FLEX INSTRUMENT PHASES B2, C, D AND E1
2, February 2016

ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8557
Open Date: 28/01/2016
Closing Date: 15/03/2016

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.156.07
Prog. Ref.: EOEP-4 Earth Explor8
Budget Ref.: E/0039-E4 – EOEP-4 Earth Explor8
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+LU+CZ+RO+PL+CA
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of EO Programmes
Department: Earth Observation Projects Department
Division: Earth Explorer Missions Programme
Contract Officer: Papaioannou, Maria
Last Update Date: 29/01/2016
Update Reason: Modified the ECOS File

Earth Explorer missions form the science and research element of ESA’s Living Planet Programme. The Earth Explorer 8 (EE8) is an Opportunity Earth Explorer mission and the Earth Observation Programme Board approved FLEX (Fluorescence Explorer) as the EE8 mission at its meeting on 18 & 19 November 2015. The FLEX mission will quantify photosynthetic activity and plant stress by mapping vegetation fluorescence. It will advance our understanding of the functioning of the photosynthetic machinery and the actual health and performance of terrestrial vegetation. The monthly global maps will have an on-ground spatial resolution of 300×300 m2 with a swath width of 150 km. This activity constitutes the development of the Instrument for the FLEX Mission, covering Phases B2, C, D and E1. The work to be undertaken by the FLEX Instrument Contractor shall cover, but not limited to: • The design, development and procurement of the FLEX Instrument; • The provision of a FLEX Instrument Performance Simulator (FIPS), including a prototype implementation of the level 1b Ground Data Processor, to support the verification of the Instrument performance and the development of the Payload Data Ground Segment; • All the associated ground support infrastructure necessary to design, develop, verify and calibrate the Instrument; • The definition and timely delivery of operations manuals, operations procedures and Instrument databases; • Industrial commitment for support to operations preparation, Launch Campaign implementation, in-orbit commissioning including anomaly investigations as necessary.

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