NASA Follow-on Effort for Continued Development of Thruster Plume and Effects Models to Support Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) Fligth Project
General Information
Document Type: Presolicitation Notice
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- olicitation Number: 4200050362
- Posted Date: Apr 06, 2004
- Original Response Date: Apr 21, 2004
- Current Response Date: Apr 21, 2004
- Original Archive Date: Apr 06, 2005
- Current Archive Date: Apr 06, 2005
- Classification Code: A — Research & Development
- Naics Code: 541710 — Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
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 development of additional capabilities to thruster plume and effects models that provide a detailed quantitative assessment of the critical issues associated with interactions of plumes from multiple ion engines with each other. This will be accomplished through follow-on research and development to enhance and expand the NASA/Air Force Spacecraft Charging Analysis Program (NASCAP-2K) and Electric Propulsion Interactions Code (EPIC) for utilization by the JIMO flight project. This inlcudes continued development of EPIC to enhance the plume and effects models and incorporate 3-dimensional analysis capability of high-energy thruster plumes and the capability to perform future trade studies. New capabilities will be added to NASCAP-2K that, along with the new EPIC capabilities, will provide complete capability to address the unique JIMO spacecraft charging issues. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego, California, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, which implements the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) for the acquisition of supplies or services from only one source. The effort is a follow-on to 2 previous NASA contracts with SAIC, which began the development of the thruster plume and effects models contained in EPIC and NASCAP-2K for the Space Environments and Effects Program. Currently, software that provides 3-dimensional capability of high-energy thruster beams (5KeV each) is not available. Therefore, it is practical for the government to obtain this capability by expanding the existing EPIC software, which currently combines existing plume models along with an object toolkit for spacecraft geometry into a design tool for lower thruster plume levels such as the Hall thruster. Also, the base architecture and specific numerical algorithms of NASCAP-2K are proprietary to SAIC. SAIC is the only known source that possesses the existing tools, technical knowledge, and experience to upgrade and continue the technical content research and model development. The government has invested a substantial amount over 5 years of effort toward the development of these programs and technical content research, most of which would have to be duplicated by another source to develop the technical expertise to continue the research. SAIC personnel possess a steadfast understanding of technology needs, requirements, and expertise of this research field that was obtained through other contracted efforts addressing spacecraft charging issues for the International Space Station and the Mercury Messenger Mission. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. See note 22. 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 April 21, 2004. See note 25 for description of the information that must be provided. Such capabilities and 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 the information submitted in response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note “B”. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
Original Point of Contact
Roxanne C. Melton, Contracting Officer, Phone (256) 544-6561, Fax (256) 544-6560, Email roxanne.c.melton@nasa.gov – Marty B. Hanson, Contracting Officer, Phone (256) 544-0989, Fax (256) 544-4400, Email marty.b.hanson@.nasa.gov
Email your questions to Roxanne C. Melton at roxanne.c.melton@nasa.gov
Additional Information
