Decompression Sickness Data Modeling (DSDM)

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to questions received from potential bidders regarding the Decompression Sickness (DCS) modeling RFP (80JSC026Q0001). NASA makes these responses available to all proposal teams to ensure a fair and competitive process. Bidders are advised to check this document frequently for updates.

• Risk Estimation: Numerical probabilities for Type I and Type II DCS risk are preferred, with confidence intervals or other statistical estimates of uncertainty being helpful.
• Dataset Details: Approximately 4% of ~1400 compiled exposures are Type I DCS cases, and ~1% are Type II DCS cases. Data will be provided in an Excel file (.xlsx) and includes subject demographics, environmental conditions, prebreathe parameters, and DCS presence/absence.
• Participation: The RFP is a Full and Open Competition, with no team member limitations or citizenship requirements beyond standard employment eligibility verification.
• Place of Performance: Work can be performed remotely; there is no expectation for awarded teams to visit NASA facilities.
• Data Rights: NASA will receive unlimited rights to contract deliverables, while contractors retain rights in proprietary model development tools.
• Model Requirements: The model should estimate DCS probability and allow for exposure planning. It should be capable of running on an average office desktop computer within minutes.
• Deliverables: Phase 1 requires full model documentation and source code delivery (e.g., a Visual Studio solution), including optimization and analysis methods. Unit tests are also required.

This document clarifies requirements related to data format, risk estimation, participation, and deliverables. Bidders should ensure their proposals align with these clarifications. The updated PWS has been posted separately. Remote work is acceptable, and no specific citizenship requirements are imposed beyond standard eligibility.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies the solicitation by:

• Adding Clause 52.227-14 (Rights in Data-General).

• Adding Clause 1852.227-14 (Rights in Data-- General).

• Adding Attachment C - Questions and Answers.

• Updating Attachment A - Performance Work Statement.

• Added Clauses:

  • FAR Clause 52.227-14 - Rights in Data-General.
  • NASA FAR Supplement Clause 1852.227-14 - Rights in Data-- General.

• Added Attachments:

  • Attachment C - Questions and Answers.

• Updated Attachments:

  • Attachment A - Performance Work Statement.

• Deleted Attachments:

  • Original Attachment A - Performance Work Statement (from solicitation 80JSC026Q0001).

This amendment does not appear to change the proposal submission deadline or evaluation factors. However, bidders should review the updated Attachment A (Performance Work Statement) and the newly added Attachment C (Questions and Answers) for any impact on their proposal preparation and understanding of requirements.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation, identified by Solicitation Number 80JSC026Q00010002, is for Decompression Sickness Data Modeling (DSDM). The government is procuring services related to the development and enhancement of a data modeling system for decompression sickness.

• Base Period: 8-month period for Decompression Sickness Data Modeling.

• Option Year 1: 12-month period for improving model performance, incorporating additional inputs, ingesting datasets, developing user interfaces, and providing demonstrations.

• Option Year 2: 12-month period for similar enhancements as Option Year 1.

• Performance Work Statement (PWS): Detailed requirements are provided in "80JSC026Q0001 - Attachment A - Performance Work Statement".

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Includes an 8-month base period and two 12-month option periods, with estimated delivery dates in November 2026, November 2027, and November 2028 respectively.

• Offer Due Date: February 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM CT.

• Evaluation Factors: Offers will be evaluated based on Technical Acceptability, Past Performance, and Price. Technical and Past Performance are considered significantly more important than Price.

• Submission Instructions: Refer to Section J for "Evaluation Instructions and Criteria" (Attachment B).

• The acquisition is marked as "UNRESTRICTED".

• NAICS Code: 541511 (Information Technology Professional Services).

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses by reference, including "Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services" (52.212-1) and "Evaluation-Commercial Products and Commercial Services" (52.212-2).

• Offerors must complete representations and certifications electronically via SAM.gov or as detailed in the solicitation.

• Attachments include: Evaluation Instructions and Criteria (Attachment B), Pricing Sheet (Attachment C), Performance Work Statement (Attachment A), and Questions and Answers (Attachment D).

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To produce a model for accurate prediction of Spaceflight Decompression Sickness (DCS) risk, based on research and operational data, to serve as an operationally-feasible, mission-relevant DCS risk prediction tool for lunar and Mars exploration. NASA will retain ownership of data and rights to the developed model.

• Develop a model to predict the risk of Type I and Type II DCS, considering factors such as cabin/suit pressures, sex, fitness, body composition, hydration, diet, ambulation, temperature, and prebreathe protocols.

• The model should assess risk during lunar and Martian surface operations, where ambulation is central.

• Supplement with publicly-available or other datasets appropriate to spaceflight DCS risk.

• Ensure model compliance with NASA's Standard for Models and Simulations (NASA-STD-7009).

• Quantify confidence and uncertainty of risk predictions for key crew subgroups and mission-relevant conditions.

• Develop the model within an 8-month period using a NASA-provided training dataset.

• Prediction accuracy and precision will be assessed by NASA statistical and modeling experts.

• Model development within an 8-month period.

• The model will be used for lunar and Mars exploration missions.

