Space Weather (SW) Next Instruments for Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO) is soliciting information through this RFI to survey vendor interest and capabilities.

Information received will be used in the preparation and support of the development of an acquisition strategy and for a potential, future release of a Request For Proposal (RFP) to procure, develop and fabricate instruments for the SW Next Program observations in geosynchronous (GEO) and highly eccentric orbits (HEO).

For the purpose of this RFI, the notional launch date for both GEO and HEO observatories is 2032. The GEO observatory has a notional mission life of 7 years while that of the HEO observatory is 5 years. Prospective vendors may assume that the notional HEO orbit is a Tundra orbit.

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit vendor interest and capabilities to produce one or more of the instruments listed below on a satellite in GEO and/or HEO as indicated: GEO In-situ particle (electrons, protons, ions) flux sensors Magnetometer Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) imager EUV irradiance sensor Photospheric magnetograph imager Heliospheric imager Ionosphere/Thermosphere (I/T) Imager HEO In-situ particle (electrons, protons, ions) flux sensor Magnetometer Auroral imager Please see attachment for additional details concerning Question/Comment deadline and submission instructions.

5/21/2024:

Amendment 1 - includes updates to RFI details and requirements for submission. All changes are made in red. Please review updated RFI and Question/Answer documents attached.

5/21/2024:

Amendment 2 - removes blank page of revised RFI. Also responds to additional questions received. Please review second set of Question/Answers document attached.

5/24/2024:

Amendment 3 - Extends RFI due date. Also responds to final set of questions received. Please review third set of Question/Answers document attached.

5/30/2024:

Amendment 4 - Extends RFI due date again. Please review fourth set of Question/Answers document attached.