SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- TPS FOR MARS ENTRY DESCENT AND LANDING
- Notice Date
- 12/22/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 336419
— Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
- ZIP Code
- 94035-1000
- Solicitation Number
- NNA10323994Q
- Response Due
- 1/4/2010
- Archive Date
- 12/22/2010
- Point of Contact
- Marianne Shelley, Contracting Officer, Phone 650-604-4179, Fax 650-604-3020, Email marianne.shelley@nasa.gov - Rachel Khattab, Contracting Officer, Phone 650-604-5237, Fax 650-604-3020, Email rachel.khattab@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Marianne Shelley
(marianne.shelley@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) plans to issue a Request for Quotes (RFQ) forThermal Protection Systems (TPS) materials for the Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL)Technology Development Project (TDP).In October 2009, NASAs Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) established theEDL TDP, to be managed programmatically at Langley Research Center (LaRC) and technicallyat ARC. The purpose of the project is to further the technologies required to land heavy(~40 metric ton) masses on Mars to facilitate exploration. The EDL TDP contains threetechnical elements. They are 1) Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) development; 2)Modeling and Tools (MAT) development; and 3) Supersonic Retropropulsion (SRP)development. The primary goals of the EDL TDP TPS element is to design and develop TPSmaterials capable of withstanding the severe aerothermal loads associated withaerocapture and entry into the Martian atmosphere while significantly decreasing the TPSmass fraction contribution to the entry system. Significant advancements in TPSmaterials technology is needed in order to enable heavy mass payloads to be successfullylanded on the Martian surface for robotic precursor and subsequent human explorationmissions. In July 2009 NASA released a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit information fromTPS materials vendors regarding materials and concepts that could meet the initialrequirements derived from the Mars Design Reference Mission 5.0 architecture. NASAsevaluation of industry responses to the RFI indicates that there are promising TPSmaterials, technologies and concepts that could ultimately meet the stringentrequirements for Mars aerocapture and entry. This procurement will consist of screeningtests of multiple TPS materials from multiple vendors within a detailed trade studyframework in order to advance promising concepts to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or6 by 2014.NASA intends to conduct a Progressive Competition in accordance with NASA FAR Subpart1817.73 Phased Acquisitions. This presolicitation notice constitutes the requiredsynopsis for Phase 1. To be considered for a Phase 1 award, offerors will have todemonstrate capability to perform all phases of this Procurement. The following information applies to this phased acquisition process:(1) The Government plans to conduct a phased acquisition involving a competitivedown-selection process, as follows:Phase 1 is for delivery of TPS material coupons as described on the attached Statement ofWork Phase 1. NASA will perform a variety of tests on these submitted coupons, andresults of the testing will be evaluated as part of the down-select to Phase 2.Phase 2 is for continued testing, development, extending the TRL, etc. for up to 4 rigidablator materials and for further screening of viable deployable ablator materials (seeattached Statement of Work Phase 1 for more detail on types of ablators). The downselect for Phase 2 is expected to be about Summer 2010.Phase 3 is for development and further characterization of up to two rigid ablatormaterials and up to three deployable ablator materials (see attached Statement of Work Phase 1 for more detail on types of ablators). The down-select for Phase 3 is expectedto be about mid FY2012.Phase 4 is for further development and larger scale testing of the best materialsdetermined in Phase 3. The down-select for Phase 4 is expected to be in the beginningof FY2014.(2) Competitions for identified subsequent phases will build on the results of previousphases. (3) The award criteria for subsequent phases will include demonstrated completion ofspecified previous phase requirements. (4) The Government expects that only the initial phase contractors will be capable ofsuccessfully competing for the subsequent phase(s). Proposals for the subsequent phase(s)will be requested from these contractors. (5) The Government does not intend to issue a new, formal solicitation for subsequentphases. This is a progressive competition in accordance with NFAR 1817.7301-5. Towardsthe end of each phase, all contractors for that phase will be provided pertinentsubsequent phase proposal information (e.g., statements of work, specifications, proposalpreparation instructions, and evaluation factors for award) to be considered for the downselect to the next phase.(6) Each subsequent phase of the acquisition will be synopsized in accordance with FAR5.201 and 5.203. (7) Notwithstanding the expectation that only the initial phase contractors will becapable of successfully competing for the subsequent phase(s), proposals from allresponsible sources submitted by the specified due date will be considered. In order tocontend for subsequent phase awards, however, such prospective offerors must demonstratea design maturity equivalent to that of the prior phase contractors. Failure to fullyand completely demonstrate the appropriate level of design maturity may render theproposal unacceptable with no further consideration for contract award.(8) Each subsequent synopsis during this process will identify the current phasecontractors.NASA/ARC is planning to award multiple non-commercial purchase orders for Phase 1. ThePhase 1 procurement will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13, SimplifiedAcquisition Procedures. Later phases will include more complex requirements and areexpected to have higher contract values, with longer periods of performances, and arethus expected to be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation.The tentative TPS for MARS EDL Phase 1 schedule is: Issuance of Synopsis December 22, 2009; Issuance of Solicitation January 6, 2010; Quotes/proposals Due 15 days following issuance of solicitation; Multiple Purchase Orders awarded end January 2010All contractual and/or technical questions must be submitted in writing (e-mail or fax)by January 4, 2010. Telephone questions will not be accepted.Please address anycomments or questions to: Marianne Shelley, NASA Ames Research Center.Email: Marianne.Shelley@nasa.gov. Fax: 650-604-3020.Any responses to questions submitted willbe posted at this website as a modification to this synopsis.The NAICS Code is 336419 - Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and AuxiliaryEquipment Manufacturing with Size Standard: 1000 employees.The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note26. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. Inyour notification indicate if your interest is in submitting an offer for the rigidablator TPS material coupons or deployable TPS material coupons, or for both.It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this Internet site for the release of thesolicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible fordownloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). The solicitationand any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. Thesedocuments will reside on a World-Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWWbrowser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/ARC Business Opportunitiespage is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=21 An ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B".Information about major upcoming ARC procurement actions is available athttp://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eis/admin/admin.cgi?center=ARC Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
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- Record
- SN02028996-W 20091224/091222234601-77be70af9d33422f0da85523910b6cf7 (fbodaily.com)
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