. Previously submitted information may be updated and resubmitted based on the additionalinformation. No further updates or revisions to any of these documents are expectedbefore the deadline. No further SS/RFIs are expected to be issued over this component.The anticipated type of procurement action will be to obtain S-Band antennae for atelemetry system. The entire telemetry system will consist of an S-Band transmitter,antennae, and associated connecting coaxial cable. A procurement of commerciallyavailable components that are configured to meet NASAs specific function is expected. The contractor will be expected to provide requested system components, teaming orsubcontracting is acceptable provided each role is explicitly discussed. Some componentswill also need to undergo spaceflight qualification (i.e. environmental) testing prior todelivery. Flight units will also need to undergo acceptance testing (3 line items: commercial unit, commercial units spaceflight qualified, commercial units acceptancetested prior to flight). A fourth line item for technical support is also anticipated. An indefinite delivery indefinite quantity type contract is anticipated where minimum andmaximum number of components over a five year period will be specified. The contractorwill be expected to be able to either perform the environmental and space flightqualification testing, or subcontract for it.The following information is requested after reviewing the SOW and Specificationsdocuments:1. (1) Please comment on the viability of providing S-Band antennae hardware at theproposed center frequency, bandwidth, modulation format, transmitter power, configurationand environment;2. (2) Please comment on your ability to provide S-Band antennae hardware, includingverification and validation of flight test requirements;3. (3) It is assumed that a slightly modified or reconfigured commercial item willbe procured, however, if the requirements indicate that commercial item procurement maynot be possible, please inform us;4. (4) Do any requirements in the documents indicate a significant price increasefrom your standard commercially available hardware;5. (5) Please identify if there is anything unclear in the SOW or specificationsdocuments.6. (6) Please comment on qualification and acceptance testing procedure areas whichmay be combined or inferred for cost and time savings;7. (7) Will having to be determined (TBD) and to be resolved (TBR) items(specifications portions to be finalized after award) pose a problem with proposing afirm fixed price for performance? If so, please comment on the affected areas.8. (8) Will having technical support priced by the hour pose a problem? (The actualamount of technical support is unknown and is anticipated to be procured by the hour witha not to exceed number of hours specified in the actual procurement).9. (9) Do you normally provide some number of technical support hours to assist withhardware integration and test?BackgroundThe Upper Stage is the second stage of NASAs new Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle. In orderto gather the data needed to support flight performance and model verification,Development Flight Instrumentation is planned to fly as an independent system on thefirst five Ares I development test flights.The Ares I Upper Stage Project is led by the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center (MSFC) inHuntsville, Alabama. On behalf of the Upper Stage Avionics and Flight SoftwareIntegrated Product Team at NASA MSFC, the NASA Glenn Research Center is responsible fordesigning, developing, testing and delivering the Upper Stage DFI system.The DFI S-Band Telemetry System will collect and transmit DFI vehicle data from the Upperstage and J-2X engine directly to the Earth-based ground monitoring stations of NASAsCommunications & Tracking Network (CTN). The DFI Upper Stage telemetry system includesone transmitter mounted inside the instrument unit (IU) of the CLV Upper Stage, and anantennae system mounted externally on the vehicle. All Upper Stage CLV DFI telemetrysystem hardware is considered expendable after an approximate ten minute operationalflight time.A vendor survey indicated that commercially available telemetry components may satisfythe radio frequency S-band performance requirements of the Upper Stage DFI telemetrysystem. Consequently, it is expected that the US DFI telemetry system will be based oncurrently available upper S-band frequency commercial transmitter, antennae and coaxialcable components configured to support the data transmission rates required for the AresI Upper Stage DFI. In addition, the telemetry system components must pass space flightqualification and acceptance testing to be performed by the contractor per NASArequirements.

Contracting Office Address:

NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135

Point of Contact(s):

Glen M. Williams, Contracting Officer, Phone 216-433-2885, Fax 216-433-2480, Email Glen.M.Williams-1@nasa.gov Glen M. Williams