SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- PROPELLANTS AND AEROSPACE FLUIDS TESTING AND ANALYSIS
- Notice Date
- 1/29/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 325180
— Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BH
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- NNJ15ZBH006L
- Response Due
- 8/3/2015
- Archive Date
- 1/29/2016
- Point of Contact
- Mark A. Dillard, Lead Partnership Development Office Integration, Phone 281-244-8640, Fax 281-483-4146, Email mark.a.dillard@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Mark A. Dillard
(mark.a.dillard@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- There are many challenges facing our world today: Finding a cure for cancer; discovering safer and cleaner alternative energy sources; making transportation safer and more effective; producing durable, environmentally friendly materials; protecting our national assets; exploring Space, and rehabilitating our soldiers, just to name a few. NASAs Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) shares common, complex problems with many industries. We are seeking partners interested in using our unique Propellants and Aerospace Fluids Testing and Analysis testing technical capabilities to help solve both space related and earthbound problems. For the past 50+ years, this nation has made a great investment in space exploration and NASA JSC, resulting in JSC capabilities (disruptive technologies, expertise, knowledge, specialized skills, experience, facilities, labs and tools) that are used to better life here on Earth. Utilizing these national assets to further technological advances also saves money, not only for the taxpayer, but across industry, academia, and Government agencies. In todays global economy, the key to our nations future is dependent on our ability to advance technologies in all industries and operate in the most innovative, efficient and effective ways. With the release of this Announcement, JSC looks forward to sharing its unique capabilities to meet the needs of others. Partnering will foster innovation through collaboration, assist in solving complex problems relevant to life on earth and create a more efficient and effective Government. Interested parties should respond in accordance with the language provided in the Announcement. I. Description and Purpose of this Announcement NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) seeks to identify potential partners for utilization of JSC's unique Propellants and Aerospace Fluids Testing and Analysis resources to support government, university, and commercial activities. These resources include technical expertise, knowledge, specialized skills, experience, facilities, labs, and tools not reasonably available in the commercial sector. These resources are frequently referred to as capabilities throughout this document. These capabilities can be of great benefit to the nation by enhancing technological research and development, increasing the nations economic vitality, expanding human knowledge, and preserving United States critical skills. These capabilities, as outlined in Section IV, have broad application within diverse industries including, but not limited to, energy, petrochemical, medical, transportation, advanced manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, commercial space, and first responders. The capabilities also have broad application in academia and other government agencies (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security). This NASA JSC Announcement of Unique Capabilities, hereafter referred to as Announcement, is solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). It is not to be construed as a commitment by the government, nor will the government pay for any information provided. Since this is an Announcement, no evaluation letters or results will be issued to the respondents. The expectation is that NASA JSC will be fully reimbursed for all costs incurred in the performance of work as described in the agreement. The purpose of this Announcement is to engage prospective partners in dialogue leading to research and development (R&D) efforts utilizing these unique capabilities. In selecting potential partners, JSC will assess the best-fit use of its resources consistent with the NASA mission. II. The Process The government and partner will jointly define the partnership, develop mutually agreed to statements of work, cost, and schedule. The government anticipates some respondents may be interested in only one area or sub-area while others may be interested in broad efforts requiring more than one capability. Some entities may want to partner because of their direct needs, or there may be respondents who wish to utilize JSC capabilities to meet the needs of third parties. NASA will identify the appropriate legal instrument for partnering on a case-by-case basis. III. Information Requested from Respondents If interested, parties will submit statements of interest electronically, via email, to the Technical Point of Contact listed below. The statement of interest shall consist of a one-page summary and an additional one page of supporting detail if needed. The one page summary response form can be found here. Responses shall contain a minimum font size of 12. To facilitate a prompt review, the one-page summary shall clearly identify planned utilization of capabilities consistent with those described in this document. Responses are required no later than close of business (COB) on the response date specified above. Information received after this date will only be considered if deemed in the Government's best interest. Please reference this Announcement, "NNJ15ZBH006L", in any inquiries. Respondents are cautioned to mark any information confidential if it is to be treated as proprietary. IV. Propellants and Aerospace Fluids Testing and Analysis Capabilities The NASA JSC White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) has a wide variety of resources to draw upon in assessing the fire, explosion, compatibility, and safety hazards of hydrogen, oxygen, the hydrazine fuels, and nitrogen tetroxide. The skills and techniques developed to assess these propellants are also being utilized to analyze other propellants of current interest such as methane. WSTF has the one of a kind infrastructure, experience, and environmental permits to handle, store, test, and dispose of shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) propellants, such as: Gaseous and cryogenic hydrogen Gaseous and cryogenic oxygen Hydrazine Monomethylhydrazine (MMH) Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) Aerozine 50 Nitrogen tetroxide and variants such as MON3 Analysis WSTF has a wide range of unique analytical capabilities to support the assessment of propellants and hazardous fluids. Many of these capabilities reside in the Analytical Services Laboratories. The following are the types of analyses that WSTF can perform: Chemical Thermal Spectroscopic Specification Environmental Composition Explosion Blast wave Blast source characterization reaction Kinetics Thermodynamics General Hazards Failure Testing WSTF has been conducting tests on propulsion systems, components, materials, propellants, and hazardous fluids since the 1960s. WSTF offers a wide range of test capabilities, facilities, hazardous test sites, and support services (including environmental permits) to allow for the testing and disposal of certain toxic materials. Listed below are some of the test capabilities that are maintained at WSTF and that support the assessment of propellants and hazardous fluids: Accelerated rate calorimetry Adiabatic compression Blast effects Compatibility (metallic and nonmetallic materials) Corrosion (liquid and vapor phase) Detonability (liquid and vapor phase) Electrochemistry Flammability Frictional heating Kindling chain ignitions Mechanical impact Minimum ignition energy Particle impact Physical properties Promoted ignition/combustion Shock sensitivity Slow strain rate Thermal runaway Ultrasonic decomposition
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/JSC/OPDC20220/NNJ15ZBH006L/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03628236-W 20150131/150129235003-bf5c628164452baf6786716e0c586ee9 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |