A -- ISTAR ENGINE DEMONSTRATOR PROJECT PHASE I -- CONCEPTUAL AND REQUIREMENTS DEFINITION

Notice Date

March 19, 2001

Contracting Office

NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

ZIP Code

35812

Solicitation Number

8-1-1-TG-10017

Response Due

April 3, 2001

Point of Contact

Roxanne C. Melton, Contract Specialist, Phone (256) 544-6561, Fax (256) 544-4080, Email roxanne.melton@msfc.nasa.gov -- George E. Pendley, Contracting Officer, Phone (256) 544-2949, Fax (256) 544-2812, Email george.pendley@msfc.nasa.gov

E-Mail Address

Roxanne C. Melton (roxanne.melton@msfc.nasa.gov)

Description

NASA/MSFC plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Conceptual and Requirements Definition phase of the Integrated System Test of an Airbreathing Rocket (ISTAR) Engine Demonstrator Project. To support the NASA/MSFC 3rd Generation goal of reducing cost of access to space by a factor of 100 and increasing reliability by a factor 10,000, the Advanced Space Transportation Program Office is procuring the development of a flight-weight, rocket-based combined-cycle (RBCC) engine system ground testbed to demonstrate RBCC engine system operation for the air-augmented rocket, ramjet, and scramjet modes. This engine system provides the testbed for evaluation of candidate technologies and to evaluate the engine system operating characteristics and is expected to be in test at NASA/Stennis Space Center in 2006. This is one of several airbreathing engine testbeds leading to full-scale development of an operational engine beginning in the 2015 timeframe. Phase I of the engine system development is the Conceptual and Requirements Definition phase, which involves the development of engine system conceptual design, definition of system requirements, and subscale component testing to provide early data for high risk components, culminating in a System Requirements Review. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the research and development effort from the Rocket-Based Combined-Cycle Consortium (RBC^3), composed of The Boeing Company/Rocketdyne Division, Aerojet General Corporation, and United Technologies/Pratt& Whitney, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. This acquisition is a follow-on to existing NASA contracts for RBCC engine system concept research, which these 3 companies have performed on an individual basis. NASA's investment in these research efforts total approximately $25 million. The companies are the only known sources capable of advancing the RBCC engine concept to engine system level demonstration, and have formed a consortium to combine their experience and unique capabilities that is required for the continued advancement of RBCC propulsion system technology. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on April 3, 2001. See Note 25. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to 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. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. See Note 22. An Ombudsman has been appointed, See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010321/ASOL007.HTM (D-078 SN50G621)