Agency offers $396 million for the management of its upcoming space observation system operations
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has put out a call for proposals to manage the next generation of its space weather observing system, known as Space Weather Next (SW Next). Submissions for the contract are still due by September 18, 2022.
The SW Next program includes ambitious plans for L5 monitoring, which will launch in 2031 and place a spacecraft with a NOAA-provided compact coronagraph at L5, a distant vantage point that will give a continuous side-on view of space between the Sun and Earth.
The purpose of the SW Next program is to provide continuity and enhancement of space weather environmental observations. The mission will sustain observations through new missions at key vantage points, including Lagrange point 1 (L1) for real-time Sun coronal imaging and upstream solar wind measurements, and Lagrange point 5 (L5) to provide a continuous side-on view of the space between the Sun and Earth.
NOAA is responsible for monitoring weather outside our atmosphere, including solar flares, solar storms, and other celestial phenomena. L1 space weather satellites are not new, but L5 monitoring is part of the SW Next program.
The contract for managing SW Next is seeking a multi-mission operations service architecture to support all space weather environmental observations. The requested services include mission operations services, compliance with government specifications for deliverables, implementation of a quality assurance surveillance plan, and continuous operational improvement.
The contract is an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, allowing for varied task orders including firm-fixed-price, time-and-materials, cost reimbursement, and cost-plus-fixed-fee types. Work is expected to run from April 2026 through April 2031, with an option to extend to 2036. The place of performance will primarily be NOAA facilities in Silver Spring, Maryland.
In essence, NOAA is investing in the operational management, data handling, and continuous improvement of SW Next space weather missions designed to ensure ongoing, real-time monitoring of space weather phenomena critical for protecting infrastructure and national security. The first new space weather observatory as part of SW Next is planned to launch in 2029, and a second satellite is planned for 2032. The SW Next program is a significant step forward in NOAA's efforts to safeguard our planet from the potentially damaging effects of space weather.
[1] NOAA Press Release, "NOAA Seeks Partners for Next-Generation Space Weather Observing System," link
[2] Federal Business Opportunities, "Space Weather Next (SW Next) IDIQ Contract," link
[3] NOAA, "Space Weather Next (SW Next)," link
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