Current planning calls for NASA SMD to release an AO in Q4 of FY2021 (Jul-2021 to Oct-2021) to solicit proposals for the Heliophysics SMEX AO to accomplish Heliophysics Explorer Program science objectives. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is developing a mission concept to be proposed for this AO.
The partnership opportunity is being issued to select teaming partner(s) to serve as the satellite integrator for an individual mission; provide a flight-qualified Class D spacecraft bus, instrument to spacecraft integration support, environmental testing, integration support for the spacecraft to launch vehicle, and initial mission operations (launch and early orbit operations). GSFC intends to maintain an essential degree of insight into satellite integration and will exercise essential oversight to ensure that the implementation is responsive to NASA requirements and constraints as will be defined in upcoming AO.

NOTE: Upon selection, GSFC may discuss and further tailor the roles proposed by respondents in the best interests of the proposal.

The proposed mission is currently in pre-Phase A. If the proposal is down-selected, the next step in the proposal process is a mission concept study culminating in a Concept Study Report (CSR), which is the Step 2 proposal, and a Site Visit. The following schedule should be used as a basis for responses to this opportunity:

Release of draft AO                                                       Jan-Mar 2022 (approximate)
Release of final AO                                                        3 months after draft release
Step 1 Proposals due                                                    90 days after AO release
Selection for competitive Phase A studies                     Fall 2022 (approximate)
CSRs due                                                                       9 months after selection
Step 2 Down-selection                                                   Fall 2023 (approximate)
Spacecraft start date                                                      Vendor specified
Launch Readiness Date (NLT 2028)                              Vendor specified, soonest opportunity after Observatory I&T complete