Page Text: Work With Us - Open Solicitations - Commercial
Submit your commercial solutions to solve national security challenges with the help from DIU.
RAPIDS Refueling and Fuel Depot
Responses Due By
2022-04-18 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time
Area of Interest (AoI) Statement:
The Department of Defense seeks commercial solutions to conduct responsive, in-space refueling. As space operations expand beyond low-Earth-orbit (LEO), maneuver is a critical capability employed during commercial, civil and national security space operations. Legacy space systems were designed to operate independently and self-sufficiently for many years. As a result, the amount of fuel carried on board each of them is fixed. The life of a single-use, expendable spacecraft is generally a function of remaining fuel on board, among other factors. To meet evolving demands for flexible and sustainable space systems, the ability to refuel and maneuver are paramount to safety, stationkeeping and servicing. Future space systems require the ability to maneuver without regret. As such, these spacecraft must be serviceable and have ready access to commoditized fuel of varying types across many orbits.
This prototype effort seeks to satisfy two core objectives: the ability to transfer fuel between disparate systems, and the ability to maneuver in order to provide access to the right fuel, at the right place and at the right time. Solutions may include: interfaces, fuel depots, and related systems enabling autonomous operation between disparate spacecraft.
Solutions are sought for the following two categories:
Category 1, Commercial Refueling Services near GEO
For this category the following items are mandatory:
Commercial services model.
Fuel and refueling services will be purchased at a pre-negotiated rate and terms (e.g. minimum per buy, down payments, etc.).
Vendors must provide their current commercial rates and terms (i.e. published price lists) for these services.
This is not a development program and non-recurring engineering (NRE) should not be suggested in a solution brief.
Any solution brief that proposes development costs or NRE will be rejected.
Refueling must take place in or near GEO.
Must be capable of providing hydrazine (N2H4) — addition commercial fuel types of interest are listed below
Must support a commercially available interface on the clients.
Must support refueling of both commercial and government client vehicles.
On-orbit demonstration desired within 18 to 24 months after contract award.
The following will be strongly considered:
Commercially viable business plan, technology or capabilities enabling commercial servicing involving fuel transfer.
Concept of Operations description (be specific and address the following):
Does the client approach the refueling service vehicle? Does the refueling service vehicle approach the client, or are there RPO activities for each?
If the client approaches a servicing vehicle, specify the “capture box” required for client rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) so that mating can occur. Is birthing required?
If the client shares RPO activities with the refueling service vehicle, specify the client’s RPO needs (e.g. approach corridor, separation distance, fiducials, etc.).
Category 2, Bulk Fuel Depot:
For this category the following items are mandatory:
Capability for bulk storage of liquid (>5,000 kg) and gaseous propellants on orbit (see fuel types below).
Inclusion of an initial ConOps that describes how government client vehicles can receive fuel from the depot.
Client vehicles need not receive fuel directly from the fuel depot if the ConOps includes other elements – not directly part of the proposal – that interact with both the depot and clients to deliver propellant (the overall ConOps must lead to a credible refueling of a government client vehicle).
ConOps are initial and may be further refined after award.
Must support a passive interface on the clients. Information on this interface will be provided at a later date.
On-orbit demonstration desired within 24 to 30 months after contract award.
The following will be strongly considered:
Proposed depot location (e.g. LEO apogee/perigee/inclination/right ascension of the ascending node, GEO, etc.).
Performance characteristics if propulsively powered for multi-orbit capability
Credible use of proven technology or capabilities required to place and maintain a fuel depot in space.
Solutions in Category 2 may propose to start with a study phase to further define ConOps, interfaces, etc., before moving into an operational prototype phase.
Other Notes:
Teaming arrangements for partial solutions are encouraged or may be facilitated through this solicitation process.
Clearly mark whether the submitted solution brief is addressing Category 1, Category 2, or both.
Fuel types will vary based on mission and may include any combination of the following: LOX, Hydrazine (N2H4), Methane (CH4), NTO (N2H4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Xenon, Krypton and others.
Future phases or contract modifications may incorporate additional capabilities, use cases, or fuel types.
Commercial Solutions from both U.S. and international companies will be considered.
For the purposes of this AOI, the term ‘client’ refers to a space vehicle which has been designed and prepared to accept in-space refueling services via an interface.
This AOI does not encompass solutions which only service non-prepared clients.
Questions regarding this AoI Statement may be directed to RAPID@diu.mil