GREENBELT, Md. - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking industry feedback on a draft solicitation for the design and fabrication of X-Ray Irradiance Sensors to support the agency’s Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness, or SOLAR, mission.
Officials at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., say the requirement calls for the design, analysis, development, and fabrication of two flight X-Ray Irradiance Sensors, known as XRIS, to monitor solar X-ray flares that can disrupt Earth’s ionosphere. The measurements are a high-availability space weather product and are among the National Weather Service’s highest observation priorities.
The XRIS instruments will fly aboard the SOLAR-B observatory, which is targeted for launch as a primary payload in October 2032. SOLAR is a joint mission between NASA and the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is intended to provide continuity and resilience for critical space weather observations, including solar wind measurements and coronal mass ejection imagery.
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Sensors needed
Under the draft statement of work, the selected contractor would deliver one flight X-Ray Irradiance Sensor, one spare flight unit, and one engineering development unit, along with associated electronics, harnesses, spares, emulators, electrical system test equipment, and mechanical and electrical ground support equipment. The effort also includes development of ground processing algorithms, calibration, integration and test support, and on-orbit checkout.
NASA plans to award a full and open competitive contract structured as a firm fixed price with time and materials elements. The total period of performance is expected to be about eight years from contract award, extending through approximately 15 months after launch to support post-launch evaluation, calibration, anomaly investigations, and operational handover to NOAA. The first flight unit is scheduled for delivery by November 2029, with the second by May 2030.
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The XRIS instrument is classified as a risk Class C payload under NASA Procedural Requirements 8705.4. Contractors will be required to establish a systems engineering program, maintain requirements traceability, and ensure all instrument technologies reach Technology Readiness Level 6 by preliminary design review.
NASA is encouraging potential offerors to comment on all aspects of the draft solicitation, including technical requirements, schedules, proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, and potential safety, security, environmental, and programmatic risks. Feedback on unnecessary or inefficient requirements and unique contract terms also is requested.
NASA noted the primary point of contact for this project is Daniel Han, who can be reached via email at [email protected]. Responses are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern on 18 February 2026. For more information, please visit https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/32688d5d351d4e6dad918e95a05d7a6e/view.
