SRLV FLIGHT AND PAYLOAD INTEGRATION SERVICES   6

NASA/DFRC plans to issue a Competitive Request for Proposal (RFP)/Solicitation for the following Commercial item/services: <p> Suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicle (sRLV) services to fly Research and Development (R&D) technology payloads on platforms that provide reduced gravity or other relevant environments required to test technologies in order to advance their technology readiness. The following commercial space flight profiles are being considered (with associated definitions): <p> Reduced gravity with space environment - Requirement is to rapidly ascend from 0 km AGL to high altitude (typically 100km above ground level [AGL] or greater) and expose the payload to the low temperature and near-vacuum of space while simultaneously exposing the payload to very low values of gravity under stable gravitational conditions. This is typically accomplished by use of a sounding rocket or spacecraft. <p> Slow ascent to high altitude with free-fall descent - Requirement is to expose payload to high altitude (typically 30 km AGL or greater) with a slow (typically 1 hour or greater) ascent and exposure to near-space environment followed by a descent to 0 AGL. This is typically accomplished by use of an untethered balloon with parachute descent. <p> Rapid ascent to space environment with free-fall descent - Requirement is to attain high altitude (>100 km AGL) as rapidly as possible followed by a rapid free-fall descent to 0 km AGL. This is typically accomplished by use of a sounding rocket or spacecraft. <p> Controlled descent with controlled vertical landing - Requirement is to descend from a minimum of 250 m AGL back to 0 AGL, under controlled rocket-powered flight and conduct a controlled vertical landing. Some payloads may require controlled horizontal translation of up to 1 km. Some applications may require allowing the payload to actively control portions of the flight profile. This is typically accomplished by use of a sounding rocket or spacecraft. <p> Controlled vertical ascent and descent - Requirement is to rapidly ascend to high altitude (typically 30 km AGL or greater) along a pre-planned trajectory (typically vertical), hover in place, and then slowly descend back to 0 AGL under controlled conditions. This is typically accomplished by use of a sounding rocket or spacecraft. <p> Contractors will be required to propose prices at the "by seat" level as well as the "full manifest" or both, as applicable. They will also be required to anticipate any common non-standard services required to integrate the technology payloads. <p> The NAICS Code is 481212 and Small Business Size Standard is 1500 Personnel. <p> The anticipated release date of the Draft RFP/Solicitation NND14480735R is on or about Dec 11, 2013. The final RFP/Solicitation is expected to be released on or about Feb 12, 2014 with an anticipated Proposal due date of on or about 28 March 2014. <p> All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. <p> Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. <p> The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at <http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html > <p> The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents 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 Business Opportunities page is: <p> <http://procurement.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin= >. <p> Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site 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). <p> All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing (e-mail or FAX) to Joel B. Lozano.