As of May 19, 2023 - This RFI is updated to extend the response due date to Friday, June 30, 2023 . Responses are due on or before June 30, 2023 via eMail to JPL Technical Manager Stepanie Granger, email:
[email protected] As of May 9, 2023 - This RFI is updated to remove a reference to Appendix A under 3.0 Requirements for Responses, paragraph 3.1. The response due date is on or before May 30, 2023 via eMail to JPL Technical Manager
[email protected] As of May 8, 2023 - Section 4.0 Responses Due. The response due date is extended to Tuesday, May 30, 2023 . Please provide the below requested information on or before May 30, 2023 via eMail to JPL Technical Manager
[email protected] The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech. JPL is a unique national research facility that carries out robotic space and Earth science missions by implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space-based astronomy and technology development while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. 1.0 Background The NASA Western Water Applications Office (WWAO) headquartered at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is requesting interested parties to describe their processes, technical capabilities and demonstrated experience in applying NASA capabilities to address water management needs in the Rio Grande Basin. The WWAOs mission is to support advances in water management in the western U.S. through the use of NASA data, technology, and tools in partnership with water managers and decision makers. In 2022, the WWAO conducted a Needs Assessment for the Rio Grande Basin that identified high priority data gaps and information needs for water resources management in the Basin (WWAO, 2022). This assessment highlighted 12 specific data needs and associated use cases related to management of water resources for water supply monitoring and forecasting, water use and management for agriculture, climate and extremes, and watershed health and water quality. Many water managers recognize the value of NASAs remote-sensing research and data for decision support, but they also find it challenging to use operationally. In many cases, water management offices/agencies may lack the scientific and technical resources to access, process, or analyze the information for decision-making. The WWAO seeks to bridge this gap by developing needs-driven solutions. Through this RFI, the WWAO is seeking descriptions on current and planned activities to develop or deploy tools and services that use NASA data and technologies that could address the specific data gaps and high-priority information needs identified in the 2022 Rio Brande Basin Needs Assessment. Examples of projects that are a priority for the RFI include: management of water supply, monitoring and managing water use, quantifying impacts of a changing climate and extreme events (drought, flood) on water resources and management, and understanding water quality and watershed health especially as it relates to wildfire impacts. 2.0 Scope The activities described in each RFI response should address a water-resource management challenge and may range from local management for individual fields, to regional scales of municipalities and districts, to basin-wide efforts. The activities described may include, but are not limited to: 1. Workshops and meetings to develop partnerships, refine remote sensing application concepts and user requirements and development/evaluate early prototypes; 2. Applied research to quantify the uncertainty of remote sensing derived data products specifically for the Rio Grande Basin to verify that new data products meet partner specifications and requirements; 3. Applied research and software engineering to advance the Applications Readiness Level (ARL) of a NASA information product, technology, or tool that supports water-resource management in the Rio Grande Basin; 4. Integration of a remote sensing variable(s) into an existing Rio Grande Basin water management decision support tool or workflow; 5. Focused workshop(s), outreach and/or capacity building activities to advance information products or technologies to sustained use by water resources decision makers in the Rio Grande Basin; 6. Existing or proposed collaborations with NASA researchers to facilitate the use of NASA data in water management operations. Responses to the RFI are due on or before Friday, June 30, 2023 . All RFIs will be reviewed by the WWAO Program Management Organization and the Acquisition Organization to determine the activities that are highly aligned with the programmatic objectives described in this RFI. These RFIs could lead to RFPs or subcontracts in the range of $100-$200K, with a period of performance of 18 months. 3.0 Requirements for Responses Responses to this RFI should: 3.1 Describe concepts that apply NASA and other remote sensing data and technology to address data and information needs for water management in the Rio Grande Basin (reference to Appendix A is removed here) . Responses should clearly reference high priority needs and user requirements described in the WWAO Rio Grande Basin Needs Assessment Report. 3.2 Clearly identify: the data or information need to be addressed, the NASA data or technology that will be used in the solution, the role and responsibilities of the water-resource management partner in the Rio Grande Basin, the role of the water-resource management partner in the proposed project, and, v) the water-resource management decisions that are targeted by the solutions concept. 3.3 Clearly articulate past experience working with NASA data. Responses that include experience with multiple and/or emerging NASA data or technologies are encouraged. 3.4 Identify existing and sustained relationships with water management organizations in the Rio Grande Basin. RFI responses in which the respondent has such ties are of strong interest. 3.5 Include one or more letters of support from the water-resource management partner entity that includes a description of expected benefits for the water management organization. 3.6 Describe a concept that is currently at an ARL of 2 or higher. Detailed descriptions of NASA ARLs are available at: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/ExpandedARLDefinitions4813.pdf 3.7 Describe a scope of work that would advance a solution concept or application by at least one ARL. 3.8 Responders are asked to identify the current ARL of the solution concept, and the expected ARL of the solution upon completion of the activities described in the RFI response. 3.9. Responses should include all the Element Descriptions per Attachment 1. Element Description and Page Length limited to four (4) pages total. DISCLAIMER: The requested information is for preliminary planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment implied or otherwise, that JPL will solicit you for such procurement in the future. Neither JPL nor the Government will be responsible for any costs incurred by you in furnishing this information. Prospective subcontractors are advised that any information provided shall be deemed to be furnished with unlimited rights to JPL with JPL assuming no liability for the disclosure, use or reproduction of such data. 4.0 Responses Due Please provide the requested information on or before Friday, June 30, 2023 via eMail to JPL Technical Manager Stephanie Granger, email:
[email protected]