New Frontiers Fourth Announcement of Opportunity.
Two Columns
NEW FRONTIERS FOURTH ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
01.09.2017
Preproposal conference schedule for Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. See the Preproposal conference section for information.
01.04.2017
In August 2016 NASA posted a draft version of the NF4 AO for public comment. Fifty-five comments were received, and NASA considered all of these comments when finalizing the text of the AO. NASA's response to this feedback is available in the NASA response to comments document.
12.09.2016
NASA New Frontiers Program AO released
NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing the Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for New Frontiers Program mission investigations. The New Frontiers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's planetary programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap for the PI-Managed Mission Cost. At the conclusion of Phase A concept studies, it is planned that one New Frontiers investigation will be selected to continue into subsequent mission phases. New Frontiers Program investigations must address NASA's planetary science objectives as described in 2014 NASA Strategic Plan and the 2014 NASA Science Plan. Both documents are now available at http://science1.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/.
Investigations are limited to six mission themes (listed without priority):
• Comet Surface Sample Return,
• Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return,
• Ocean Worlds (Titan and/or Enceladus),
• Saturn Probe,
• Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, and
• Venus In Situ Explorer.
• Comet Surface Sample Return,
• Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return,
• Ocean Worlds (Titan and/or Enceladus),
• Saturn Probe,
• Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, and
• Venus In Situ Explorer.
Investigations may propose the use of up to three Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators MMRTG) and/or Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs). The costs for the use of these systems and materials are included in the AO and must be included in the PI-Managed Mission Cost.
On or about December 9, 2016, NASA will release the final New Frontiers AO on NSPIRES (go to http://nspires.nasaprs.com and search open solicitations for NNH16ZDA011O). Proposers should read the New Frontiers AO carefully when it is released.
The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:
Release of final AO.................................................................... December 9, 2016
Preproposal Conference (target)............................................... January 17, 2016 (target)
Electronic Proposal Submittal Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.................... April 28, 2017
Step-1 Selections Announced (target)........................................ November 2017 (target)
Phase A Concept Study Reports due......................................... December 2018
Downselection of Investigation for Flight (target)..................... July 2019 (target)
Launch Readiness Date.............................................................. NLT December 31, 2025
Release of final AO.................................................................... December 9, 2016
Preproposal Conference (target)............................................... January 17, 2016 (target)
Electronic Proposal Submittal Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.................... April 28, 2017
Step-1 Selections Announced (target)........................................ November 2017 (target)
Phase A Concept Study Reports due......................................... December 2018
Downselection of Investigation for Flight (target)..................... July 2019 (target)
Launch Readiness Date.............................................................. NLT December 31, 2025
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email: curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
11.07.2016
Fourth Community Announcement Regarding New Frontiers Program Announcement of Opportunity
This fourth community announcement about the fourth New Frontiers Announcement of Opportunity (AO) provides information on the comments submitted to NASA on the draft of the AO released on August 9, 2016. Responses to all comments will be posted within approximately three weeks on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/. Clarifications on some comments that are deemed of immediate utility to proposers are provided in this announcement.
Launch approval costs for missions with nuclear materials. Table 1 in the draft AO lists key milestones and costs for launch approval processes. This table indicates additional costs of $28M and $21M, respectively, for missions utilizing MMRTG(s) or RHU(s). However, these costs are already included in the costs given in Table 5 which describes RPS costs to proposers. Table 1 will be corrected in the final AO.
RPS and RHU Costs. Table 5 in the draft AO lists RPS costs to the proposers. These costs are in Real Year Dollars but were not clearly labeled as such. The costs have been converted to FY2015$ and the updated table is included below. Table 5 will be updated in the final AO. Additionally, NASA continues to seek efficiencies in the production of nuclear material and utilization processes which could result in cost savings passed along to proposers.
