SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUNPOWER ADVANCED STIRLING CONVERTOR
- Notice Date
- 7/9/2010
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135
- ZIP Code
- 44135
- Solicitation Number
- NNC10345297R
- Archive Date
- 7/9/2011
- Point of Contact
- Albert A. Spence, Contracting Officer, Phone 216-433-2797, Fax 216-433-6624, Email Albert.A.Spence@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Albert A. Spence
(Albert.A.Spence@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/GRC has a requirement for the CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUNPOWER ADVANCEDSTIRLING CONVERTOR (ASC).The NASA Glenn Research Center intends to award a contract to Sunpower, Inc. for thecontinued development of the Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC), including the nextgeneration ASC-E3 and its variants. The ASC is being developed to meet the requirementsof NASAs Radioisotope Power Conversion (RPS) program for highly efficient, low mass,reliable power convertors that enable the reduction of plutonium fuel requirements by afactor of four compared to current state-of-the-art thermoelectric systems. Due to thelow U.S. plutonium inventory, development of high efficiency systems is critical tofuture NASA Space Science and Exploration missions. The Sunpower ASC technology wasoriginally developed under a previously competed NRA (02-OSS-01) contract that resultedin delivery of several generations of ASC that uses Sunpower intellectual property,patents, data rights, or trade secrets. The ASC convertors progressively demonstratedcapabilities to meet RPS flight requirements, culminating in the ASC-E2 convertors. TheASC-E3 to be developed as part of the proposed new contract will validate newrequirements-driven design refinements, fabrication processes, and quality assurancestandards, and will verify that the design meets RPS requirements, specifically that ofthe Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG). Requirements for the ASC-E3include:Greater than 79 watts electrical power and greater than 38% conversion efficiency(electrical power out/net heat input) at Beginning of Mission reference conditions of850C Thot and 90C Treject.Greater than 75 watts electrical power and greater than 40% conversion efficiencyat End of Mission reference conditions of 850C Thot and 36C Treject.Capable of operating at 850C Thot, defined as the acceptor temperature.Mass of less than 2.6 kg including heat collector and cold-side adapterflange thermal and structural interfaces. Non-wearing parts and no lubricationCapable of meeting the 17 year life requirement (3 years storage, plus 14 yearmission)Provide piston telemetry for health monitoring of the convertor withoutfeedthroughsNot susceptible to exposure to radiation of 50 kradHermetically sealed design for reliability and long life Mature technology including demonstrated and independently verified performanceand massDemonstrated integration of the convertor configuration within an electricallyheated ASRG generatorUnchanged operation after Vibration testing: Each convertor is tested atworkmanship level vibration; the convertor configuration must be validated for launchlevel vibration, and qualification level vibrationThe contract shall provide design, analysis, trade studies, hardware production, testing,and associated tasks needed to continue development of the ASC for potential use onfuture NASA missions that require RPS.This includes eight (8) ASC-E3 convertors, withoptions for additional units. Development of variants based on the ASC design to meetnew and evolving requirements are also included such as higher rejection temperatures,different generator configurations or scaling of the design to meet additional RPS powerrequirements. The contract also includes support of NASA GRCs in-house Stirlingdevelopment including consultation and support related to the operation, maintenance,reconfiguration, study, and any potential repair of the various ASC convertors alreadydelivered by Sunpower under the previous NASA contract or the new contract. Further, thecontract includes technology development and system integration support tasks related tothe ASC including studies, hardware evaluations, design modifications, and development ofmission kits to provide data to NASA, Department of Energy, system integration partners,and potential mission planners.The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.See Note26.Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform theeffort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local timeon July 23, 2010. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for thepurpose 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 opencompetition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretionof the government.Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note 'B'.Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
-
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- Record
- SN02201603-W 20100711/100709235601-f24bfb73c882971392ed064d6d2fb174 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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