Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) “GLIMR ATS"

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has released a Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP), Solicitation No. 80LARC26R0002, for the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) project. This DRFP invites potential offerors to review and comment on the draft solicitation, which seeks to procure GLIMR ATS and related services, including spacecraft, launch vehicle, integration planning, ground system design, and on-orbit operations. NASA is particularly interested in feedback on requirements documents, technical approach/oral presentation, small business participation, and evaluation methods. This acquisition will be conducted under full and open competition, resulting in a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract with milestone-based payments over a potential five-year period. The NAICS code is 541715. Key dates include a pre-solicitation conference on June 3, 2026, and a deadline for DRFP comments by June 22, 2026. The final RFP is anticipated in late July 2026, with proposals due approximately 45 days later. Offerors must disclose any intent to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and submit proposals via NASA’s EFSS Box.

This government RFP, 80LARC26R0002, outlines a firm-fixed-price contract for acquiring space services, including spacecraft integration, launch services, and operational support. The contract requires adherence to specific clauses concerning naming schemes, quality management systems (AS9100 certification), and export control regulations. Key deliverables include a Statement of Work and an Access to Space Requirements Document. The contractor's facility will be the primary place of performance. Payment submissions will be electronic via the NASA Shared Services Center, with detailed requirements for vouchers and invoices. Special provisions address foreign national access, data rights (unlimited for non-software, unlimited and unrestricted for software with copyright assigned to the U.S. Government), and technical direction by a Contracting Officer's Representative. Important dates include a pre-solicitation conference on June 3, 2026, and an anticipated contract start date of January 20, 2027. Offerors must submit proposals in five volumes, with specific deadlines for past performance and other sections. A "significant subcontractor" is defined as any subcontractor providing the spacecraft, launch vehicle, and/or ground system. The total contract price is to be determined (TBD), with options for extended services.

This Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the responsibilities of the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) Contractor for NASA's Life Cycle Implementation Phases D through F. The GLIMR mission focuses on studying ocean processes in the Gulf of America and other coastal waters, utilizing a hyperspectral ocean color sensor from geostationary orbit. The Contractor's work encompasses planning and designing the GLIMR Observatory and Launch Segment, integrating the GLIMR Payload with the spacecraft, designing and testing the GLIMR Ground Segment, performing observatory testing and pre-launch processing, launching and performing in-orbit checkout, and conducting on-orbit operations. Key deliverables include various plans, design documents, and reports, with formal reviews and meetings scheduled throughout the project. The SOW also details requirements for configuration control, quality management, safety, and mission assurance. Milestone payments are tied to the completion of these phases, with options for extended operations.

This government file, Exhibit B of Contract No. XXXXXXXXX, outlines the Data Requirements List (DRL) and Data Requirements Description (DRD) for the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) project. It defines documentation deliverables required from the Contractor, including due dates, quantities, and media formats. The document details various reviews such as the ATS Requirements Review (ATSRR), GLIMR Spacecraft to GLIMR Payload Integration Review (ATSIR), and GLIMR Observatory Test Readiness Review (ATSTRR), along with specific project management, safety and mission assurance, and technical data requirements. Key definitions for project components like GLIMR Payload, GLIMR Spacecraft, and GLIMR Ground Segment are provided, along with submission categories (Approval, Review, Information) and media specifications for electronic and other formats. The purpose is to ensure comprehensive documentation and successful execution of the GLIMR Mission, covering all phases from integration and testing to launch and decommissioning.

The Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space Requirements Document (ATSRD) outlines the functional and performance requirements for the GLIMR mission. The document details the system architecture, comprising Ground, Space, Launch, and Science Segments, and describes the GLIMR payload, which includes a sensor assembly, Payload Control Unit (PCU), Decoder Electronics Box (DEB), and a dust cover. Key requirements cover mechanical interfaces, payload volumes, field of view, structural alignment, and mass properties for each component. It also specifies structural launch environment requirements, including quasi-static acceleration and random vibration limits, to ensure the payload's survival and operational integrity within a geostationary orbit for a 1-year science collection mission after a 90-day commissioning period.

The document outlines the GLIMR ATS Milestone Payment Table, detailing the events, deliverables, accomplishment criteria, and estimated invoice schedule for various stages of the GLIMR mission. Key events include the Kick-Off Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM), ATS Requirements Review (ATSRR), GLIMR Payload Pre-Ship Review (PSR), GLIMR Payload Integration Review (ATSIR), GLIMR Observatory Test Readiness Review (ATSTRR), GLIMR Mission Operations Readiness Review (ATSORR), GLIMR Mission Post Launch Assessment Review (ATSPLAR), and extended mission operations. Each milestone requires government approval of specific Data Requirements Lists/Deliverables (DRL/DRDs) and successful completion of associated Statement of Work (SOW) requirements. Payments, ranging from 5% to 30% of the total CLIN value, are scheduled within 30 calendar days after the completion and approval of each event, with monthly payments for operation periods.

