SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- ELECTRODIALYSIS METATHESIS SYSTEM FOR WATER RECOVERY SYSTEM ON BOARDINTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION -ISS - NASA TO LEASE OR PROCURE
- Notice Date
- 11/15/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001
- ZIP Code
- 94035-0001
- Solicitation Number
- NNA12EDM002L
- Response Due
- 11/23/2011
- Archive Date
- 11/15/2012
- Point of Contact
- Elizabeth A Baierl, Contract Specialist, Phone 650-604-5082, Fax 650-604-0932, Email Elizabeth.A.Baierl@nasa.gov - Marianne Shelley, Contracting Officer, Phone 650-604-4179, Fax 650-604-3020, Email marianne.shelley@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Elizabeth A Baierl
(Elizabeth.A.Baierl@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NNA12EDM002LThis RFI is a market survey for information to be used for planning purposes only. Thepurpose of this RFI is to obtain information from industry on potential systems,processes, and products that will achieve calcium compound removal from concentratedurine to below solubility limit to prevent scale formation.NASA intends to lease or procure a Electrodialysis Metathesis System for water recoverysystem on board the International Space Station (ISS).One of the objectives of this work plan is to evaluate the electro dialysis metathesis(EDM) process for the removal of calcium scale precursors from urine. Operation of theInternational Space Station (ISS) urine processor assembly (UPA) has demonstrated thatcalcium scale can be a limiting factor to achieving high water recovery ratios. Theurine generated on ISS has a high potential for calcium scale formation due tomicrogravity initiated bone loss from astronauts and the use of sulfuric acid as apretreatment. As a result, the ISS UPA has operated at reduced water recovery ratio inorder to prevent the precipitation of calcium scale. Examples of scale forming calciumsalts: calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate. The need to resupply water to ISS can beaddressed by mitigating this calcium scale problem and increasing the water recoveryratio of the UPA. This can be accomplished by removing the calcium and its ionicconjugates from solution. The EDM process may be developed as a method to remove calciumfrom solution and prevent its precipitation as calcium scale. The development of thistechnology also allows for the development of a new generation of spacecraft wastewatertreatment systems which are designed specifically to deal with precipitated scale formingsolids.This preliminary information is being made available for planning purposes only, subjectto FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled Request for Information or Solicitation for PlanningPurposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, and it is not to be construedas a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor will the Government payfor the information submitted in response to this request. This procurement is subjectto review or cancellation at any time.The NAICS code planned for this procurement is 334516; the small business size standardis 500 employees. The schedule, method of solicitation, type of contract, set asidepotential, selection criteria, pricing structure, and other considerations to be usedwill depend on the NASAs analysis of the responses received from this RFI.NASA is presently familiar with the capabilities of Veolia Water Solutions EDM withcapability for zero discharge desalination (ZDD), and seeks this or equivalent equipmentto fulfill this need.We request industry experts to provide any information, solutions, or product offeringthat will meet NASA's requirements. System Characteristics:The system may incorporate an electro dialysis cell consisting of multiple compartments.The following is an example of possible system configurations that NASA seeks. The electrodialysis-metathesis cell module may have a capacity of individually-placed ionexchange membranes: 3 cation exchange membranes and 2 anion exchange membranes. The cellmodule should have 2 electrodes: anode and cathode. The 2 cation exchange membranesshould be placed in a vicinity of electrodes. The assembly should allow easy membranereplacement with a possibility of replacement of electrodes to test various membranes andelectrodes. The room between membranes should have optimized spacers, also with apossibility of easy spacer replacement. The stack assembly should have seals that providepositive sealing. Each membrane compartment shall have inlet and outlet ports forprocessed liquids: two compartments for rinsing of electrodes, one compartment for feedstream, one compartment for replacement ions solution (for example, NaCl), twocompartments for processed liquids consisting exchanged ions. The total number ofcompartments in this example: 6. The compartments will consist spacers that facilitateliquid flow and separate ion exchange membranes.The proposed configuration may be a square or rectangular stack, tubular or other compactgeometry. The materials selection: the materials should be compatible with the product of highlyconcentrated salt solutions and acidic (pH2) conditions. The product stream is highlyconcentrated urine at about 80% of water removal level. Other streams would haveparameters as used in metathesis.The active cross section areas of electrodes and ion exchange membranes should providesystem capacity of approximately 5 L per hour. The anion and cation exchange membrane life span should be approximately the same underoperational conditions.Operational:The example of scale-forming calcium compound is calcium sulfate. Its concentration needsto be maintained at a level below the precipitation threshold (the solubility is verylow, at about 2.6 g/L at ambient temperature and decreases at elevated temperatures). Complete removal of CaSO4 may not be necessary.No water splitting (gas release) should occur. No excessive temperatures are allowed(operation at ambient temperature; need for external cooling shall be avoided).Optimized (minimal) power use is desirable.System should be able to handle particles in the processed liquids (design ofcompartments, spacers and ports).We are looking for all pertinent information including rough order of magnitude forpricing, product lead time for delivery, and any information believed to be helpful inour market research and in determining industry capabilities. Desired lead time fordelivery is 60 days after award of any contract or order.Responses to this RFI must include the minimum following information: Company name,address, contractual and technical points of contact, phone number, e-mail, and website(if applicable), number of years in business, and name of parent company if applicable. Also required is information about the vendors business size (i.e., large, small, smalldisadvantaged, woman-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran owned, etc.),whether the firm is under a GSA Schedule Contract for this product, and which industriesdoes the vendor identify itself with in the North American Industry Classification System(NAICS). Detailed requirements for the acquisition have not been finalized, nor have the specificsfor the acquisition strategy been determined. NASA intends to use the results of itsmarket research to aid in the making of these final decisions.The objectives of thisRFI are: to provide industry with preliminary information regarding this potentialacquisition, solicit information about potential sources and ROM pricing estimates, toidentify the capabilities of small business and other business classifications to performthe work, and to invite potential offerors to submit comments regarding the fulfillmentof this requirement.Responses to this RFI are due by 4:30 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, November 23, 2011. Interested firms are requested to submit their capability statements, suggestions,schedule/ price ROM estimates, as well as any comments on the acquisition approach(email only) to: Elizabeth A. Baierl, Email: elizabeth.a.baierl@nasa.gov. Responses arelimited to twenty (20) pages in length, not including cover letter, cover page, and tableof contents. Submissions shall be compatible with and accessible using Microsoft Officesoftware applications.Following this initial feedback, NASA may conduct one-on-one meetings with potentialcontractors. These meetings will allow for exchange of information and will provide anopportunity for potential offerors to provide feedback on the Governments requirementsand its acquisition approach. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the Internet site for therelease of any future information about this acquisition. Potential offerors will beresponsible for downloading their own copy of any future documents. Information will beposted on a World-Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browserapplication. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/ARC Business Opportunities page ishttp://server-mpo.arc.nasa.gov/Services/Proc/home.tmlAny referenced numbered notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below. Anombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note 'B'. Information about major upcoming ARC procurement actions is available athttp://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eis/admin/admin.cgi?center=ARC
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