NASA/John F. Kennedy Space Center, Procurement, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

34 -- SEEKING INDUSTRY SOURCES AND INPUT ON THE PROCUREMENT OF A THERMAL VACUUM CHAMBER FOR INSTALLATION AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (KSC) DUE 071697 POC Mitch Colvin, Contracting Officer, Phone (407) 867-7230, Fax (407) 867-2042, Email Mitch.Colvin-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/KSC/date.html#151533. E-MAIL: Mitch Colvin, Mitch.Colvin-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov. For planning purposes only KSC is asking those firms with demonstrated experience in performing similar projects (size, capability, etc.) to provide their qualifications and previous experience related to the project scope described below. Your comments on the design, construction and procurement methodology to be used to procure a THERMAL VACUUM CHAMBER for KSC are solicited. The project will consist of a thermal vacuum chamber, facility to house the vacuum chamber and extension of existing utilities at KSC to support operation of the facility. The scope of this project is estimated to be within the range of 35 to 60 million dollars. This project is not currently funded but the current program schedule calls for construction to be initiated in early 1999. Please limit your comments to the scope of work listed below. Project Scope: The chamber will be located on Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The size of the thermal vacuum chamber interior is approximately 15 meters high by 15 meters wide by 33 meters long. A new structure, housing the chamber, is included within the project. The Thermal Vacuum Chamber shall meet the following requirements: 1) Clear interior space of 15 meters wide by 15 meters high by 33 meters long. The object to be placed within the chamber is cylindrical. Thus a mailbox, square or round shaped chamber will be considered. 2) The vacuum requirements are 10-8 torr when the chamber is empty, clean, and dry. 3) The chamber will be used to simulate environments on other planets and will be required to maintain pressures between 10-8 torr and atmospheric. The atmosphere in the chamber may be composed of various gases (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, oxygen and water). 4) The main access door (full width and height of the chamber) will open directly into a class 100,000 clean room. The movement of the access door will be to the right or left of the chamber, a vertical lift door is not acceptable. 5) The interior of the chamber including shell and fixtures is to be constructed of 304L or 316L stainless steel. 6) The chamber shall be designed, constructed, tested and code stamped per ASME Section VIII division 1 or 2. 7) The floor of the chamber shall be conductive and air bearing pallet compatible. 8) The chamber shall have the capability to simulate levels of solar radiation. The anticipated maximum level is 800 watts per meter squared. 9) A redundant control system for the thermal chamber shall be designed to allow independent control of the thermal and vacuum characteristics of the chamber. The system shall be PC based. 10) The chamber design shall include a thermal system capable of producing a radiating surface temperature range from -250 degrees F to +250 degrees F. The chamber may be filled with mixtures of gas (see 3 above) surrounding the test object. The thermal system shall be capable of maintaining the gas temperature between -220 degrees F and +70 degrees F. 11) The chamber shall have access panels to allow the test object to be connected to fluids, power and data transmission lines to allow the object to be operated while in the chamber. 12) The facility will be equipped with an uninterruptible power supply to support an orderly shut down of the test operation in the event of failure of primary power. The building to house the chamber is included within this project. The building will include a control room, chamber and mechanical/electrical equipment room. The minimum size of the control room is 20 feet by 40 feet. The building area at the entrance to the thermal vacuum chamber will be a class 100,000 clean room, the remainder of the occupied building will be heated and air-conditioned. All gases and liquid nitrogen piping and storage vessels are included within this project. Storage vessels will be located exterior to the building. KSC is seeking industry's response to the following three approaches: A) NASA designs the project and the contractor with the largest dollar amount of work within the contract is required to be the prime contractor. B) Design/Build -- The contractor will provide design and construction services for the project with NASA providing technical criteria during the design process and limited design support and only inspection services during construction. C) NASA procures the Facility and Vacuum Chamber as separate contracts, with NASA integrating the contracts into one project. Please comment on any other procurement issues of concern to you. For example, would you prefer to have the bid documents prepared as detailed plans and specifications or as a performance specification? Industry is also encouraged to suggest changes which would result in a better value to the government. For example, if a change in size would result in using industry standard sizes and still meet our requirements, thus, eliminating significant labor costs to custom fabricate parts; or, changes in requirements which would allow the use of readily available fabrication equipment. A solicitation will not be issued as a result of this sources sought synopsis. In the event funding is received for this project a synopsis will be issued announcing the Governments intent to issue a solicitation for the Thermal Vacuum Chamber. (0176)

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