NASA Solicitation: Sole Source to TBE for Materials Science Rack, Microgravity Science Glovebox, SERVIR Pathfinder
ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION WORK FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH RACK MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE GLOVEBOX AND INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SERVIR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND VISUALIZATION SYSTEM PATHFINDER
Synopsis – Sep 24, 2013
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNM13AA092313Q
Posted Date: Sep 24, 2013
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Sep 24, 2013
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Oct 31, 2013
Current Response Date: Oct 08, 2013
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712
Contracting Office Address
NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Description
NASA/MSFC has a requirement for engineering and integration work for the Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR), the Microgravity Science Glovebox, and the International Space Station (ISS) SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV) Pathfinder.
NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. (TBE). NASA intends to continue the sustaining engineering and integration work for MSRR, MSG, and ISERV currently provided under the Systems Development & Operations Support (SDOS) contract (NAS8-02060) with TBE. It is intended that any new work outside the scope of of this contract formerly being performed under the SDOS contract will be competed under Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC) Engineering Solutions and Prototyping (ESP) contract.
In order to replace MSRR, MSG, and ISERV work currently being performed under TBE’s SDOS contract with a new business entity in this environment will require an estimated $1.66M in duplicated cost to the Government to bring the new contractor up to speed with the operating hardware. This training and preparation will be required before the new contractor can contribute effectively to the International Space Station (ISS) Program.
Competition is impractical for the following reasons: 1. TBE, under SDOS, and in collaboration with NASA designed the MSRR. They also developed, built and delivered significant components of the MSRR. The knowledge base constructed by TBE during the design and build phase and over the past four years of sustaining engineering cannot be quickly replicated elsewhere. TBE has managed and conducted all activities related to the manufacture, assembly, verification, and test for the MSRR project. This has encompassed the development, fabrication, assembly, verification, and test activities of the various items constituting the MSRR Experiment Carrier (EC) and its direct interfaces. This included the physical integration of the European Space Agency (ESA) Materials Science Laboratory (MSL) and Furnace Inserts [Solidification and Quench Furnace (SQF), and the Low Gradient Furnace (LGF)] into the EC, and verification of resulting MSRR Facility capabilities and interfaces. This also included establishing and verifying the baseline ISS to MSRR interfaces.
2. TBE, under SDOS, has worked very closely with Astrium (Astrium is an aerospace subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS)) in association with the MSG. Astrium produced the MSG for ESA. The Video Upgrade Equipment has a facility upgrade that is scheduled to fly on SpaceX 4 in May, 2014. The Life Sciences Ancillary Hardware is ancillary hardware and is scheduled to fly on Orbital-1 in December 2013. MSG hardware is currently operative aboard the ISS and any perturbation in project flow will directly disturb the flow of science coming from the ISS program.
3. TBE, under SDOS, has worked very closely with Astrium EADS in association with the MSRR as well. Astrium performed all the analytical integration work for the MSRR’s MSL. Astrium built and delivered the MSL for ESA, designed and builds the ESA SCAs, develops the processing profiles in conjunction with the Principle Investigator, provides (through ESA) the verifications required for flight readiness, provides real-time support to MSL operations, and provides trouble-shooting for on-orbit problems related to MSL. The combination of knowledge between TBE and Astrium gives MSFC the full corporate knowledge of the MSRR/MSL. TBE has used Astrium’s drawings and documentation and understands their design. TBE and Astrium have an excellent working relationship spanning the conception, build, test, launch, and on-orbit operation of the rack.
4. MSG has been approved by the ISS Program to implement a new modular front window. The modular front window is removable and will allow hardware to enter and exit through a much larger opening. TBE has a long established relationship working with the foreign national vendor, MOOG Bradford (Heerle, The Netherlands), which is building the window. TBE’s use of the vendor’s documentation as well as their understanding of Bradford processes was instrumental in gaining ISS approval for this modification. Because the vendor does business in a different culture, the elements of communication can be challenging. TBE personnel have established credibility and gained the trust of MOOG Bradford personnel, in a one-on-one manner, to elicit this unique capability.
5. The new MSFC SCA design has been developed using a TBE design from a previous project. TBE, under SDOS, has manufactured and integrated the thermal probe SCAs that will be used for thermal development testing as well as other hardware to be used during the SCA development and qualification campaigns. TBE, under SDOS, has manufactured many of the parts that make up the SCAs as well as procured long-lead items that are required for the SCA project to remain on schedule. TBE will perform the integration of the science experiments into the SCAs and their knowledge of the MSRR design and operations will result in efficiencies to the Government.
6. TBE under SDOS and in collaboration with MSFC designed, built, tested, delivered, and supports the ISERV. Flight and ground software are unique applications critical for successful operations of the ISERV Pathfinder. As the sole developer of this software and with the in depth knowledge of the ISERV instrument, TBE possesses the critical experience necessary for ISERV operations and its ability to successfully meet mission objectives.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on 10/8/2013. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose 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 open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of 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.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html .
Point of Contact
Name:Lynn P. Southgate
Title:Contracting Officer
Phone:256-544-0303
Fax:256-544-6560
Email:Lynn.P.Southgate@nasa.gov
Name:Michael R Thomas
Title:Contract Specialist
Phone:256-544-3370 Fax:256-544-4726 Email: Michael.R.Thomas@nasa.gov
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