SALMON-3 is an omnibus AO which provides a solicitation and procurement base for modest investigations, also referred to as Missions of Opportunity (MO), requiring space flight that advance the high priority science and technology objectives of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

The Heliophysics Division conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led investigations in SMD's Heliophysics programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap. Evaluation and down-selection for flight will nominally be made through a two-step competitive process. As the outcome of the first step evaluation, NASA intends to fund two or more MO investigations to proceed to a nine-month Phase A concept study. In the second step, NASA will conduct an evaluation of the Phase A concept study reports. From this evaluation, NASA expects to select at least two MOs to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases, at least one of which will be a SCM down selected for flight on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA). A Science investigation proposed PI-Managed Mission Cost (PIMMC), including all mission phases, is expected to range from $35M - $80M. Multiple missions may be selected if their total cost remains below the overall PEA cost cap. Science investigations are encouraged to use the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV).

This Heliophysics Science MO PEA solicits science investigations in all areas of heliophysics science. Further information on the goals and objectives of NASA's heliophysics program may be found in the 2014 Science Plan for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Proposal merit in this PEA will be determined by the magnitude of heliophysics science advancements enabled by the proposed Heliophysics Science investigation.

It is anticipated that this opportunity will solicit proposals for investigations requiring the development and operation of space-based science investigations. The projects are designated as Category 3 as defined in NPR 7120.5E, NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements.

The proposed PIMMC, including all mission phases, reserves, and the cost of accommodation on and/or delivery to the host mission shall not exceed the applicable PEA Cost Cap specified as $80M (FY19) for SCMs and PMOs on the IMAP ESPA, $55M (FY19) for SCMs and PMOs not on the IMAP ESPA and $35M (FY19) for suborbital-class SCMs.

The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:
Comments due on this Draft SALMON-3 PEA June 4, 2018
Release of Final SALMON-3 PEA July, 2018 (target)
Pre-proposal conference 2-3 weeks after Final PEA release
Mandatory Notification Proposals 30 days after Final PEA release
Proposals due 90 days after Final PEA release

The draft text of this PEA may be downloaded from the NSPIRES page for NNH18ZDA010J. Further information will be posted on the 2018 Heliophysics Science Mission of Opportunity Acquisition Homepage at https://soma.larc.nasa.gov/2018HelioMO/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. James Spann, Heliophysics Science MO Lead Scientist, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Email: [email protected].