NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 214.4, Greenbelt, MD 20771

18 -- GAMMA ALUMINA STRUTS SOL 703-67389-0000-987 DUE 011298 POC Julie Corry, Contract Specialist, Phone (301)286-8190, Fax (301)286-0341, Email Julie.A.Corry.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/GSFC/date.html#703-67389-0000-987. E-MAIL: Julie Corry, Julie.A.Corry.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA/GSFC plans to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for GAMMA ALUMINA STRUTS. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). NASA/GSFC intends to purchase the items from STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES INDUSTRIES (SCI) IN POMONA, CA. THE MAP DESIGN REQUIRES A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT THAT SERVES BOTH A STRUCTURAL AND THERMAL CAPACITY. STRUCTURALLY, THIS ELEMENT MUST PROVIDE THE STIFFNESS AND STRENGTH NECESSARY TO ADEQUATELY LINK THE MAP INSTRUMENT TO THE SPACECRAFT AND THEREBY ENDURE LAUNCH LOADS. OTHER MATERIALS MAY MEET ONE REQUIREMENT (STRUCTURAL OR THERMAL) BUT NOT BOTH. SCI HAS FABRICATED A 12" X 12" PANEL THAT WE HAVE TESTED AND IT SURPASSED OUR INITIAL PREDICTIONS RELATIVE TO PERFORMANCE STRUCTURALLY AND THERMALLY. BASED ON THIS TESTING, WE HAVE SOLE SOURCED AN ORDER TO SCI FOR THEM TO FABRICATE OUR GAMMA-ALUMINA CYLINDERS. WE WOULD NOW LIKE TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR STRUTS WHICH WILL BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CYLINDER. AT THIS POINT, IT WOULD BE MORE COSTLY MONETARILY AND SCHEDULEWISE TO HAVE ANOTHER VENDOR TRY TO FABRICATE THE STRUTS WITH SCI'S MATERIAL. CONSULTING WORK BEGAN OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO FIND ANY AND ALL MATERIALS WHICH COULD PERFORM THE COMPETING REQUIREMENTS MENTIONED ABOVE. TO DATE, ONLY THE GAMMA-ALUMINA TYPE OF MATERIALS WILL WORK IN THIS APPLICATION. EVERY COMPOSITES VENDOR THAT WE HAVE INTERFACED WITH HAVE MAINTAINED THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY MATERIAL THAT WOULD PERFORM AS WELL AS SCI'S GAMMA-ALUMINA. THE GAMMA-ALUMINA MATERIAL THAT SCI PROVIDES IS THE ONLY MATERIAL NOW KNOWN TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAP DESIGN AND SCI IS THE ONLY VENDOR WITH THE EXPERIENCE TO PRODUCE THE NECESSARY ITEMS REQUIRED FOR MAP. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. See Note 22. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nnotes.htm. Interested firms have 5 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after the 5 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". (0006)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0145 19980108\18-0001.SOL)