SOURCES SOUGHT
99 -- ROBOT SYSTEM FOR USE IN GEOSYNCHRONOUS EARTH ORBIT
- Notice Date
- 3/9/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336419
— Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 210.S, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NNG12FA83-RFI
- Response Due
- 3/23/2012
- Archive Date
- 3/9/2013
- Point of Contact
- Claudia Canales, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-286-5990, Fax 301-286-1670, Email Claudia.Canales-1@nasa.gov - Dean S Patterson, Procurement Manager, Phone 301-286-8085, Fax 301-286-1670, Email Dean.S.Patterson@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Claudia Canales
(Claudia.Canales-1@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is soliciting informationto conduct market research to improve its understanding regarding the currentstate-of-the-art of available space robot systems. NASA is seeking broad informationconcerning existing robot systems that are relevant to long duration spacecraft missionsdesigned to operate in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), the information requested is for planning purposes onlyand is not intended to bind the Government.Background and Study Plan:NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has undertaken a study regarding the feasibility,practicality, and cost of operating spacecraft for long duration mission lifetimes inGEO. One particular area of this study that is of keen interest to GSFC is theavailability of existing robot systems for long-term usage at GEO to conduct servicing ofother existing satellites. This RFI augments past studies to identify relevant andinterested partners to join GSFC in the development of these various systems. 1. Robot System Descriptions:Based on studies conducted over the last few years, NASA/GSFC envisions 2 or 3 robotarms, approximately 2 meters in length, mounted on a satellite bus to be used forautonomous capture and servicing tasks. The robot system is to include only the shoulder,elbow, and wrist actuators; a NASA/GSFC-developed tool drive system will be attached tothe end of the arm. Electronics to drive the actuators is considered part of the overallrobot system that is of interest in this RFI.2. Technical Specifications:NASA/GSFC is interested in a robot system that:Has 7 degrees-of-freedomIs roughly 2-3 meters in lengthIs designed for the thermal and radiation environment at GEOHas a 10 kg payload capacity at the end of the arm when the arm is operated in 1-g3. DisclaimerIt is not NASAs intent to publicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtainedduring this RFI. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom ofInformation Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent asProprietary or Confidential will be kept confidential. It is emphasized that this RFIis NOT a Request for Proposal, Quotation, or Invitation for Bid. This RFI is forinformation and planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3 entitledSolicitation for Information or Planning Purposes. This RFI is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into acontractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information submitted in responseto this RFI. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of thesolicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and onthe NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offerors responsibility tomonitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. The Governmentreserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responseshereto. All questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail to both points of contact asoutlined below. As part of its assessment of industry capabilities, the NASA/GSFC maycontact respondents to this RFI, if clarifications or further information is needed. 4. Instructions to Respondents:NASA appreciates responses from all capable and qualified U.S. sources including, but notlimited to, NASA Centers, universities, university affiliated research centers, federallyfunded research and development centers, private or public companies, and governmentresearch laboratories.Respondents are required to include the following technical specifications for theirrespective robot system on a per-arm basis:Summary of the robot system and how it could be used in a system/mission contextLevel of maturity (how many and what types of arms have been built that are of theflight design, heritage based on previous work, description of level of testing plannedor actually performed on the arm, including thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, andradiation. etc.)Rough order of magnitude (ROM) mass (including drive electronics)Rough order of magnitude (ROM) bounding box dimensions (length, width, height)Rough order of magnitude (ROM) nominal and peak power drawDescription of data available to support mission studies (e.g. drawings, 3-D models,analysis, etc.)Respondents are also required to address the following programmatic items:Name of corporate point of contact, telephone number, full mailing address, and e-mailaddress.Corporate competencies and past performance with regard to the development andproduction of similar robot systems. Relevant flight heritage/history is extremelyimportant.Responses must have classified and proprietary information properly marked.Responses must include a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for: three (3)flight arms, one (1) qualification unit and one (1) engineering unit with associatedelectronics.Respondents must specify earliest possible delivery dates of the following deliverables:one (1) engineering unit, one (1) qualification unit, and three (3) flight arms withassociated electronics from the date of any potential contract award.Availability of an existing robot arm for testing and evaluation.5. How to Respond:Submit by March 23, 2012, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)Executive summary, not to exceed five (5) pages, 12-point font size, one inch margins; no limit on supporting documentationFormat: Microsoft Word (.doc) or Portable Document Format (.pdf)Mark all responses: Robot system for use in GEO
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/GSFC/OPDC20220/NNG12FA83-RFI/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02693116-W 20120311/120309235002-12b2ef95036966ea5e6d1beba3688421 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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