The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for participation in a USRA-NASA sponsored Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Observation Campaign.
USRA is working with NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC) and George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to coordinate the Observation Campaign for LCROSS. The Observation Campaign is designed to provide funding to qualified observers who have time on appropriate observatories to take measurements that will validate and complement measurements taken by the Shepherding Spacecraft and other assets. The RFP being issued by USRA is open to all qualified observers and is intended to fund a number of proposals that address LCROSS Science Goals.
Participation in the LCROSS Observation Campaign is open to all categories of US and non-US organizations including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA Centers are excluded from participation as primary proposers but teams including NASA participants as partners are encouraged. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), other Minority Universities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, and woman-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are also encouraged to apply. (Please note that participation in this program by non-U.S. organizations is welcome but subject to NASA’s policy of no exchange of funds, in which each government supports its own national participants and associated costs. Further information on foreign participation can be found in Section 1.6 of the NASA Guidebook for Proposers).
The LCROSS Observation Campaign RFP is posted on USRA’s website (www.usra.edu) for access by qualified parties. Questions regarding the RFP may be submitted to LCROSS @usra.edu. All questions must be submitted by October 20, 2008. Responses to questions will be posted on USRA’s website. Proposals should be submitted according to instructions provided in the RFP. The deadline for proposal submission in response to this RFP is October 30, 2008.
About USRA
The Universities Space Research Association, founded in 1969, is a private, nonprofit consortium of 102 universities offering advanced degrees in space- and aeronautics-related disciplines. USRA operates programs and institutions focused on research and education in space related science and engineering disciplines.
