NASA and NOAA seek industry partners for space weather sensor development

GREENBELT, Md. - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are inviting feedback from industry ahead of a formal solicitation for the development of a new space weather sensor. The X-Ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS) will fly aboard the second Space weather Observations at Lagrange 1 (SOL) observatory, part of a joint mission to improve solar monitoring capabilities crucial to national infrastructure protection.

The agencies plan to issue a Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) in the coming weeks for the design, fabrication, testing, and delivery of one flight and one spare XRIS instrument. The instrument will measure solar X-ray irradiance - a key input for forecasting solar flares and space weather events that can disrupt radio communications, satellite operations, and power grids.

XRIS is part of the second SOL observatory, known as SOL-B, which is scheduled for launch in October 2032. The flight model must be delivered by June 2029, with the spare ready by December of that year.

How space weather affects technology

"Continuity in X-ray observations is critical for the National Weather Service's ability to issue space weather warnings that safeguard aviation, defense systems, and space-based assets," the agencies noted.

XRIS tracking

The XRIS will track solar phenomena, including flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are known to trigger geomagnetic storms. The contract will require integration, calibration, algorithm development, and launch support, with additional responsibilities including post-launch evaluation and assistance through the mission's transition to NOAA's operational control.

This procurement will be a full and open competition and will not fall under FAR Part 12 for commercial items. NASA anticipates awarding a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract covering an eight-year period of performance, ending in January 2034—15 months after launch. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this opportunity is 336414.

While no contract will be awarded under the upcoming Draft RFP, NASA and NOAA are encouraging potential offerors to review and comment on the planned solicitation, including requirements and evaluation criteria. Detailed instructions and deadlines for submitting feedback will be outlined in the Draft RFP package.

Interested parties are advised to monitor SAM.gov and related procurement portals for updates and the official release of the solicitation. Technical and contractual questions should be submitted via email to Contracting Officer Suzanne Sierra at [email protected] by 24 June 2025. Additional information is available at https://sam.gov/opp/a93bf0ba4dd94362b03673c3088276a6/view.