SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOURCES SOUGHT FOR POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A DRILLING SYSTEM FOR A MARS MISSION
- Notice Date
- 9/22/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
- ZIP Code
- 94035-1000
- Solicitation Number
- RFI2-38314SLK
- Response Due
- 10/7/2003
- Archive Date
- 9/22/2004
- Point of Contact
- Barbara J. Young, Contracting Officer, Phone (650) 604-5773, Fax (650) 604-0912, Email Barbara.J.Young@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Barbara J. Young
(Barbara.J.Young@nasa.gov)
- Description
- SUBJECT: Research and Development Sources Sought for Potential Development of a Drilling System for a Mars Mission THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. This document is for information and planning purposes only and will allow industry the opportunity to verify the reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement and to submit a capability statement. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. It is not known at this time if a solicitation will result from this request for information (RFI). If a solicitation is issued, it will be posted on the NASA Ames Business Opportunities website. System description and source qualifications should be limited to ten pages and submitted in electronic format by Email to Shari Kamm @ skamm@mail.arc.nasa.gov, by the response date specified above. In responding, reference RFI2-38314 SLK. NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby soliciting information from industry to determine the existence of sources with the capability to develop a working prototype of a drilling system for a Mars mission that would be ready for integrated field testing at a field site in Oklahoma for 14 days in March 2005, and at a field site in southwestern Spain for 30 days in June of 2005. Participation of the source in weekly team meetings and project reviews, to be held approximately semi-annually, would also be required. This prototype drilling system would be used in a NASA field experiment in a Mars analog environment to demonstrate technology for drilling on Mars. Due to cost and schedule constraints, modification of an existing drilling system is considered to be the cost effective approach to this requirement. The drilling system must be capable of meeting the following requirements, and sources must demonstrate that they can meet these requirements by providing data from an existing drill working in a relevant environment that: (1) does not utilize a drilling fluid (liquid or gas) for cuttings transport; (2) has been demonstrated to drill to a depth of at least 5 meters in dry consolidated materials; (3) has a development path shown for depth capability of 20 meters or greater; (4) provides cores for all depths drilled; (5) has a nominal borehole diameter of 2 inches; (6) cuts off and retrieves dry consolidated cores; (7) retrieves unconsolidated cores; (8) has demonstrated thermal disturbance of core less than ten Celsius; (9) ensures hole stability in unconsolidated materials; (10) handles transitions from unconsolidated to consolidated materials; (11) requires operating power less than 100 watts average; (12) is capable of drilling at least 3 meters per day in sandstone; (13) is capable of drilling through a broad range of rock types including consolidated and unconsolidated sandstone, shales, and basalt; (14) has been demonstrated in the field as an integrated system; and (15) will be ready for a field deployment in Spring 2005. It is also highly desirable that most of the functions of the drill (such as drilling, core breakoff, core retrieval, and cuttings removal) be mechanized and/or computer controllable, so that minimal human involvement is required. Interested and qualified sources are requested to provide a statement of current capability and past performance information. Sources must demonstrate management and technical experience on similar acquisitions specifically addressing the requirements specified in this synopsis and demonstrate the ability to successfully compete for this requirement. The following information should be provided: 1. A description of the respondent?s existing drill system that either meets or could be modified to meet the requirements specified above, and what has been demonstrated to date by this drill system in terms of mass, power, depth, materials, and mechanization/automation. A detailed description of the requisite modifications to the existing drill system to meet the above-specified requirements. Specifically address each of the requirements specified above. 2. An estimated schedule for modifying the drilling system to meet the above-specified requirements. 3. A description of the respondent?s past experience in successfully performing this type of contract, including a description of the contract and name and phone number of the point of contact for the purchasing organization. 4. Company name, point of contact, e-mail address, telephone and facsimile numbers, and type and business size. AGAIN, this synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B". B. An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and contractors during the preaward and postaward phases of this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the contracting officer, the Source Evaluation Board, or the selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of formal contract disputes. Therefore, before consulting with any ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, interested parties may contact the installation ombudsman. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations which cannot be resolved at the installation may be referred to the NASA ombudsman. Please do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the contracting officer or as specified elsewhere in this document. The Ombudsmen for each of the NASA installations and for the agency and their phone numbers are available at the following URL: http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/hq/library/Omb.html
- Web Link
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