NASA/Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135

A -- PULSED PLASMA THRUSTER DEVELOPMENT SOL RFO3-116639 DUE 021699 POC Kathleen L. Batke, Contracting Officer, Phone (216) 433-2823, Fax (216) 433-2480, Email Kathleen.L.Batke@lerc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/LeRC/date.html#RFO3-116639. E-MAIL: Kathleen L. Batke, Kathleen.L.Batke@lerc.nasa.gov. NASA/LeRC plans to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) for research on improved Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) energy storage units and power processing electronics that have increased performance, reduced mass, and reduced recurring cost over existing approaches. Overall PPT performance objectives include a throttleable impulse bit range of 50 -- 1000 microNewton-sec at a pulse rate of 1 Hz, specific impulse of up to 1500 sec, operating life of up to 25 million pulses, at an input power less than 120 W. The PPT components of this procurement shall support those overall goals. Resulting components would be directly applicable to a wide range of space science missions. NASA plans to conduct this research in two phases. The first phase will consist of an R&T effort to establish a technology path that supports successful system development, including fabrication of breadboard units. The second phase shall be an option which may be exercised by the Government dependant upon Phase 1 results and the availability of funds. The second phase will consist of the development, fabrication and testing of engineering model components. The Government anticipates awarding a cost-reimbursement type contract via NASA Midrange Procedures using a Best Value Selection (BVS) process. Phase I is expected to be complete within 10 months, the total program duration is expected to be less than thirty-six months. Both phases shall be submitted by offerors in a single proposal so that a contract consisting of both phases as described above may be awarded. The Government reserves the right to award multiple contracts. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. The SIC Code and Size Standard are 8711 and $2.5 Million, respectively. The DAPS Rating for this procurement is DO-C9. The provisions and clauses in the RFO and model contract are those in effect through FAC 97-7. All qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. The anticipated release date of the RFO with all the specifics is on or about January 15, 1999, with an anticipated offer due date of on or about February 16, 1999. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See internet note "B". The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will be in Microsoft Office Suite (Word 6.0, Excel 5.0, and PowerPoint 4.0) format and will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The WWW address, or URL, of the NASA/LeRC Business Opportunities home page is http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/LeRC/class.html. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this site and/or CBD for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html. Posted 12/21/98 (D-SN282351). (0355)

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