SOURCES SOUGHT
18 -- Mars Ascent Propulsion System (MAPS)
- Notice Date
- 9/16/2019
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336415
— Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Office of Procurement, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, 35812, United States
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- 80MSFC18L0916
- Archive Date
- 10/11/2019
- Point of Contact
- Cynthia A. Hubbard,
- E-Mail Address
-
cynthia.a.hubbard@nasa.gov
(cynthia.a.hubbard@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is seeking information from industry about potential sources for solid rocket motors for a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) in support of market research. As a proposed part of the Mars Sample Return Campaign the MAV would transport Mars samples from the Martian surface into orbit for rendezvous with an awaiting spacecraft. MAV is a two-stage vehicle and will require two solid rocket motors of varied design. The motors would be required to tolerate environments of launch, space transport, Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL), and residence on the Martian surface for a period of time (approximately up to one year) prior to activation. While this Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only, responses may be used to justify any near-future competitive or noncompetitive acquisition. Specifically, NASA MSFC is looking for interested sources with the capabilities to: Provide first and second stage solid rocket motors with the following characteristics: Part I • Survive storage and transport temperatures between -50 and +50 degrees Celsius, including qualification margin, and exposure to ultra high vacuum at approximately 10^ -12 Torr • Operate at -20 degrees Celsius +/- 5 degrees Celsius • Utilize design concepts and materials similar to systems with applicable mission heritage or high Technical Readiness Level (TRL) • Utilize a propellant system with similar mission performance history • Incorporate low mass structures/features wherever possible Part II • Use in-process control that results in lower performance variability: o Show 3 standard deviation Isp variation <=0.4% (3-sigma) with supporting historical evidence • Capability to deliver the following: o First unit within 18 months from start o Three demonstration units for each stage within 36 months of start o Three qualification units for each stage within 52 months of start • Both stage 1 and stage 2 solid rocket motors include TVC which consists of the gimbal mechanism, actuators, controller, and power supply. • For each stage there will be three demonstration test motors and three qualification test motors. Deliveries will consist of the following for each stage: o One flight test motor o One inert motor o One flight motor o One flight spare Part III Stage 1 should meet Part I and Part II in addition to the following: • Propellant mass of 475 lbm • Required propellant mass accuracy within 0.03% • Utilize propellant with applicable mission heritage • Boost-sustain pressure trace, with nominal total burn time exceeding 70 seconds • Propellant mass fraction of 84% or better Part IV Stage 2 should meet Part I and Part II in addition to the following: • Propellant mass of 120 lbm • Required propellant mass accuracy within 0.06% • Utilize propellant with applicable mission heritage • Propellant mass fraction of 75% or better Part V Thrust Vector Control (TVC) shall meet Part I and the following: • Develop and qualify a design for a supersonic split line nozzle trapped ball Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system • Omnidirectional position control of the thrust vector, ±5°, measured from vehicle centerline • Position accuracy < 0.30°, across controllable range • Overshoot < 10.0 percent of step size, across controllable range • Slew rate > 20°/s • Acceleration > 80°/s² • Total system mass per stage (2 actuators, controller and batteries) < 2.8 kg • Mechanical hard stop of gimballed nozzle > 6.30° • TVC system to be included with each deliverable solid rocket motor unit Part VI Responses to the RFI should include the following information: • Supporting evidence or justification to achieve Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V • Present design for a conceptual supersonic split line trapped ball nozzle and outline the risks and development areas • Examples of applicable flight history with the proposed propellant system • Overview of capability to provide low variability and high reliability solid rocket motors for use with the MAV • Estimated development time and time to first unit providing detail to anticipated long lead items • Overview of quality standards and planetary protection approaches for this mission that could be employed The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 336415 - Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing. *Please note information provided describes only the currently contemplated possible scope of services and may vary from the work scope in a final PWS included in any Request for Proposals (RFP). Statement of Capabilities: NASA MSFC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, regardless of business size or status, for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition for this requirement. Interested parties that have the experience base, expertise, and capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit a response to this sources sought notice. Response Instructions: We request responses within the 10 days of the release date of this RFI - in the form of written and illustrated concepts, ideas, and descriptions of capabilities. Responses shall be submitted via email to Cynthia Hubbard (cynthia.a.hubbard@nasa.gov). Phone calls will not be accepted. The subject line of the submission should be "RFI MAV Solid Propulsion" and attachments should be in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or PDF format. Files should not be greater than ten (10) pages (no less than 12-point font, except in figure captions) and contain the following information: 1. Name of submitter and contact information, phone number, email address and address of firm 2. Identification of business size under anticipated NAICS code 336415 3. CAGE code/DUNs number 4. Number of years in business and list of customers for the past five years: The Government encourages respondents to provide a list of customers for the past five years that helps demonstrate the respondent firm's capabilities and experiences. (Interested parties may opt to present a subset of past customers that is most relevant to the requirement.) 5. Discussion of experience relevant to the requirements above 6. Statement of capabilities and qualifications that address the respondent's ability to provide support which meets the requirements specified above Place of Performance: Should this RFI result in a RFP, respondent's facility shall be the primary place of performance. No contractor personnel will be located on-site, but they will travel occasionally to MSFC or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Some activities will require hosting of government personnel at the prime contractor's facility. Disclaimer: It is not NASA's intent to publicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtained from this RFI. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary or Confidential" will be kept confidential. It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and information purposes only (subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, "Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes") and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information solicited. NASA will decide on whether to proceed with a procurement action, based on the responses received. 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 offeror's responsibility to monitor that site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. The Government intends to review all responses submitted by Industry. At our discretion, NASA may hold meetings with respondents as needed to clarify responses and obtain further details. No evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents.
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- SN05446512-W 20190918/190916232739-3edde27df24304dde150bfd7827b81a1 (fbodaily.com)
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