SOLICITATION NOTICE
18 -- SHUTTLE ORBITER LH2 FEEDLINE FLOWLINER MANUFACTURE AND WELDING
- Notice Date
- 4/27/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 336415
— Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- NNL04060548Q
- Response Due
- 5/11/2004
- Archive Date
- 4/27/2005
- Point of Contact
- R. Todd Lacks, Contract Specialist, Phone (757) 864-2477, Fax (757) 864-7709, Email Ronald.T.Lacks@nasa.gov - Lionel E Nadeau, Contract Specialist, Phone (757) 864-2434, Fax (757) 864-8863, Email Lionel.E.Nadeau@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
R. Todd Lacks
(Ronald.T.Lacks@nasa.gov)
- Description
- The NASA Engineering & Safety Center (NESC) at NASA/LaRC is conducting an investigation into the cracking of the Shuttle Orbiter liquid hydrogen feedline flowliner. The feedline, of which the flowliner is a part, is the conduit of liquid hydrogen from the external tank to the Shuttle Main Engines. This feedline must have the ability to flex during the launch and flight of the Shuttle. In order to allow this flexing, the feedline contains several bellows assemblies. The bellows maintain feedline integrity while allowing the feedline to move about. Because of the high rate of volume passing through the feedline and the need for a rather smooth flow, some device is needed to prevent the bellows from disturbing the flow. The device that is used is called a flowliner. The flowliner, in two parts, is welded to the upper and lower parts of the same assembly as the bellows. The two parts assist in ensuring a laminar flow while allowing the bellows to flex. The flowliners themselves have numerous slots that serve two purposes - allow cleaning of the bellows area after manufacture and prevent an overpressure condition in the bellows area. Cracks began developing in the areas surrounding the slots. The cracks themselves do not constitute a problem but if a piece of debris were to break off in flight, failure of a Shuttle Main Engine could occur. Determining the nature and cause of these cracks is the focus of the NESC's Flowliner Independent Technical Assessment (IPA). NASA/LaRC intends to purchase the items from Arrowhead Products Corporation, Los Alamitos, California. Arrowhead Products has done extensive work for many years for the Shuttle Program. Arrowhead designed and built the feedlines and flowliners for the Shuttle and their manufactured feedlines are currently installed in all the remaining Shuttle Orbiters. A large part of the focus of the Flowliner investiagation is to examine the results of Arrowhead’s manufacturing process relative to the flowliner’s crack development. Testing that will be conducted by the NESC Flowliner Independent Technical Assessment requires several flowliners to be welded to ‘gimbal like’ test pieces. NESC is requesting that Arrowhead manufacture these test pieces and assist in replicating portions of the feedline Gimbal assembly. This is particularly crucial to the area where the flowliner itself will be welded to the test piece. Arrowhead Products must be the sole source for this contract because of the need to replicate, as near as possible, the conditions that exist on the in-fleet Orbiters. In order for the NESC testing to prove any connection between the welding and the flowliner crack development, the exact same manufacturing process must be utilized. 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) and FAR 6.302-1 provide the authority for other than full and open competition. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (27-APR-2004); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Click here for the latest information about this notice
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/NASA/LaRC/OPDC20220/NNL04060548Q/listing.html)
- Record
- SN00573598-F 20040429/040427212706 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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