NASA ARC Solicitation: Paraffin-Based Hybrid Rocket Fuel Grains
Synopsis – Aug 27, 2012
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNA12436025Q-RAJ
Posted Date: Aug 27, 2012
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Aug 27, 2012
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Sep 10, 2012
Current Response Date: Sep 10, 2012
Classification Code: 91 — Fuels, lubricants, oils and waxes
NAICS Code: 336415
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001
Description
NASA/ARC Peregrine Project has a requirement for Paraffin-based fuel grains (14.5 inch nominal diameter) to be used in combustion tests at N249. Fuel additives are of great interest that can increase the specific impulse of the rocket motor to be useful in an actual hybrid rocket motor, many properties of the additive alone and in combination with the fuel must be investigated. A useful additive is one that is dense, chemically stable, improves the performance and/or structural characteristics of the fuel, and is nontoxic and relatively inexpensive when produced in large quantity.
Space Propulsion Group, Inc. (SPG) is the only company that can complete this requirement based on their use with Paraffin-based fuel grains. The company holds 2 patents on this class of fuels (High Regression Rate Hybrid Propellants #6684624, and High Regression Rate Hybrid Rocket Propellants and Method of Selecting, #6880326). The patents preclude any other company from manufacturing the fuel grains.
The Contractor Shall Provide:
1) A quantity of four (4) 14.5″ (nominal diameter) x 82.5″ long fuel grains each containing 236 lbm of SP1A paraffin fuel (O.D. of fuel case not to exceed 14.820″)
2) A quantity of four 14.5 inch silica phenolic mixers.
NASA/ARC intends to purchase the items from The Space Propulsion Group, Inc. (SPG), 760 Aleso Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94085-1445.
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 Rachel Jandron at Rachel.A.Jandron@nasa.gov not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on September 10, 2012. 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: Rachel A. Jandron
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 650-604-2655
Fax: 650-604-0912
Email: rachel.a.jandron@nasa.gov
Name: Veronica L Gutierrez
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 650-604-5626
Fax: 650-604-0932
Email: veronica.l.gutierrez@nasa.gov
