NASA GRC Request for Information: In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Test Facilities

Synopsis – Jul 06, 2006
RFI ISRU Lunar Environmental Test Facilities – Posted on Jul 06, 2006
General Information
Solicitation Number: 7512
Posted Date: Jul 06, 2006
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jul 06, 2006
Original Response Date: N/A
Current Response Date: N/A
Classification Code: B — Special studies and analysis – not R and D

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135

Description

The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information on the capabilities of facilities outside of NASA that may be especially suited to modeling the conditions of the lunar environment. By this RFI, the ISRU Facility Team is seeking information regarding the capabilities and past performance of facilities as they relate to simulation of the lunar environment, including the potential for handling large amounts of simulated lunar regolith. This Notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. This Notice is subject to revision or cancellation at any time.

There will be no exchange of funds between NASA and the responding facility providers for this activity. That is, NASA will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing a response to this RFI.

Responses to this RFI are due at NASA GRC no later than 5 P.M. EST on July 24, 2005.

Potential respondents are encouraged to call in to a teleconference on July 12, 2006 at 1:00 PM EDT, (888)566-5773, International Calls (210)234-0011, PASSCODE: 54151.

It is the respondent’s responsibility to monitor this site for amendments (if any).

Please see the attachments to this posting for furhter details.

SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

The NASA In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) project is part of the Exploration Technology Development Program in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. The primary technical objectives for the ISRU Project are to develop technologies and systems to a technology readiness level (TRL) of 6 to meet robotic and human exploration mission objectives of ISRU including but not limited to: resource prospecting, excavation and drilling, material handling and transportation, oxygen production from regolith, characterization and extraction of lunar volatile resources, and liquefaction and storage of the ISRU products.

To achieve a TRL of 6, many components, sub-systems, and systems will require testing in facilities that can simulate the lunar environment, including temperature, pressure, and soil (regolith). The ISRU Environmental Testing Study task under the ISRU project has the objective of defining the requirements for future lunar environmental testing and of identifying existing facilities that meet these requirements in part or in whole.

1.2 PURPOSE OF RFI

The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information on the capabilities of facilities outside of NASA that may be especially suited to modeling the conditions of the lunar environment. By this RFI, the ISRU Facility Team is seeking information regarding the capabilities and past performance of facilities as they relate to simulation of the lunar environment, including the potential for handling large amounts of simulated lunar regolith.

SECTION 2 – SCOPE

2.1 OVERVIEW

This Notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. This Notice is subject to revision or cancellation at any time. The ISRU Facility Study team consists of members from GRC, KSC, JSC, JPL, and MSFC, and is led out of GRC. The team will use the information obtained through this RFI in future planning and advocacy activities.

There will be no exchange of funds between NASA and the responding facility providers for this activity. That is, NASA will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing a response to this RFI.

2.2 DETAILS OF THE OPPORTUNITY

ISRU Environmental Testing Study task schedule is below:

RFI for Facilities July 6, 2006
Information Telecon July 12, 2006
RFI response due July 24, 2006
Final Facility Survey Report September 22, 2006

2.3 ISRU LUNAR ENVIRONMENTAL TEST FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS

The attached Facility Requirements Document and Facilities Requirements Matrix contain a detailed description of the expected conditions on the lunar surface, a description of the types of tests that will require facility support, and a matrix indicating which set of requirements are required for each type of test.

SECTION 3 – RESPONSES TO RFI

3.1 NASA EVALUATION OF INFORMATION

Initial evaluation of facilities will be based on the number of capabilities that match the requirements. Particular emphasis will be placed on the ability to handle various amounts of simulated lunar regolith while still being able to maintain vacuum and temperature requirements. Those facilities that seem to capture the majority of the capabilities may be asked to evaluate one or more example test programs and provide a preliminary estimate of cost, schedule, and approach to performing such tests.

The ISRU Facilities team anticipates completing its initial evaluation by July 31 and then proceeding with the example test program phase. Facility POC’s may be contacted directly by the GRC task lead or other member of the team.

We request that only non-proprietary information be included in response to this RFI. If a later request is made for cost information, that information will be treated as proprietary information and controlled as such.

3.2 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

The response is requested to be in two forms. The first is an excel-format table that lists the capabilities of interest and includes several examples of how to fill in the table. The second form is a 3-page Powerpoint package that describes the general features of the facility along with any particularly unique features.

RFI responses are due to NASA GRC no later than 5 p.m. EST on July 24, 2006.

Responses to this RFI are requested to be submitted in electronic format. The response will consist of both the completed Excel table and the accompanying Powerpoint package. Responses should be submitted by email to Diane Linne, Diane.L.Linne@nasa.gov.

SECTION 4 – COMMUNICATIONS

4.1 TELECONFERENCE

GRC will host a teleconference for the purpose of receiving and answering questions from potential respondents regarding any aspect of this RFI. The following information on this teleconference is provided:

Date and Time: July 12, 2006, at 1 PM EDT
Toll-Free call-in Number: (888)566-5773
International Toll Number: (210)234-0011
Password: 54151

4.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELEASES

The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/GRC Business Opportunities page is:

http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=22

It is the responsibility of potential respondents to monitor the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS), GRC Procurement site for any further information concerning this RFI.