SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- MARSHALL GRAZING INCIDENT X-RAY SPECTROMETER
- Notice Date
- 8/3/2015
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall SpaceFlight Center, AL 35812
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- NNM15558690R
- Response Due
- 8/18/2015
- Archive Date
- 8/3/2016
- Point of Contact
- Shaun Wayne Canter, Contract Specialist, Phone 256-544-1632, Fax 256-544-5861, Email shaun.w.canter@nasa.gov - Jennifer B. McCaghren, Contracting Officer, Phone 256-544-5189, Fax 256-544-4400, Email jennifer.b.mccaghren@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Shaun Wayne Canter
(shaun.w.canter@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/MSFC has a requirement for the Marshall Grazing Incident X-ray Spectrometer (MaGIXS) sounding rocket flight. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO).Competition is impractical for the following reasons: a.SAO has the uniquely specialized personnel and equipment to align spectrometer optics necessary for this effort that cannot be found by any other source. No other source has the highly specialized equipment, existing jigs, procedures, and expertise required to handle the existing MaGIXS instrument and achieve the required performance. SAO has developed a comprehensive alignment capability while building the telescopes for Transition Region And Coronal Explorer (TRACE), Hinode X-Ray Telescope (XRT), Solar Dynamics Observatory Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO-AIA), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), and Hi-C, as well as numerous ground-based optical instruments. In addition, they have unique skills and equipment for the alignment and performance measurement of high resolution, high precision optical instruments including telescopes and spectrometers that will be utilized in this effort. Currently, SAO operates and maintains tools that will be utilized in this contract such as: a Centroid Detector Assembly (CDA) (only 1 exists in private industry) developed to align Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) (another grazing incidence optical system), a 4-D high precision interferometer, two 20m floated optical elements, and other specialized alignment equipment all housed in a Class 1000 cleanroom. b.SAO was key to the completion and successful flight of the High Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) 2012 mission. SAO will complete similar tasks with the MaGIXS instrument that were developed and used with the Hi-C instrument. Specifically, SAO will design, analyze, assemble and align the MaGIXS telescope and spectrometer. The equipment used to complete this alignment is called the CDA and is a product of CXO and is the only real alignment tool for this type of optical alignment. c.This MaGIXS effort is a continuation of captured knowledge and x-ray optics development that MSFC initiated in May 2013 via SAO to support the MaGIXS Instrument Development (MID) (NNM13AA40C). The MID focused on combined optical elements integration and test. The MID contract developed techniques with highly specific equipment to align the combined optical components that will be utilized in this current effort. SAO provides unique technical support and highly specialized experience developed over many years related to the design and manufacture of the x-ray telescope and spectrometer optical alignment interfaces that is critical to MaGIXS design, manufacturing and alignment. SAO developed equipment and processes to accurately align the optics to obtain high resolution images that can withstand high G-loads associated with sounding rocket flights. d.The MaGIXS effort requires SAO to oversee the manufacturing of x-ray blaze grating, mount design and integration.The manufacturing process of the modified blaze grating requires the use of SAOs unique processes not readily available in the market place. SAO previously determined the extremely tight performance requirements for the MaGIXS grating, developed the process necessary to meet those tight requirements, worked with a subcontractor to perfect the modified grating fabrication and mounting process that will meet or exceed the design requirements of this MaGIXS effort. Additionally, SAO is in the process of developing systems for other x-ray missions that will benefit MaGIXS. e.SAO has developed the unique processes to mount all optics and to accurately align the spectrometer optics that will be utilized as part of MaGIXS. These processes are critical to accurately align the hardware and ultimately mission success. f.Replication of the requisite intellectual knowledge and physical equipment from another source is cost prohibitive within the budget and effort required by the Science Mission Directorates (SMDs) MaGIXS sounding rocket flight selection for reasons as stated above. Over the past decade, NASA has invested in x-ray optics development to look at the sun. Utilization of another source would cause excessive burden and unacceptable hardware development risk. The specialized alignment equipment alone (interferometer, CDA, etc.), separate from the facility housing it, would require an additional investment. Key SAO personnel have decades of experience successfully building and aligning cutting edge x-ray instruments of precisely this type. It is not anticipated that other sources are available that can satisfy the requirements, especially given that the probability of key personnel, processes and equipment would not transition to a successor. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. CST on 08/18/2015. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose 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. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/p ub_library/Omb.html.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/GMSFC/POVA/NNM15558690R/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03820837-W 20150805/150803234950-ebd8f4901321b474a6265e52dac48b06 (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 |