RPS Type and Quantity |
Total cost to be included in PI-Managed Mission Cost |
|---|---|
| RPS and RHU Missions | |
| 1 MMRTG | $103M |
| 2 MMRTG | $133M |
| 3 MMRTG | $163M |
| 1 MMRTG + RHU (Quantity <43)1 | $105M |
| 2 MMRTG + RHU (Quantity <43)1 | $135M |
| 3 MMRTG + RHU (Quantity <43)1 | $165M |
| 1 MMRTG + RHU (Quantity >43 and <190) | $134M |
| 2 MMRTG + RHU (Quantity >43 and <190) | $164M |
| 3 MMRTG + RHU (Quantity >43 and <190) | $194M |
| RHU Only Missions | |
| Quantity <43 | $43M |
| Quantity >43 and <190 | $72M |
Launch vehicle costs. Multiple comments were received about the costs associated with both high performance launch vehicles and 5 m fairings compared with the recent Discovery AO. The costs of both families of launch vehicles (4m and 5m) are projected for the December 2024 launch date based upon contract data, projected future state of the industry, historical trends, and
historical actuals. The Discovery 2014 AO pricing was for an earlier launch date, which is why the cost for that AO was slightly lower than for the New Frontiers AO.
Fairing Dimensions. Questions of clarification were raised about the dimensions of the 4 m
fairing provided in the Draft ELV Launch Services Summary document. This document has
been modified to clarify the fairing dimensions and more clearly match them to each of the
launch vehicle performance classes. The updated document will be posted in the Program
Library in conjunction with this announcement. Proposers must use the payload envelope
associated with the accompanying performance class.
Launch Vehicle Performance Classes. In response to comments on the draft AO NASA has redefined the launch
vehicle performance classes. Updated performance curves are available in the Draft ELV Launch Services Summary document that has been posted in the Program Library.
NASA has not approved the issuance of the New Frontiers AO and this notification does not
obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective
investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned draft New Frontiers AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at
http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science
Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email:
curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
08.10.2016
Investigations are limited to six mission themes (listed without priority):
Launch Vehicle costs and procurement will be the responsibility of NASA. A standard launch performance capability will be defined and provided as GFE and its cost will not be included in the PMMC. The cost of mission specific and special launch services, such as for higher performance launch vehicles or the use of nuclear materials, is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator and must be included within the PMMC.
The value of foreign contributions remains constrained as was done for the recent Discovery Program AO. The total value of foreign contributions may not exceed one-third of the PMMC, and the value of foreign contributions to the science payload may not exceed one-third of the total payload cost.
On August 9, 2016, NASA released a draft of the New Frontiers AO on NSPIRES (go to http://nspires.nasaprs.com and search open solicitations for NNH16ZDA008J). The draft AO will be based on the recent Discovery AO, as well as the Standard PI-led Mission AO Template available at http://soma.larc.nasa.gov/standardao/index.html. Proposers should read the Draft New Frontiers AO carefully when it is released.
Comments on the draft AO are due by September 30, 2016, to the Point of Contact given below.
NASA has not approved the issuance of the New Frontiers AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned Draft New Frontiers AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.
The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email: curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
NASA Draft New Frontiers Program AO released
NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) released a Draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for New Frontiers Program (NNH16ZDA008J) mission investigations on August 9, 2016. The New Frontiers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's planetary programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap for the PI-Managed Mission Cost (PMMC). At the conclusion of Phase A concept studies, it is planned that one New Frontiers investigation will be selected to continue into subsequent mission phases. New Frontiers Program investigations must address NASA's planetary science objectives as described in 2014 NASA Strategic Plan and the 2014 NASA Science Plan. Both documents are now available at http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/.
Investigations are limited to six mission themes (listed without priority):
- Comet Surface Sample Return,
- Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return,
- Ocean Worlds (Titan and/or Enceladus),
- Saturn Probe,
- Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, and
- Venus In Situ Explorer.
Launch Vehicle costs and procurement will be the responsibility of NASA. A standard launch performance capability will be defined and provided as GFE and its cost will not be included in the PMMC. The cost of mission specific and special launch services, such as for higher performance launch vehicles or the use of nuclear materials, is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator and must be included within the PMMC.
The value of foreign contributions remains constrained as was done for the recent Discovery Program AO. The total value of foreign contributions may not exceed one-third of the PMMC, and the value of foreign contributions to the science payload may not exceed one-third of the total payload cost.
