SALMON-3 EVC-1 PEA investigations may be proposed as a Focused Mission of Opportunity (FMO) or a Small Complete Mission (SCM) that fulfills the solicited objectives and includes all of the elements specified in both the PEA and in the SALMON-3 AO. The PI-Managed Mission Costs or PIMMC cap for the EVC-1 mission is $150M in fiscal year (FY) 2019 dollars, and NASA plans to complete the selection using a single step process.

EVC-1 will solicit proposals for cost-capped activities resulting in the design, implementation, on-orbit characterization and scientific exploitation of observations from a capable observing system to enable retrieval of top of the atmosphere short wave, long wave, and total radiative fluxes. Measured top of atmosphere radiances and any necessary algorithms will be used by NASA to seamlessly extend and continue the Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) Climate Data Records. Other outputs are expected to include scientific investigations by the PI team to advance the understanding of radiances, radiative fluxes, and the ERB.

The investigation PI is responsible for conducting the proposed science investigation which includes, but is not limited to: (i) development and delivery of the observing system; (ii) integration with the spacecraft and/or launch vehicle; (iii) commissioning, validation, and operation of on-orbit and required ground systems to carry out the proposed science investigation; (iv) preparing and delivering appropriate data analysis software, including required calibration data; (v) analyzing the data; (vi) archiving all the proposed investigation data at one or more NASA-chosen Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for public distribution to the scientific community; (vii) reporting the results of the science investigation in the scientific literature; and (viii) arranging for hand-off of operations at the end of the EVC-1 period of operations. Program specific, NASA strategic and other related documents will be made available in the EVC-1 Library at https://essp.larc.nasa.gov/EVC-1/evc-1_library.html.

The final Earth Venture Continuity-1 SALMON-3 PEA may contain provisions that differ substantially from this preliminary notice, in which case the provisions in the final SALMON-3 PEA will take precedence. NASA has not approved the issuance of a SALMON-3 EVC-1 PEA, and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the announcement and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this announcement are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.

The EVC-1 PEA's solicitation schedule is intended to be:

Release of final PEA: Late Calendar Year 2018 (target)
Preproposal conference: ~ 3 weeks after final PEA release
Proposals due: 135 days after PEA release
Selection: Early CY 2020 (target)

Participation will be open to all categories of organizations (U.S. and non-U.S.), including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other Government agencies. 

Questions/Comments are due no later than December 7, 2018, via email to Dr. David Considine, Earth Venture Continuity - 1 Program Scientist Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, at [email protected], subject line to read "EVC-1 Draft AO."

Responses to all inquiries will be answered by email or anonymized versions to comments or inquiries will be posted in the section for EVC-1 Q&As (Questions and Answers) on the EVC-1 Acquisition Homepage at https://essp.larc.nasa.gov/EVC-1/. Anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved. Comments will be accepted by email only.