NASA Solicitation: Technical Transfer of the Wallops Cubesat Deployer

Synopsis – Jan 07, 2013

General Information

Solicitation Number: NNG13WF90R
Posted Date: Jan 07, 2013
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jan 07, 2013
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Feb 07, 2013
Current Response Date: Feb 07, 2013
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 481212

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Code 210.W, Wallops Island, VA 23337

Description

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)/Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) will take procurement action in this matter. Further, neither NASA nor the Government will be responsible for any cost incurred in furnishing this information.

NASA recognizes the interest by educational institutions, science museums, and other appropriate organizations in the Manufacturing of the Wallops 6U CubeSat Deployer, Manufacturing of the Wallops 6U CubeSat Satellite Structure, Flying the Wallops 6U CubeSat Deployer, Marketing the Wallops 6U CubeSat Deployer and 6U CubeSat Satellite Structure, and Investing in Deployer Technologies. NASA intends to enter into multiple agreements for technical transfer.

Please see attached Wallops 6U CubeSat Deployer Fact Sheet.

The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)/Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) has a long history of suborbital class missions such as sounding rockets, balloons and aircraft, and experience with orbital payload development such as CubeSat and International Space Station. For decades the NASA suborbital programs have, and continue to be, indispensable platforms for developing and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers, for testing and validating new technologies and instrumentation, and for offering low-cost rapid access to space for cutting-edge science experiments. The Wallops 6U CubeSat Deployer and Satellite Structure continue in the tradition of enabling low-cost rapid access to space for the nation.

The Wallops 6U Deployer development had been funded by NASA. It has been ground tested for flight. GSFC/WFF is developing improvements to the Deployer funded under GSFC Center IR&D, ground testing the improvements, flying the improved version on a sounding rocket in July 2013, and planning on flying on the Antares launch vehicle in December, 2013.

The Wallops 6U CubeSat Deployer is unique in a number of respects. It has an elegant pin and socket lateral restraint system that provides a highly reliable ride experience. It offers the greatest volume flexibility for a 6U CubeSat and the most space between the deployer and the CubeSat sides for Solar panels, deployables and other devices. It has been tested to very high safety factors with a 12 kg load allowing for greater than 12 kg in lower vibration environments and 12 kg in a high vibration environment.

RFI responses must include:

. Name of the primary point of contract for the response
. Academic faculty or business title
. Institution or organization affiliation
. Email Address
. Phone Number
. Identification of other key individuals who collaborated on the RFI response
. A brief summary (300 word limit) description of previous relevant experience

You may submit your interest via the internet, and solicit responses from interested parties. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. Prospective offerors are invited to submit written comments or questions to: Scott Schaire, Code 800, NASA/GSFC/Wallops Flight Facility, Code 800, Building F-6, Wallops Island, VA 23337, Phone: 757-824-1120, email address: Scott.H.Schaire@nasa.gov. When responding reference NNG1390R.

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 .

Although all comments received will be carefully reviewed and considered for inclusion in any possible later action, the initiators of this request make no commitment to include any particular recommendations. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review.

No solicitation exists, therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. Any documents related to this RFI will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/GSFC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=51 It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor the Internet cite for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any.

Point of Contact

Name: Diana W. Frimmel
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 757-824-1290
Fax: 757-824-1974
Email: Diana.W.Frimmel@nasa.gov

Name: Bernard J Pagliaro
Title: Procurement Manager
Phone: 757-824-1277
Fax: 757-824-1974
Email: Bernard.J.Pagliaro@nasa.gov