SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) Total Containment Ground Testing (TCGT)
- Notice Date
- 6/27/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- NASA Stennis Space Center, Office of Procurement, Mail Stop DA00, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, 39529-6000, United States
- ZIP Code
- 39529-6000
- Solicitation Number
- NNS16ZDA003L
- Archive Date
- 7/23/2016
- Point of Contact
- Gerald Norris, Phone: 2286881718
- E-Mail Address
-
gerald.l.norris@nasa.gov
(gerald.l.norris@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/SSC is seeking potential sources to perform services for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) Total Containment Ground Testing Concept Maturation at the John C. Stennis Space Center's A-3 Test Facility. The effort will consist of the performance of a gap analysis of the Total Containment Test Facility (TCTF) Conceptual Design and an engineering review of Nonnuclear Subscale Total Containment Testing at SSC's E-3 Test Facility. The TCTF concept is being studied as a potential enabling technology for NTP flight systems development in support of future human Mars exploration missions. The major elements of the Statement of Work are: Task 1. Perform a Gap Analysis of the Total Containment Test Facility Conceptual Design. Conduct an evaluation and gap analysis of the existing TCTF conceptual design to support follow-on design activities (assuming a 500MW-class LEU reactor and conversion of SSC's A-3 Test Facility as the baseline TCTF). Of special interest would be the identification of approaches (e.g., special design features, alternative engineering solutions, technologies, and test operations procedures and processes) that hold the potential to enhance nuclear safety and security, nuclear and environmental regulatory compliance and site licensing, and affordability of the TCTF. The scope for evaluation and gap analysis includes the following design considerations. Breadth and depth with which each item is addressed will be on a best effort basis within the constraints of funding limitations: a) Identification of major programs, design standards, analysis tools, systems components, and analyses necessary to design, construct, license, and safely operate the TCTF, including: (1) Approaches to minimizing or eliminating test facility radionuclide contamination; (2) Monitoring of and robustness toward potential reactor transients or off-nominal performance conditions; (3) Detection and identification of potential reactor signatures indicating reactor performance anomalies that may require reactor shutdown or safing, including associated sensor options to detect these anomalies; (4) Waste water management and storage options consistent with regulatory and environmental requirements; (5) Considerations associated with nuclear/radiological maintenance activities and issues for the TCTF; (6) Minimization of required safe/keep out zones for test personnel and other, non-test personnel at SSC during pre-test/test preparation, test, and post-test operations; (7) Identification of "cleanup" or remediation options for nuclear contaminated test facility elements; (8) Identification of known key enabling technologies, including: i) nuclear shielding, claddings, special materials, etc. to prevent contamination or activation of TCTF structures, piping, and other components; ii) radionuclide filtering technologies; iii) "fail safe" mechanisms, control systems, and other components/elements; iv) radiation, temperature, pressure, and other radiation resistant sensors and facility monitoring systems; v) sensor systems to monitor real-time reactor health and performance and to detect imminent failures (e.g., fuel element erosion, localized hot spots, etc.) to enable proceed-to-shutdown prior to nuclear release into the engine exhaust flow stream; and vi) on-stand, near-stand, and SSC wide sensor systems at critical locations to monitor/measure radiation environments. b) For each of the identified major programs, systems components and analysis, review the conceptual design and identify high level Gaps and recommendations for subsequent design activities. c) Compare and contrast TCTF design considerations for LEU vs HEU reactors. Identify associated affordability, nuclear safety and security, and other potential TCTF design and operational impacts. • Support NASA Cost and Schedule ROM Estimates. Assist NASA/SSC in updating the ROM cost estimate and top-level construction schedule for the TCTF, particularly with respect to major "nuclear safety critical" design elements. Task 2. Perform an Engineering Review of Nonnuclear Subscale Total Containment Testing. Conduct a top-level review, from a nuclear engineering and safety perspective, of the subscale total containment testing concept to assess its utility in demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the total containment concept, including its ability to support the site licensing process. The scope of the engineering assessment includes the following items. Breadth and depth with which each item is addressed will be on a best effort basis within the constraints of funding limitations: a) Identification of design features or modifications or technologies that might hold the potential to improve the subscale TCTF's ability to: validate the full scale TCTF's design requirements, demonstrate facility design functionality, assess and validate alternative design solutions and technologies (e.g., radionuclide filtering of rocket plumes, radiation and other sensors, etc.), demonstrate safety and risk mitigation features, develop test operations procedures, and optimize facility performance. b) Identification of how nonnuclear subscale testing might be used to demonstrate full-scale nuclear-related risk mitigation design features (e.g., by incorporating radioactive tracers to address potential nuclear safety and contamination issues and to characterize facility response to reactor failure modes or off-nominal reactor performance). At this time no solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor the site for the release of any additional information pertaining to the synopsis or any resulting solicitation. Responses must include the following: *Indicate if your interest is directed at the potential prime contract or subcontract level *Name and address of firm *Company Point of Contact *Average annual revenue for past 3 years *Number of employees *Size of business and which of the following apply: large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a), HUBZone, small disabled veteran owned, woman owned *Number of years in business *Affiliate information including: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime) *Narrative highlighting relevant work performed that is relevant to this sources sought notice. Potential offerors are asked to electronically submit their information. Submissions should be limited to five pages and sent via email to Gerald.L.Norris@nasa.gov by 2 pm Central Time on July 1, 2016. Comments or suggestions relevant to this proposed notice are welcome and may be included in the submission. The Government reserves the right to consider a set-aside based on responses hereto. DO NOT SUBMIT ANY PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. The period of performance is to be determined at a later date. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of notice.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/SSC/OPDC20220/NNS16ZDA003L/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Stennis Space Center, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, 39529, United States
- Zip Code: 39529
- Zip Code: 39529
- Record
- SN04162581-W 20160629/160627234234-fae3772ef72c8f6071b8ecf54a7c9080 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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