Procurement Opportunity Document (POD) for Astrophysics Probe Explorer (APEX) for Spacecraft (S/C) and Associated Services

In partnership with the Principal Investigator (PI)-led team, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is developing a mission concept to be proposed for this AO which uses X-ray observations that have been proven crucial for advancing major areas of astrophysics. Since much of the baryonic matter in the Universe, including the most active and luminous sources, are best studied in the X-ray band, key advances in X-ray optics and detector technology have paved the way for this mission that is being proposed by GSFC in response to the APEX AO. 

The partnership opportunity is being issued to select a teaming partner to serve as the satellite (Spacecraft) integrator for this APEX mission, which includes providing a spacecraft bus consistent with a Class C mission per NPR8705.4 Risk Classification for NASA Payloads, instrument to spacecraft integration and environmental testing support (either at the vendors facility or at GSFC), integration support for the observatory to launch vehicle, and support for initial mission operations (launch and early orbit operations) and ongoing mission support of the SC Bus.  GSFC intends to maintain an essential degree of insight into satellite integration and will exercise essential oversight to ensure that the implementation is responsive to NASA requirements and constraints as defined in the upcoming AO (final release in 2023).

NOTE:  Upon selection, GSFC may discuss, and further tailor the roles proposed by respondents in the best interests of the proposal.

The proposed mission is currently in pre-Phase A. If the proposal is downselected, the next step in the proposal process is a mission concept study culminating in a Concept Study Report (CSR), followed by a Site Visit.

The following schedule should be used as a basis for responses to this opportunity:

   Release of draft AO                                         August 16, 2022

   Release of final AO                                         July 2023 (Target)

   Pre-proposal conference                                  ~ 3 weeks after final AO release

   Step 1 Proposal due                                         90 days after AO release

   Selection for competitive Phase A studies      Mid 2024 (Target)

   Concept Study Reports (CSRs) due                Early 2025 (Target)

   Step 2 Down-selection for Phase B                 Late 2025 (Target)

   AO-Required Launch Readiness Date                NLT January 2032 (TBR)

NOTICE OF INTEREST DUE 11/05/2022, by 5PM.