The NASA Langley Research Center's Request for Proposal (RFP) 80LARC26R00002, Attachment 1, outlines a Past Performance Questionnaire for the Geostationary Littoral Imaging Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) project. This document serves as a critical tool for evaluating offerors' past performance, containing source selection information as per FAR 3.104. The questionnaire is divided into sections: Section I for basic contract information (completed by the offeror), and Sections II, III, and IV for customer evaluation of performance (completed by a government/industry customer evaluator). Evaluators are instructed to assess performance and the amount of work performed using defined ratings (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory, Not Applicable) and relevance (Significant, Moderate, Minimal, Not Applicable). Offerors are responsible for completing Section I and forwarding the questionnaire to appropriate contacts, who then return the completed form directly to NASA Contract Specialist Ashley Korahaes at larc-glimr-ats@mail.nasa.gov. The evaluation covers specific elements like orbital parameters, contamination control, integration and testing, ground system design, spacecraft/launch vehicle provision, checkout operations, data delivery, and design review support, along with general performance in quality, schedule, business relations, and small business utilization. All information must pertain to performance within the last five years from the RFP release date.

This notice outlines the procurement strategy for the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) project. GLIMR, a Category 3 mission with a Class D payload, will use a hyperspectral ocean color radiometer in geostationary orbit to observe coastal waters. The procurement, a full and open competition under NAICS code 541715, will acquire commercial services including spacecraft and launch vehicle, integration, ground system integration, instrument-spacecraft integration, spectrum licensing, launch, in-orbit checkout, on-orbit operations, and programmatic support. The contract will be Firm-Fixed-Price with milestone payments, with an estimated five-year period of performance, including a three-year base and two one-year options. Key milestones include a draft RFP in May 2026, proposals due September 2026, and an award in January 2027. The government encourages industry feedback on the attached draft requirement documents.

This Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the requirements for the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) Contractor. The contractor is responsible for the design, integration, testing, launch, and on-orbit operations of the GLIMR Observatory, which comprises the GLIMR Payload and the GLIMR Spacecraft. The GLIMR mission focuses on studying ocean processes in the Gulf of America and other coastal waters, particularly phytoplankton dynamics and biogeochemical fluxes. Key activities include planning and designing the GLIMR Observatory and Launch Segment, integrating the GLIMR Payload with the GLIMR Spacecraft, designing and testing the GLIMR Ground Segment, and performing pre-launch and in-orbit operations. The SOW also details management procedures, formal reviews, quality control, and safety protocols. Milestone payments are tied to the successful completion of various reviews and operational periods, including options for extended mission operations.

This document, "Exhibit B – Data Requirements List/Data Requirements Description (DRL/DRD) (Version 0.1)," outlines the comprehensive documentation requirements for contractors involved in the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) project. It details deliverable documentation, including due dates, quantities, media formats, and preparation instructions for various reviews, project management, safety and mission assurance, and technical aspects. Key reviews include ATS Requirements Review (ATSRR), GLIMR Spacecraft to GLIMR Payload Integration Review (ATSIR), and GLIMR Observatory Test Readiness Review (ATSTRR). Project management deliverables encompass Monthly Project Status Reports (MPSR) and Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) Plans. Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA) requirements cover ISO 9001/AS9100 compliance and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Technical documentation includes Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and Verification and Validation (V&V) Plans. The document emphasizes mandatory compliance, electronic submission, and adherence to specific formats for efficient project execution and government oversight of the GLIMR Mission.

The Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space Requirements Document (ATSRD) details the functional and performance requirements for the GLIMR mission. This document, version 0.1 and released on February 28, 2026, outlines the system architecture, mission description, and success criteria for GLIMR, a hyperspectral ocean color sensor targeting the Gulf of America. The mission aims to study ocean processes at diurnal timescales from geostationary orbit, focusing on phytoplankton dynamics and biogeochemical fluxes. Key components include the sensor assembly, Payload Control Unit (PCU), Decoder Electronics Box (DEB), and dust cover, with detailed mechanical, structural, thermal, electrical, and operational requirements. The document specifies interface standards, environmental load limits (quasi-static acceleration, random vibration), and communication protocols to ensure successful deployment and operation of the GLIMR payload for its 90-day commissioning and 1-year science mission.