SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- LARGE SRAM-20 PROTOTYPE HEATSHIELD
- Notice Date
- 9/14/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- NNM06Z51001L
- Response Due
- 9/25/2006
- Archive Date
- 9/14/2007
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/MSFC has a requirement for a 2.5 meter diameter, 70-degree sphere cone forebody high-temperature heatshield of SRAM-20, to be developed for space-based applications. The heatshield will be manufactured using an approach that will scale to larger NASA science missions. The completed heatshield will incorporate approximately ten (10) instrumentation plugs in varied locations to fully demonstrate the instrumentation process (instruments will be provided as Government-furnished equipment). SRAM-20 repair techniques will also be demonstrated and documented. The final article will be a manufacturing scale, testable, proof-of-concept product, complete with an Acceptance Data Package, which will mature the approach to manufacturing a large SRAM-20 heatshield to technology readiness level (TRL) 6, ready for infusion to planetary entry missions. The article will be vibration and thermal vacuum tested to provide confidence in its ability to withstand flight acceptance testing environments. This contract will also include any smaller-scale deliverable prototypes necessary to demonstrate fabrication techniques and testability, before the final article is manufactured. This effort has a 5 year history of previous ongoing development, in support of the In-Space Propulsion Technology (ISPT) Aerocapture technology area. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Applied Research Associates, Incorporated (ARA). The Authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition is FAR 6.302-1, which implements the authority for 10 U.S.C 22304(c)(1). Competition is impractical because ARA is the exclusive supplier of SRAM-20 ablator, a unique material invented at the ARA Ablatives Laboratory. Only ARA has the facilities and processes in place that are required to produce SRAM-20 ablator. ARA has been developing SRAM-20 as applicable to re-entry and aerocapture applications for over 10 years. ARA is the only known source of ablator materials that provide the performance of SRAM-20 in the environments of interest for planetary aerocapture, and has been a primary source over the past 10 years for efficient ablators sought for Aerocapture applications. Furthermore, the work sought is a logical and necessary follow-on to ISPT investments to date. Completing this manufacturing demonstration is the final step that will bring the SRAM-20 systems to TRL 6 technical maturity and readiness for mission infusion. There is no other candidate ablator material of equivalent performance and technical maturity. ARA's technology has the capability to enable low-cost planetary science missions when properly matured through TRL 6. ARA has been developing SRAM-20 as applicable to re-entry and aerocapture applications for over 10 years. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 12:00 p.m. local time on Sept. 25, 2006. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Questions/concerns shall be submitted in writing to Belinda Triplett at belinda.f.triplett@nasa.gov. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
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- Record
- SN01144236-W 20060916/060914222227 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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