On August 9, 2016, NASA released a draft of the New Frontiers AO on NSPIRES (go to http://nspires.nasaprs.com and search open solicitations for NNH16ZDA008J). The draft AO will be based on the recent Discovery AO, as well as the Standard PI-led Mission AO Template available at http://soma.larc.nasa.gov/standardao/index.html. Proposers should read the Draft New Frontiers AO carefully when it is released.
Comments on the draft AO are due by September 30, 2016, to the Point of Contact given below.
NASA has not approved the issuance of the New Frontiers AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned Draft New Frontiers AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.
The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:
Release of draft AO..................................... August 2016
Comment period closes............................... September 30, 2016
Release of final AO...................................... January 2017 (target)
Proposals due............................................... April 2017
Comment period closes............................... September 30, 2016
Release of final AO...................................... January 2017 (target)
Proposals due............................................... April 2017
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email: curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
04.25.2016
As previously announced, investigations for this opportunity are limited to the following mission themes (listed without priority):
The Comet Surface Sample Return mission theme is focused on acquiring and returning to Earth a macroscopic sample from the surface of a comet nucleus using a sampling technique that preserves organic material in the sample. The mission theme would also use additional instrumentation on the spacecraft to determine the geologic and geomorphologic context of the sampled region. Because of the increasingly blurred distinction between comets and the most primitive asteroids, many important objectives of an asteroid sample return mission could also be accomplished by this mission. The science objectives (listed without priority) of this mission theme are:
NASA recognizes that the science objectives may include more scope than can be accomplished in a single New Frontiers mission within the cost cap. Those responding to this opportunity should choose among the science objectives above and defend those choices.
NASA does not prescribe how any missions or investigations responsive to the six themes should actually be accomplished. However, NASA requires that any mission architecture achieve a preponderance of the science objectives listed above for the relevant mission theme. For the purpose of this AO, preponderance is defined to be superiority in number or influence. The requirement to address a preponderance of the science objectives (rather than a majority) recognizes that all science objectives are not necessarily equally important. The required justification of the choice of science objectives should make clear why the set of selected science objectives addresses a preponderance of the science goals.
For sample return missions, the condition of the sample and its volume (or mass) are not specified, but proposals must demonstrate that both the size and condition of the sample are sufficient to achieve a preponderance of the relevant science objectives stated above.
The time frame for the solicitation remains unchanged from the first community announcement.
NASA has not approved the issuance of the New Frontiers AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned draft New Frontiers AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email: curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
Second Community Announcement Regarding New Frontiers Program Announcement of Opportunity
This second community announcement about the fourth New Frontiers Announcement of Opportunity provides information about the science objectives for the six mission themes listed in the first community announcement.
As previously announced, investigations for this opportunity are limited to the following mission themes (listed without priority):
- Comet Surface Sample Return,
- Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return,
- Ocean Worlds (Titan and/or Enceladus),
- Saturn Probe,
- Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, and
- Venus In Situ Explorer.
The Comet Surface Sample Return mission theme is focused on acquiring and returning to Earth a macroscopic sample from the surface of a comet nucleus using a sampling technique that preserves organic material in the sample. The mission theme would also use additional instrumentation on the spacecraft to determine the geologic and geomorphologic context of the sampled region. Because of the increasingly blurred distinction between comets and the most primitive asteroids, many important objectives of an asteroid sample return mission could also be accomplished by this mission. The science objectives (listed without priority) of this mission theme are:
- Acquire and return to Earth for laboratory analysis a macroscopic comet nucleus surface sample;
- Characterize the surface region sampled; and
- Preserve sample complex organics.
- Elucidate the nature of the Moon's lower crust and/or mantle by direct measurements of its composition and of sample ages;
- Determine the chronology of basin-forming impacts and constrain the period of late, heavy bombardment in the inner solar system, and thus, address fundamental questions of inner solar system impact processes and chronology;
- Characterize a large lunar impact basin through "ground truth" validation of global, regional, and local remotely sensed data of the sampled site;
- Elucidate the sources of thorium and other heat-producing elements to understand lunar differentiation and thermal evolution; and
- Determine the age and composition of farside basalts to determine how mantle source regions on the Moon's farside differ from the basalts from regions sampled by Apollo and Luna
- Assess the habitability of Enceladus' ocean; and
- Search for signs of biosignatures and/or evidence of extant life.
