SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- WIND TUNNEL TESTING FOR ARES 1 AERODYNAMIC DATABASE
- Notice Date
- 11/25/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 488190
— Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton,VA 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- NNL09WTTQ
- Response Due
- 12/5/2008
- Archive Date
- 11/25/2009
- Point of Contact
- Timothy P Cannella, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-5028, Fax 757-864-7709, - Susan E. McClain, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-8687, Fax 757-864-8863, />
- E-Mail Address
-
Timothy.P.Cannella@nasa.gov, Susan.E.Mcclain@nasa.gov<br
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/LaRC has a requirement to conduct a series of wind tunnel tests in a PolysonicWind Tunnel (PSWT) supporting the Ares 1 project. The Ares I vehicle is part of NASA'smission to develop a cost-effective, next-generation space transportation system. TheAres I launch vehicle will be the manned portion of a series of vehicles that NASA isdesigning and developing as part of the Constellation program.It will allow access tolow earth orbit in support of International Space Station functions as well as provideopportunities to explore beyond low earth orbit and explore deep space. The launchsystem will, in keeping with the U.S. Space Exploration Policy, safely and reliably takehuman explorers to the Moon, Mars and on into the solar system. The Ares I project ispreparing an aerodynamic database that characterizes the vehicle throughout the speedregime of ascent flight where aerodynamic effects are important. To support theassessment of the Ares I configuration, the Ares I project is responsible for developingaerodynamic databases over the ascent Mach range as well as for the descent phase of thefirst stage re-entry. The project is currently designing and fabricating two 0.01-scale(~ 38 long) wind tunnel models of Ares I DAC-3 (Design Analysis Cycle) configuration totest at NASA LaRCs Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel, for the Mach range 1.5-4.6 as well as a.015-scale first stage model. In order to develop the databases for aboveconfigurations, the project requires integrated force and moment as well as distributedpressure data at the lower speeds for the initial phase of ascent, specifically in Machrange 0.5 to 1.6 for integrated forces and moments for ascent configuration, 0.5 to 5.0for descent first stage configuration, and 0.5 to 4.5 for distributed pressure data. Theaerodynamic database will be used to determine the ARES I performance, stability &control effectiveness, and structural stability. NASA/LaRC intends to purchase theservices required to obtain this data from Boeing, Inc. who is the only known responsiblesource. The Boeing Polysonic Wind Tunnel (PSWT) is the only blow-down wind tunnelfacility that simultaneously meets the Mach number range (0.5 to 5.0), Reynolds number(3.1 per ft. at a dynamic pressure of 2.36 psi), and physical characteristics (length ofthe tunnel test section) required to satisfy the Ares wind tunnel testing requirements The wind tunnel parameters identified are salient requirements that are necessary toobtain the integrated force, moment, and pressure data required to generate the Ares Iaerodynamic database and maintain acceptable dynamic pressures and loads on the models. In addition, the Ares 1 previous configurations were tested in the LaRC UPWT and theBoeing Polysonic Wind Tunnel to obtain the data to be used in developing the aerodynamicdatabases. Conducting the proposed tests in the same tunnel will eliminate data biasesspecific to a tunnel. Testing in another facility will compromise the validity andusefulness of the previous test data and increase risk to the program to an unacceptablelevel to maintain strict performance margins. Therefore only the Boeing PWST is capableof meeting the salient technical requirements and providing data that is compatible withthe previously obtained results. The authority for this action is provided by FAR6-302-1, Only one responsible source, and FAR 13.5 Test Program for Certain CommercialItems (PL 104-106, Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 as amended by PL109-163, Section 1443 of the FY 2006 National Defense Authorization Act). The Governmentintends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12 and Part 13.5, Test Program forCertain Commercial Items. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities andqualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact notlater than 4:30 p.m. local time on December 5, 2008. Such capabilities/qualificationswill be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct thisprocurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete thisproposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to thisnotice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are notacceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer whichshall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA SpecificNote "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
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