• The model must be compliant with NASA-STD-7009.

• Non-public datasets must be available to NASA at project completion.

• NASA will coordinate export control processes for data release.

• Proposers may incorporate datasets from their institution, provided they are not already within the NASA dataset.

• The model should consider environments beyond current tested conditions, including those proposed by commercial and international partners.

• The model should address cumulative exposures and partial gravity environments for planetary EVAs.

• The model should consider factors like suit pressure to mitigate DCS risk and potentially contribute to hyperbaric DCS treatment.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation 80JSC026Q00010001 has the following changes:

• The purpose of this amendment is to update Attachment B and add Attachment C.

• Added Attachments:

  • 80JSC026Q0001 - Attachment B - Evaluation Instructions and Criteria - 12_15_2025
  • 80JSC026Q0001 - Attachment C - Pricing Sheet

• Deleted Attachments:

  • 80JSC026Q0001 - Attachment B - Evaluation Instructions and Criteria

This amendment modifies attachments related to evaluation instructions and pricing, which may impact proposal preparation and submission requirements. Bidders should review the updated and newly added attachments carefully.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment C, a Pricing Sheet for RFQ No. 80JSC026Q0001. It is to be completed by the Offeror to provide pricing details for the services requested.

• CLINs (Contract Line Item Numbers): Includes Base Year (CLIN 1), Option Year 1 (CLIN 2), Option Year 2 (CLIN 3), and a 6-month extension under clause 52.217-8 (Option to Extend Services).
• Pricing Fields: Offerors must fill in 'List Price' and 'AMOUNT' for each CLIN and the 'TOTAL FIRM FIXED PRICE'.
• Company Information: Fields for 'Company Name', 'Quote No.', and 'Date' are to be filled out by the Offeror.
• Quote Validity: Quotes must be valid for a minimum of 90 days from submission.

This pricing sheet is critical for bidders to calculate and submit their proposed costs for the opportunity. It outlines the structure for pricing the base period, option years, and the potential 6-month extension. The rates used in the last Option Year will be applied to the 6-month extension as per the solicitation's reference to clause 52.217-8.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the evaluation instructions and criteria for the "80JSC026Q0001" solicitation, specifically for Attachment B, Revision 1, dated 12/15/2025. It details the two-step evaluation process bidders must undergo.

• Step One (1) – Meeting Key RFQ Requirements: Bidders must answer two specific Yes/No questions regarding the quote being for a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) Decompression Sickness Data Modeling System and not containing sustaining licensing fees beyond the period of performance. Failure to answer "Yes" to both will result in elimination.

• Step Two (2) – Trade-Off: This step involves evaluating proposals based on three factors in descending order of importance: Technical Acceptability, Past Performance, and Price.

• The document references a potential five-year period of performance for pricing evaluation.

• Technical Acceptability: Evaluated by experts for scientific and technical merit, relevance to RFQ objectives, and ability to develop an operationally-relevant product. Rated as Outstanding, Acceptable, or Unacceptable. Consistency with proposed price is also assessed.

• Past Performance: Rated as Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable. References from up to three customers with similar projects are required, along with documentation of team qualifications. The government may also use CPARS, SAM.gov, or other sources.

• Price: Evaluated for reasonableness, unbalanced pricing, and completeness. The Total Evaluated Price (TEP) and detailed pricing sheet will be used. Option period pricing will be evaluated but does not obligate the government to exercise options.

• Deadlines: Quotes must be valid for a minimum of 90 days from submission. Specific submission deadlines are not detailed in this attachment but are implied by the "period of performance" and "time of submission."

Not specified in this document.

• This document is Revision 1 of Attachment B, dated 12/15/2025.
• Bidders must submit one price quotation using the template provided in Attachment C – Pricing Sheet, with a detailed breakout by base and option years.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To develop a model that accurately predicts Spaceflight Decompression Sickness (DCS) risk, based on research and operational data, for use as an operationally-feasible, mission-relevant risk prediction tool for lunar and Mars exploration. NASA will retain ownership of the data and rights to the developed model.

• Develop a model to predict the risk of Type I and Type II DCS, considering factors such as cabin/spacesuit pressures, sex, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, hydration, diet, ambulation during EVA, temperature, and prebreathe protocols.

• The model must be compliant with NASA-STD-7009 (NASA-STD-7009B-Final-3-5-2024.pdf).

• Quantify confidence and uncertainty of risk predictions for key crew subgroups and mission-relevant conditions.

• Utilize a NASA-provided training dataset (~1500 trials) and potentially supplement with publicly-available or other datasets.

• NASA will hold a subset of the dataset for model validation.

• Prediction accuracy and precision will be assessed by NASA statistical and modeling experts.

• The model development is to be completed within an 8-month period.

• The model will be used for lunar and Martian surface operations.

• Deliverables include a compiled and executable DCS prediction tool with source code, a real-time validation tool, and a final report detailing methods, results, limitations, and recommendations.

• The contractor must provide a user guide and describe all datasets used.

• A publication plan and copies of peer-reviewed publications are required, if applicable.

• Proposers may incorporate datasets from their institution, provided they are not already within the NASA dataset and are described in detail.