- Understand the organic and methanogenic cycle on Titan, especially as it relates to prebiotic chemistry; and
- Investigate the subsurface ocean and/or liquid reservoirs, particularly their evolution and possible interaction with the surface.
- Determine noble gas abundances and isotopic ratios of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in Saturn's atmosphere; and
- Determine the atmospheric structure at the probe descent location.
- Visit, observe, and characterize multiple Trojan asteroids
- Understand the physics and chemistry of Venus's atmosphere through measurement of its composition, especially the abundances of sulfur, trace gases, light stable isotopes, and noble-gas isotopes;
- Constrain the coupling of thermochemical, photochemical, and dynamical processes in Venus's atmosphere and between the surface and atmosphere to understand radiative balance, climate, dynamics, and chemical cycles;
- Understand the physics and chemistry of Venus's crust;
- Understand the properties of Venus's atmosphere down to the surface and improve understanding of Venus's zonal cloud-level winds;
- Understand the weathering environment of the crust of Venus in the context of the dynamics of the atmosphere of Venus and the composition and texture of its surface materials; and
- Search for evidence of past hydrological cycles, oceans, and life and constraints on the evolution of Venus's atmosphere.
NASA recognizes that the science objectives may include more scope than can be accomplished in a single New Frontiers mission within the cost cap. Those responding to this opportunity should choose among the science objectives above and defend those choices.
NASA does not prescribe how any missions or investigations responsive to the six themes should actually be accomplished. However, NASA requires that any mission architecture achieve a preponderance of the science objectives listed above for the relevant mission theme. For the purpose of this AO, preponderance is defined to be superiority in number or influence. The requirement to address a preponderance of the science objectives (rather than a majority) recognizes that all science objectives are not necessarily equally important. The required justification of the choice of science objectives should make clear why the set of selected science objectives addresses a preponderance of the science goals.
For sample return missions, the condition of the sample and its volume (or mass) are not specified, but proposals must demonstrate that both the size and condition of the sample are sufficient to achieve a preponderance of the relevant science objectives stated above.
The time frame for the solicitation remains unchanged from the first community announcement.
NASA has not approved the issuance of the New Frontiers AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned draft New Frontiers AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email: curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
01.06.2016
Community Announcement Regarding New Frontiers Program Announcement of
Opportunity
Estimated Release of draft AO ................................... July 2016 (target)
Estimated Release of final AO.................................... January 2017 (target)
Estimated Proposal due date ....................................... 90 days after AO release
Estimated Release of final AO.................................... January 2017 (target)
Estimated Proposal due date ....................................... 90 days after AO release
This community announcement is an advance notice of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) plan to release a Draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for New Frontiers Program mission investigations with a target release date of July 2016. The New Frontiers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's planetary programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap for the PI-Managed Mission Cost (PMMC). At the conclusion of Phase A concept studies, it is planned that one New Frontiers investigation will be selected to continue into subsequent mission phases. There will be no Missions of Opportunity (MO) solicited as part of this AO. All MOs are now solicited through the Stand Alone Mission of Opportunity Notice (SALMON) AO. New Frontiers Program investigations must address NASA's planetary science objectives as described in 2014 NASA Strategic Plan and the 2014 NASA Science Plan. Both documents are now available at http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/.
Investigations are limited to the following mission themes (listed without priority):
Five themes are described in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. The Ocean Worlds theme for this announcement is tentatively focused on the search for signs of extant life and/or characterizing the potential habitability of Titan or Enceladus. The draft AO will fully elucidate information on the mission themes.
The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:
PI-Managed Mission Cost (PMMC) for investigations are capped at a Phase A-D cost of $850M (FY15$) with exclusions as noted in this announcement. The now-standard 25% minimum reserve on Phases A-D will be required within the PMMC. Operations costs (Phase E and F) are not included in the PMMC but will be evaluated for reasonableness. This exclusion for operation costs will not apply to the development of flight or ground software, ground hardware, or testbed development or refurbishment that occurs after launch. These activities will be considered deferred Phase C/D work and their costs will be included under the PMMC. Only costs related to spacecraft operations will be excluded from the PMMC. Lower-cost investigations and cost-efficient operations are encouraged.
