SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- 3 ADDITIONAL ASC-E CONVERTORS WITH ADDITIONAL TESTING AND MODIFICATION
- Notice Date
- 10/23/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135
- ZIP Code
- 44135
- Solicitation Number
- 4200172570
- Response Due
- 12/7/2006
- Archive Date
- 10/23/2007
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/GRC has a requirement for three (3) additional ASC units for demonstration and evaluation. These three additional ASC convertors shall be designated ASC-E #1, #2, and #3 as identifiers. These units shall be similar to the other hermetic ASC convertors in design and shall include Inconel 718 heater heads. The intended purpose of these convertors is to evaluate operating characteristics of the convertors in an integrated generator environment. A test stand with ancillary equipment necessary to operate the ASC-E shall be provided. Upon delivery and acceptance of the hardware, a pair of the convertors will be integrated on to the ASRG EU generator which is composed of primarily existing hardware and will ultimately be tested and characterized at NASA GRC. Tasks related to the ASC-E development are as follows: 1. The ASC-Es shall be similar in design and functionality as that currently planned for the ASC-2, with the exception of the heater head material and the thermal, structural, and electrical interfaces, which for the ASC-Es are required to match the ASRG interfaces. During ASC-E development, the contractor and government shall mutually develop and agree to the product specifications, interfaces, and structural loads specification. Trade studies, testing, performance predictions, analytical modeling, and hardware characterization shall be conducted to support system trades. The heat collector and cold-side adapter flange (CSAF), which provide the thermal interfaces for the ASC-E, will be provided to the contractor as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). The contractor shall develop joining processes between the ASC-E and these components. GFE shall also include the Inconel 718 material that will be used for the fabrication of the ASC-E heater heads. 2. The following areas necessary to complete the ASC-E shall be developed: heat collector integration, cold side integration, purge/fill process and verification, hermetic pinch-off process, closure weld hermetic seal and verification, hermetic electrical feed-through, and stroke sensor integration. 3. Similar to the other hermetic ASC hardware, the ASC-E shall undergo ?burn-in testing? and characterization in order to demonstrate and establish acceptable baseline performance. Testing shall be conducted with the convertors in single unit configuration for checkout purposes and also in matched dual-opposed configuration to allow matching of the convertors prior to hermetic sealing. Testing shall include thermal cycles (stop/start) and continuous operation as needed in order to identify any infant mortality or non-conformance issues prior to hermetic sealing. 4. Documentation related to the ASC-E, test stand, and testing shall be provided. This documentation shall include ASC-E design drawings, as-built drawings, test stand drawings, operating instructions, report on developmental activities, build and test records documented in logbooks, ?traveler? build records, approved test plans, test data, and test reports. Initial quick updates of significant activity such as testing, failures, etc. shall be provided as flash reports. Any issues of non-conformance shall also be documented. All activities related to the development of the ASC-E shall be documented as part of the ASC Final Report. 5. Configuration management and Quality Assurance practices shall be adhered to for the development of the ASC-2 and ASC-E hardware, including control and revision of drawings, specifications, process procedures, and acceptance testing of hardware. Deviation from the design drawings and specifications that adversely affects performance, reliability, or interface characteristics shall be documented in a non-conformance report requiring government concurrence. 6. The contractor shall provide 1 week off-site support to assist in setup, integration, and initial operation of the ASC-Es, along with an additional 2 weeks of support during follow-on testing. Management The existing management task shall be expanded during Phase III to enhance communication and coordination. The following management and coordination activities shall be required: 1. Weekly update report, schedule updates, and action item updates 2. Weekly integration telecon 3. Monthly technical report 4. Support Monthly reviews as required 5. Support Quarterly review meetings 6. Conduct ASC-E Final Design Review 7. Support ASRG FDR 8. Final Report During Phase III, regular extended activities at the contractor facility by government representatives are anticipated. These activities include extended on-site inspection and coordination, test support, training related to the GFE test rack (part of contract mod #11), Quality Assurance coordination and inspection, etc. During such extended on-site visits, the contractor shall provide work space for the government representative as needed. The space shall include a desk, place for records and storage, phone, and access to copy and fax machines. Extension of Period of Performance: The period of performance and related milestones of Option II (Phase III) shall be modified as described below: 1 ? ASC-2 Final Design Review and fabrication start (1-17-07) 2 ? First test of ASC-2 (8-13-07) 3 ? ASC-2 qualification testing and delivery (5-30-08) 4 ? Final Review (5-30-08) The following additional milestones related to this modification shall be added: 5 ? Deliver two modified FTB convertors (built during Phase I) with test stand (9-20-06) 6 ? ASC-E Final Review (10-2-06) 7 - Support of ASRG Review (2-15-07) 8 ? Deliver ASC-E #1 and #2 convertors (9-20-07) 9 ? Deliver third ASC-E #3 convertor (10-15-07) The period of performance shall conclude on May 30, 2008. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY: The following shall be provided to the contractor from the Government for the fabrication of the three ASC-Es. 1. Cold-side Adapter Flange (CSAF). The CSAFs are components which will be joined to the convertors during the fabrication process. Quantity: Four (1 spare) 2. Heat collector. The heat collectors will be joined to the convertors during the assembly and fabrication process. Quantity: Four (1 spare) 3. Inconel 718 material. This specific heat of material has been previously characterized by the government and shall be used for the fabrication of the ASC-E heater heads. Quantity: Sufficient for at least three heater heads. ADDITIONAL DELIVERABLES: 1. Modified Phase I FTB convertors (Quantity 2) 2. FTB Test Cart (Quantity 1) 3. ASC-E convertors (Quantity 3) 4. ASC-E Test Stand (Quantity 1) 5. Documentation for FTBs and ASC-Es (drawings, test reports, etc. as described) 6. ASC-E Summary Report NASA/GRC intends to purchase the items from SUNPOWER, of ATHENS, OHIO 45701. Sunpower, under its current contract NAS3-03128, is uniquely capable of providing Sunpower's proprietary technology, along with designs and technologies that required substantial development during Phase I and Phase II of the contract. Patented Sunpower technologies have been applied to the unique design of the convertor that allows the high efficiency and low mass characteristics of the ASC. There would be substantial duplication of cost to the Government to award a contract for the additional ASC's to another vendor. The new vendor would have to duplicate research efforts with no guarantee of success. The cost and time involved would not be expected to be recovered using a competitive procurement. 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 Irene.Cierchacki-1@nasa.gov no later than 4;30 pm local time December 1, 2006. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the pu4rpose 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. 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.
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