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

B -- MARS CHAMBER CONTROL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION/MARS AND LUNAR ELECTROSTATIC PROPERTIES R&D |RFO10-00-0030 DUE 060500 POC Lisa Morales, Contract Specialist, Phone (321) 867-3860, Fax (321) 867-1188, Email moralL@kscgws00.ksc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=76#RFO10-00-0 030. E-MAIL: Lisa Morales, moralL@kscgws00.ksc.nasa.gov. NASA/KSC plans to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) for engineering support to complete the development of the computerized automated control system for the Electrostatics Mars Environmental Vacuum Chamber and undergo research and development of the automation of several existing electrostatic experimental processes currently in use at KSC. This computerized automation system will be used to undertake elaborate experiments for the determination of the electrostatic properties of Lunar and Martian soils and of materials exposed to these soils under simulated environmental conditions. The Electrostatics Mars Environmental Chamber has been in development for over 2 years and will be used to undertake experiments in simulated planetary conditions. The control system development work is the final phase in the chamber's development. The system provides the Electrostatics Mars Environmental Chamber with state-of-the-art computer control system to ensure efficient and safe performance of numerous experiments planned for various research projects. The compatibility with systems currently installed in the laboratory at KSC is essential to provide efficient systems for operating personnel. NASA KSC has several research projects currently underway and the development of the computerized automation system is required for these projects. The development is scheduled to start on or about June 13, 2000 and completed on or before August 1, 2000. NASA/KSC intends to purchase the services on a sole source basis from VirCon Engineering, Salina, Kansas. The authority is 10 USC 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source will satisfy agency requirements. VirCon Engineering performed the initial control system design of the Mars Simulation Chamber, as well as other design modifications. VirCon also performed the engineering study for the automation of vacuum chamber and laboratory processes at Marshall Space Flight Center. The system includes residual gas analyzer systems, photo-deposition chamber, optical witness sample thermal bake-out chamber, volatile condensable materials for out-gassing chamber, atomic oxygen beam facility chamber, frictional heating tester, liquid and gaseous oxygen impact testers, and a plasma discharge chamber. It is crucial for the development of the automated system for the Mars Vacuum Chamber at KSC to be compatible to NASA's existing system located at Marshall Space Flight Center and other existing systems at Kennedy Space Center. VirCon Engineering is the only known source that can develop the system for compatibility within NASA's required delivery time frame. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Interested firms have 15 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 15 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 competition basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Firm date for receipt of offers will be stated in the RFO. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". All qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html Posted 05/19/00 (A-SN456665). (0140)

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