NASA Solicitation: Space Launch System Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and Risk Reduction
Synopsis – Oct 07, 2011
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNM12ZPS001N
Posted Date: Oct 07, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Oct 07, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Oct 21, 2011
Current Response Date: Oct 21, 2011
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 336415 – Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing
Set-Aside Code:
Contracting Office Address
NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Description
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) intends to issue a NASA Research Announcement (NRA), in the December 2011 timeframe, entitled “Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and Risk Reduction.” The NRA is in support of the SLS Program and will solicit applied research proposals which will offer solutions to meeting the Advanced Booster goal of reducing risk in the areas of affordability, performance, and reliability. The NRA will solicit proposals that will 1) provide an Advanced Booster concept in response to a set of top level performance requirements; 2) identify liquid and/or solid booster high risk areas; 3) provide related hardware demonstrations on how risk can be mitigated; and 4) identify high risk areas associated with adaptation of Advanced Booster technology to SLS. NASA has identified potential target areas for risk mitigation as shown below. However, other high value demonstration proposals for liquid or solid rocket designs for target areas beyond those specifically identified are requested. Offerors may be awarded contracts for one or multiple target areas in support of liquid or solid engineering development and risk reduction. Multiple awards may be captured via separate Contract Line Items or separate contracts.
Areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:
Liquid Rocket Boosters Large Component Fabrication (Nozzle and Turbo-pump), Modular/Common Components, Oxygen Rich Technologies, Refined Petroleum (RP) Combustion Performance and Stability, and Reuse of Salt Water Recovered Engines. Solid Rocket Boosters Low-Weight Material Structural Testing, Non-Destructive Evaluation of Low-Weight Material Structures, Damage Assessment of Propellant/Liner/Insulation integrity after transport to launch site, and Propellant Formulations (Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene, Hydroxyl-Terminated Polyether, Nitrate Ester Plasticized Polyether).
Common Booster Risk Reduction Interface Attach Point Methods to Core Stage.
The SLS Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and Risk Reduction acquisition effort will increase affordability, performance, and reliability confidence of an Advanced Booster concept which will enable a Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle capable of 130t lift capability, and reduce risks for both liquid and solid Advanced Boosters. The notional SLS Advanced Booster will require a significant increase in thrust from the known existing United States solid and the known United States industry liquid boosters. Additional information concerning the SLS Advanced Booster performance requirements, to include NASA provided interface control documents for the Core-Booster Stage interfaces and Ground System-Booster interfaces, will be provided in the upcoming NRA. A Full and Open Competition for the Advanced Booster Design, Development, Test and Evaluation (DDT&E) acquisition is anticipated to be conducted in fiscal year 2015, with award anticipated in fiscal year 2016. The SLS Advanced Booster will be the largest and highest performing booster system ever produced and will enable the Agency to meet the NASA reference missions.
At this time, potential Offerors are requested to focus any responses to this Request for Information (RFI) on identification of high risk areas associated with liquid and solid boosters and related hardware demonstration on how the risk can be mitigated. Responses shall be provided in writing using Arial 12 font type and shall be no more than five pages in length. Responses are requested to be submitted in Microsoft Office products to facilitate review. Two hard copies and 1 CD or DVD is requested. Responses are due no later than October 21, 2011.
General Information
No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized via the Government Point of Entry (FedBizOpps), NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS), and the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). It is the potential Offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.
The requirement is not considered a commercial type service. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government.
The information obtained will be used by NASA for planning and acquisition strategy development. NASA will use the information obtained as a result of this RFI on a non-attribution basis. Providing data and information that is limited or restricted for use by NASA for that purpose would be of very little value and such restricted/limited data/information is not solicited. No information or questions received will be posted to any website or public access location. NASA does not plan to respond to the individual responses. NASA will continue to inform industry, as appropriate.
This RFI is being used to obtain information for planning purposes only and the Government does not presently intend to award a contract. As stipulated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI is subject to FAR 52.215-3. Responses shall be compliant with all legal and regulatory requirements concerning limitations on export controlled items.
Point of Contact
Name: Kathy Cooper
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 256-544-8753
Fax: 256-544-4400
Email: mary.k.cooper@nasa.gov
Name: Kellie D. Craig
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 256-544-5906
Fax: 256-544-6062
Email: Kellie.D.Craig@nasa.gov
