NASA Letter to Potential Offerors to Review The Draft Crew Exploration Vehicle solicitation

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Headquarters

Washington, DC 20546-0001

Reply to Attn of: T

21 January 2005

To: Potential Offerors

Subject: CEV Draft RFP

You are invited to review the draft NASA/Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Crew Exploration Vehicle solicitation. The Nation’s Vision for Space Exploration sets a goal of developing a new Crew Exploration Vehicle by 2014 that is capable of carrying astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and a goal of landing astronauts on the Moon no later than 2020. The CEV represents one building block in a future exploration architecture that can send astronauts to the moon and form the basis for exploration missions to other destinations.

The CEV acquisition will use a phased approach that anticipates no more than two contractors. During phase 1 Contractors are responsible for participating in a NASA- led SRR and shall execute an SDR followed by a PDR for design of the human- rated CEV. In addition, the Contractors shall develop a flight test program, Flight Application of Spacecraft Technologies (FAST) that provides risk reduction for the CEV. Phase 1 will end with a planned-down selection to a single prime contractor in late 2008.

It is anticipated that this full and open competitive procurement will result in no more than two Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF) contracts. The anticipated period of performance is September 2005 through December 2008. An electronic copy of the draft solicitation is available on the World Wide Web at the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. This is a draft solicitation; no proposals are requested at this time. The final solicitation is anticipated for release on March 1, 2005. Potential Offerors are responsible for monitoring this site for the release of the solicitation and any amendments. It is anticipated a reference library will be available on the web no later than February 4, 2005.

Potential Offerors are invited to submit comments on all aspects of the draft solicitation, including requirements, schedules, proposal instructions, and evaluation approaches. Potential Offerors are specifically requested to identify unnecessary or inefficient requirements, if any. Comments are invited to identify voluntary consensus standards that meet the Government’s requirements as alternatives to Government-unique standards cited as requirements in the Draft solicitation. Comments also are sought concerning any perceived safety, occupational health, security (including information technology security), environmental, export control, and/or other programmatic risk issues associated with performance of the work. Your attention is directed to certain requirements:

• Funding of the FAST effort is limited to no more than 30% of the contract value.
• Corporate investment is not permitted (See clause H.17).
• Civil Servant and NASA participation is limited to facilities and support services. Some forms of NASA participation are not permitted (See clause H.15).
• The Iran Nonproliferation Act applies to this procurement (See clause H.6).

NASA allows the participation of foreign prime and subcontractors within existing U.S. laws, regulations and policies, including those related to export control, nonproliferation, and the U.S. National Space Transportation Policy.

Submit written questions and comments by e-mail to the following address: CEV-Procurement@NASA.gov.

Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. All questions and comments concerning the Draft solicitation must be received by close of business February 9, 2005. The Government will review all questions and comments. Respondents will not be notified about the outcome of the Government’s review of any solicited information. Failure to respond to the Draft solicitation does not mean that a firm cannot respond to a solicitation at a later date.

Sincerely,

Michael Hecker

CEV Program Manager (Acting)