SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- TEAMING OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AND CHARACTERIZE BORON NITRIDE NANOTUBES FORAEROSPACE AND SPACE APPLICATIONS
- Notice Date
- 3/7/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton,VA 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- SS-BNNT
- Response Due
- 3/18/2011
- Archive Date
- 3/7/2012
- Point of Contact
- Teresa M Hass, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-8496, Fax 757-864-8863, Email Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov - Robert B. Gardner, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-2525, Fax 757-864-7898, Email Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Teresa M Hass
(Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This partnering synopsis solicits potential partners to participate in developing aproposal addressing the goals and objectives of NASA Research Announcement (NRA)NNH11ZUA001N, NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) and NASA Broad Agency Announcement(BAA) NNH11ZUA001K, Unique and Innovative Space Technology. The BAA and NRA can beaccessed at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitations.do?method=open&stack=push. Participation in this partnering synopsis is open to all categories of U.S. and non-U.S.organizations, including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions,the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as NASA Centers and other U.S. GovernmentAgencies. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Other MinorityUniversities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned smallbusinesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBzone small businesses,and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are encouraged to apply. Participation bynon-U.S. organizations is welcome but subject to NASAs policy of no exchange of funds,in which each government supports its own national participants and associated costs.Under the Unique and Innovative Space Technology BAA, the Game Changing TechnologyDivision (GCT), within NASAs Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) is solicitingexecutive summaries, white papers, and proposals for research and development (R&D) fortechnology that is innovative and unique and promises to enable revolutionary(game-changing) improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of our countrys spacecapability. Novel (unique) capabilities are sought in any of the NASA Space TechnologyGrand Challenges or the NASA draft Space Technology Roadmaps. The Space Technology Grand Challenges can be found at:http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/strategic_integration/grand_challenges_detail.html.The Space Technology Roadmap (Draft) can be found at:http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html.Under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), the NRA solicits multiple studies,each of which will investigate an architecture, mission, or system concept that has thepotential to change the possible in aeronautics or space. NASA Innovative AdvancedConcepts (NIAC) is also part of the Office of Chief Technologist (OCT). Concepts proposedfor NIAC Phase I studies must be innovative and visionary, technically substantiated, andvery early in development (10+ years out; Technology Readiness Level 1, 2, or early 3).Focused technology maturation and incremental improvement are explicitly not of interestin this program. In response to the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH11ZUA001N, NASA InnovativeAdvanced Concepts (NIAC) and Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) NNH11ZUA001K, Unique andInnovative Space Technology, partners are sought for efforts focused on developing andcharacterizing boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) for aerospace applications. BNNTs arestructurally a close analog of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with the carbon atoms alternatelysubstituted with boron and nitrogen atoms. The BNNT structure resembles a large aspectratio cylinder with a diameter of several nanometers and a length of many microns tomillimeters and thus can be incorporated into composites and even spun into fibers. Thefibers are calculated to be the worlds strongest structural fiber above 400C, with anelastic modulus approaching 1 TPa. High aspect ratio BNNTs are grown by a unique hightemperature method that minimizes defects and creates long tubes. BNNTs are durable atlow temperature in space (-157C) and good thermal stability up to 800C with a lowcoefficient of thermal expansion. Their strength-to-weight ratios and stiffness aregreater than 95% of carbon nanotube values. The BNNTs described here have been measuredto be as strong as Kevlar, yet they have twice the service temperature. Boron has one ofthe largest neutron capture cross sections of all elements in the periodic table.Nitrogen has a larger neutron capture cross section than carbon. BNNT materials havegreat potential for radiation shielding applications. The goal of this partnership isfurther develop BNNT lightweight materials to enable advanced future aircraft andspacecraft with improvements in aircraft performance indicators such as reduced vehicleweight, increased strength to weight ratio, and improved durability. BNNT-containingfibers, fabrics, and composites for radiation shielding materials to shield against solarparticle events (SPE) and neutrons will be fabricated and tested. In particular NASA LaRC is seeking potential partners having demonstrated experience andexpertise with synthesis of highly crystalline, high aspect ratio BNNTs, quality controland evaluation, characterization (High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM),Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), mechanical properties, electron energy lossspectroscopy (EELS), Ultraviolet (UV) Raman), and purification and dispersion of BNNTs. NASAs intended applications include but are not limited to radiation shielding,structural composites, sensors, and thermal protection systems. Experience and expertiseis therefore sought for application development using the BNNTs in aerospace systems. Potential partners are requested to indicate which specific opportunity they areinterested in partnering with NASA LaRC, the NIAC NRA and/or the Unique and InnovativeSpace Technology BAA. Teaming with providers of and leveraging emerging technologies, such as current andrecent Small Business Innovative Research awards(http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.fov/SBIR/awards.htm), is of special interest.If selected through this synopsis, it is expected that the selected partner(s) will workwith NASA LaRC scientists and engineers to jointly develop the proposal. If the proposalis selected, NASA LaRC anticipates issuing contracts or other agreements to the selectedpartner(s) for performance of the proposed tasks.This partnering opportunity does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts orother agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for theinformation solicited.It is expected that the partner(s) selected would provide (at nocost to NASA) conceptual designs, technical data, proposal input, project schedules, andcost estimates. Partner selections will be made by LaRC based on the listed criteria in the followingorder of importance:(1) Relevant experience, past performance, technical capability, key personnelavailability, and demonstration of development of boron nitride nanotubes. This criterionevaluates the proposers relevant recent experience, past performance in similardevelopment activities, technical capability to perform the development, and keypersonnel available to support the development. Substantive evidence of successfulparticipation in similar developments should be included.(2) Cost and schedule control.This criterion evaluates the proposers ability tocontrol both cost and schedule. The proposer should provide evidence of successfullycontrolling cost and schedule for similar development programs and provide evidence ofmanagement processes in this area.(3) Facilities. This criterion evaluates the proposers facilities (development,testing, and analysis) to conduct the development or demonstration of the proposed task. The proposer should discuss facility availability, access, and the ability to meet theproposed objectives.NASA will not reimburse organizations for the cost of submitting information in responseto this synopsis. NASA will not pay for technical assessment or proposal preparationcosts incurred by the team members.RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS: Responses to this partnering synopsis shall be limited to 8 pagesin not less than 12-point font. Responses must address the aforementioned evaluationcriteria. All responses shall be submitted to LaRC electronically via email by 5:00pm EST on March18, 2011 to Catharine Fay (Catharine.C.Fay@nasa.gov) and Teresa Hass(Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov). Technical and Programmatic questions should be directed to Catharine Fay(Catharine.C.Fay@nasa.gov). Procurement questions should be directed toTeresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov.
- Web Link
-
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(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/LaRC/OPDC20220/SS-BNNT/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02395050-W 20110309/110307234528-4b1a299632833f7d1bd418702a6d82b7 (fbodaily.com)
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