Launch Vehicle costs and procurement will be the responsibility of NASA. A standard launch performance capability will be defined and provided as GFE and its cost will not be included in the PMMC. The cost of mission specific and special launch services, such as for higher performance launch vehicles or the use of nuclear materials, is the responsibility of the PI and must be included within the PMMC. Details of these costs are still under discussion.
The value of foreign contributions remains constrained as was done for the recent Discovery Program AO. The total value of foreign contributions may not exceed one-third of the PMMC, and the value of foreign contributions to the science payload may not exceed one-third of the total payload cost.
Investigations may propose the use Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (MMRTG) and Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs). Some of the costs for the use of these systems and materials will be included in the PMMC as detailed below. These costs are not final and may change.
NASA will provide incentives for technology infusion into New Frontiers investigations. NASA is considering providing technologies as Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE), including up to 43 RHUs and the NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) ion propulsion system (two flight model power processing units and two thrusters). NASA is also considering providing an increase to the PMMC cap for investigations utilizing the Heat Shield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET), a woven Thermal Protection System. In addition, NASA is considering limiting the risk assessment of certain technologies to only their accommodation on the spacecraft and the mission environment.
This incentivized technology list is not complete, and decisions on the specific technologies and the nature of their associated incentives will be made before the release of a draft AO. A Technology Workshop will be held in early 2016 to provide technology developers a chance to provide detailed information to proposers. All NASA-incentivized technologies will participate in this workshop, but other participants will be welcome as well.
New Frontiers Program investigations involving entry, descent, and landing (EDL) into the atmosphere of a Solar System object (including the Earth) shall include an Engineering Science Activity, to be funded outside of the cost cap, to obtain diagnostic and technical data about vehicle performance and entry environments. Details of the goals and objectives of this activity will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Website (http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/) in the Program Library.
New Frontiers Program investigations may propose activities that have the potential to broaden the scientific impact of investigations as optional Science Enhancement Options (SEOs). SEOs include, but are not limited to, guest investigator programs, general observer programs, participating scientist programs, interdisciplinary scientist programs, and archival data analysis programs. NASA is considering allowing New Frontiers Program investigations to also propose Technology Demonstration Opportunities (TDOs) to demonstrate new capabilities. TDOs and SEOs are funded outside of the PMMC cap and may possibly not be selected even if the parent mission is selected for flight.
NASA will release a draft of the New Frontiers AO in the summer of 2016. The draft AO will be based on the recent Discovery AO as well as the Standard PI-led Mission AO Template. NASA has begun its regular assessment and revision of the Standard AO, and once it is complete the Draft New Frontiers AO will be written and provided for public comment. Proposers should read the Draft New Frontiers AO carefully when it is released.
NASA has not approved the issuance of the New Frontiers AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned Draft New Frontiers AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email: curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
Investigations are limited to the following mission themes (listed without priority):
- Comet Surface Sample Return,
- Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return,
- Ocean Worlds (Titan and Enceladus),
- Saturn Probe,
- Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, and
- Venus In Situ Explorer.
Five themes are described in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. The Ocean Worlds theme for this announcement is tentatively focused on the search for signs of extant life and/or characterizing the potential habitability of Titan or Enceladus. The draft AO will fully elucidate information on the mission themes.
