THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, QUOTATION, OR INVITATION TO BID NOTICE.
A. Request Summary
The Government is seeking information regarding lightweight, low-cost technologies and techniques to provide safe entry and either low-g ("soft") or high-g ("hard") landing for these payloads. For purposes of this RFI, "soft" landing is defined as Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) loads that are less than the launch loads, and "hard" landing is considered EDL loads higher or significantly higher than launch loads (e.g., impactors or penetrators). In all cases, onboard instrumentation is expected to survive landing for operations for up to several Earth years on the Martian surface. In accordance with 15.201 (e), the information requested is for planning purposes only and is not intended to bind the Government.
B. Background
The Mars Exploration Program (MEP http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov ) is a science-driven effort to characterize and understand Mars as a dynamic system, including its present and past environment, climate cycles, geology, and biological potential. The MEP further embraces the challenges associated with the development of a predictive capability for Martian climate and how the role of water, obliquity variations, and other factors may have influenced the environmental history of Mars. The foundation of the scientific strategy for the MEP is also referred to as "follow the water." This strategy connects fundamental program goals pertaining to biological potential, climate, the evolution of the solid planet, and the development of knowledge and technologies applicable to the eventual exploration of Mars by humans.
The program builds upon the scientific and technical heritage of the early Mariner and Viking missions to Mars, and later Mars Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor. The Program's five current missions are Mars Odyssey, twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Phoenix, and the Mars Science Laboratory. The Program plans to continue flying missions to Mars at every 26-month launch opportunity.
The next decade in NASA's exploration of Mars consists of a series of missions to improve our understanding of Mars' habitability; climate; geophysical characteristics and history; and its potential harboring of life, past or present. The 2011 opportunity is an already-competed Scout mission addressing aeronomy through one of two currently proposed mission concepts. The Mars Science Orbiter (MSO) in 2013 will continue the successful program strategy of Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, by pursuing compelling science and technology while also providing essential telecommunication relay infrastructure for future landed missions. Also in the next decade are potential missions that could include a network of small landers and/or related technology demonstrations, to further the understanding of the Mars interior and climate systems. These could include multiple landed packages carrying meteorological, climatic, and geophysical measurement payloads operating simultaneously on the surface over a decade or more. Climate objectives would include understanding the mechanisms responsible for surface-atmosphere exchange of heat, momentum, dust, water, and other trace gases. Geophysical instrumentation might include seismic sensors, heat flow probes and the capability for making high-precision geodetic measurements.
C. Description of Anticipated Requirement
The following is the Government's (Mars Exploration Program's) current anticipated requirement:
The Government is considering including small, landed instrument(s) or instrument suites as deployed payloads from MSO and/or as a separate network mission. The landers are envisioned to be smaller than 100 kg with the ability to address the science priorities described above. They may be technology demonstrations or operational missions and may be deployed individually, over a series of missions, or as a suite in a single mission. Payloads on these landers could include meteorological, climatic, or geophysical measurement instruments.
Through this RFI, the Government desires to improve its understanding of the state-of-technology and technology maturity (Technology Readiness Levels, TRLs) for lightweight, low-cost technologies and techniques that will provide safe entry and either low-g or high-g landing on the Martian surface. Information gathered through this RFI could directly affect acquisition strategies developed for early- to mid-next decade Mars missions. If determined advantageous, the Government could initiate acquisition of landing technologies and techniques as soon as early 2008.
D. Information Requested
NASA invites potential responders to submit feedback on the stated requirements by 4:00 PM EDT on May 31, 2007.
Information on Respondent's Capabilities Requested:
Provide a capabilities and qualifications statement that addresses your ability to provide the specialized technology requirements for Mars EDL and surface landing, including:
* A discussion of the respondent's applicable landing technologies, including mass (per mass delivered if relevant), consumables, etc. A description of previous uses of these technologies, if they are already operational or nearly operational, should be included. A discussion of how they can be applied to the Martian entry, descent, and landing should be included to demonstrate their applicability;
* A discussion of maturity level of the respondent's technologies in terms of TRL, with supporting evidence for the claimed TRL. An estimate of investments to-date; a rough-order-of-magnitude cost to bring the system/technology to flight status (TRL 6/7); and a rough-order-of-magnitude cost estimate for development, fabrication, and testing of a flight model; should be included. A cost range is acceptable.
* A description of payload accommodations, such as g-load on landing, sustained forces, other loads during entry and descent, and the payload thermal environment throughout EDL. Describe any unique or enhanced features such as orientation on landing, multiple payload delivery, or any other options enabled by your technology.
* A discussion of your past experience and capability in designing, developing, and delivering similar technologies for planetary missions.
This statement should be no more than 5 pages (8.5" x 11" format) in length. Potential respondents who wish to discuss more than one technology should submit separate capabilities statements for each.
NASA is seeking capabilities from small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small businesses for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for this requirement. In addition to the 5-page capability statement, responses should also include 1 page with the following: name and address of firm, size of business; average annual revenue for the past 3 years and number of employees; ownership; whether they are large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and/or woman-owned; number of years in business; potential and required partnerships related to the described technologies and/or systems; and a list of customers covering the past five years (highlight directly relevant work performed and provide point of contact's- address, email, and phone number).
NASA does not require proprietary information; however, if the respondent submits proprietary material it must be clearly marked with a protective legend. The Government will safeguard the confidentiality of any material marked as "Proprietary". Classified material may also be submitted with appropriate markings and prior arrangements, made by contacting the NASA MEP Point of Contact listed below. Classified responses must be accompanied by an unclassified abstract.
The NASA MEP will evaluate the information from this technology survey for applicability to future missions and acquisitions. The Mars Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which reports to and manages implementation of the Program on behalf of the MEP at NASA HQ, will participate in the assessment of responses to this RFI. Anyone reviewing/assessing responses will sign a non-disclosure agreement and will be firewalled from future proposal efforts in response to relevant solicitations that may result from this RFI.
Depending on the response, MEP is considering a one-day workshop for responders to present and discuss their submissions both in an open forum and, potentially, in a confidential setting.
E. Summary of Key Information
Page limit for the central capabilities statement: 5 pp
Submission medium: CD containing statement in searchable PDF format. No hard copy is required.
Number of copies required: 15 copies of each CD are required. One technology statement per CD.
Due date: May 31, 2007, 4:00 pm EDT
Address for submission of capabilities statement:
NASA Research and Education Support Services
Attn: Mars Technology RFI
Suite 200
500 E St., SW
Washington, DC 20024
Telephone: 202-470-9030
NASA MEP Point of Contact concerning this program:
Lisa May
Mars Exploration Program
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001
Telephone: (202) 358-2411
FAX: (202) 358-3097
E-mail: Lisa.May@nasa.gov