The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:
Release of final AO...................................... January 2017 (target)
Preproposal conference................................ ~3 weeks after final AO release
Proposals due ............................................... ~90 days after AO release
Selection for competitive Phase A studies... November 2017 (target)
Concept study reports due............................ October 2018 (target)
Down-selection ............................................ May 2019 (target)
KDP B .......................................................... August 2019 (target)
Launch readiness date .................................. 2024
Preproposal conference................................ ~3 weeks after final AO release
Proposals due ............................................... ~90 days after AO release
Selection for competitive Phase A studies... November 2017 (target)
Concept study reports due............................ October 2018 (target)
Down-selection ............................................ May 2019 (target)
KDP B .......................................................... August 2019 (target)
Launch readiness date .................................. 2024
PI-Managed Mission Cost (PMMC) for investigations are capped at a Phase A-D cost of $850M (FY15$) with exclusions as noted in this announcement. The now-standard 25% minimum reserve on Phases A-D will be required within the PMMC. Operations costs (Phase E and F) are not included in the PMMC but will be evaluated for reasonableness. This exclusion for operation costs will not apply to the development of flight or ground software, ground hardware, or testbed development or refurbishment that occurs after launch. These activities will be considered deferred Phase C/D work and their costs will be included under the PMMC. Only costs related to spacecraft operations will be excluded from the PMMC. Lower-cost investigations and cost-efficient operations are encouraged.
Launch Vehicle costs and procurement will be the responsibility of NASA. A standard launch performance capability will be defined and provided as GFE and its cost will not be included in the PMMC. The cost of mission specific and special launch services, such as for higher performance launch vehicles or the use of nuclear materials, is the responsibility of the PI and must be included within the PMMC. Details of these costs are still under discussion.
The value of foreign contributions remains constrained as was done for the recent Discovery Program AO. The total value of foreign contributions may not exceed one-third of the PMMC, and the value of foreign contributions to the science payload may not exceed one-third of the total payload cost.
Investigations may propose the use Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (MMRTG) and Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs). Some of the costs for the use of these systems and materials will be included in the PMMC as detailed below. These costs are not final and may change.
- Up to three MMRTGs are available at the cost of $105M for one unit, $135M for two units, and $165M for three units. The cost for the unit(s) is included in the PMMC. In addition, the usage of MMRTG(s) requires delaying the LRD by at least one year to no earlier than 2025 to allow for mission-specific funding to support provision of MMRTGs.
- 43 RHUs are available as GFE, and the cost of the units is not included in the PMMC. However, the PMMC will include approximately $26M of costs associated with the use of RHUs.
NASA will provide incentives for technology infusion into New Frontiers investigations. NASA is considering providing technologies as Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE), including up to 43 RHUs and the NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) ion propulsion system (two flight model power processing units and two thrusters). NASA is also considering providing an increase to the PMMC cap for investigations utilizing the Heat Shield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET), a woven Thermal Protection System. In addition, NASA is considering limiting the risk assessment of certain technologies to only their accommodation on the spacecraft and the mission environment.
This incentivized technology list is not complete, and decisions on the specific technologies and the nature of their associated incentives will be made before the release of a draft AO. A Technology Workshop will be held in early 2016 to provide technology developers a chance to provide detailed information to proposers. All NASA-incentivized technologies will participate in this workshop, but other participants will be welcome as well.
New Frontiers Program investigations involving entry, descent, and landing (EDL) into the atmosphere of a Solar System object (including the Earth) shall include an Engineering Science Activity, to be funded outside of the cost cap, to obtain diagnostic and technical data about vehicle performance and entry environments. Details of the goals and objectives of this activity will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Website (http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/) in the Program Library.
New Frontiers Program investigations may propose activities that have the potential to broaden the scientific impact of investigations as optional Science Enhancement Options (SEOs). SEOs include, but are not limited to, guest investigator programs, general observer programs, participating scientist programs, interdisciplinary scientist programs, and archival data analysis programs. NASA is considering allowing New Frontiers Program investigations to also propose Technology Demonstration Opportunities (TDOs) to demonstrate new capabilities. TDOs and SEOs are funded outside of the PMMC cap and may possibly not be selected even if the parent mission is selected for flight.
NASA will release a draft of the New Frontiers AO in the summer of 2016. The draft AO will be based on the recent Discovery AO as well as the Standard PI-led Mission AO Template. NASA has begun its regular assessment and revision of the Standard AO, and once it is complete the Draft New Frontiers AO will be written and provided for public comment. Proposers should read the Draft New Frontiers AO carefully when it is released.
NASA has not approved the issuance of the New Frontiers AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned Draft New Frontiers AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.
Further information will be posted on the New Frontiers Program Acquisition Page at http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0390; Email: curt.niebur@nasa.gov.