NASA Sources Sought Notice: Space Cables
General Information
- Document Type: Sources Sought Notice
- Solicitation Number: GRC-5450-FY04-A
- Posted Date: Dec 15, 2003
- Original Response Date: Jan 30, 2004
- Original Archive Date: Dec 15, 2004
- Current Archive Date:
- Classification Code: A — Research & Development
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135
Description
NASA/GRC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for development of, 600 volt and 10,000 volt (10 KV), single conductor and three conductor cable, insulated for use by NASA on planetary space orbiters. The cables will be expected to operate without failure in a low Earth orbit and in a deep space, high radiation and vacuum environment with a mission life not less than fifteen years. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Francis M Haraburda, (216) 433-2325, NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, MS 301-3, Cleveland, Ohio 44135. Do NOT contact the procurement person listed on this notice.
The specific requirements for the single conductor and three conductor cables are: shall be extra flexible, radiation resistant and available in AWG wire sizes 16 through 4. The conductors/cable shall be shielded to contain electromagnetic emissions. The strands shall be free from lumps, kinks, splits, scrapes, corroded surfaces and impurities. The following requirements apply to both 600 volt and 10Kv conductors/cables: The conductors/cables shall be capable of continuous operation in an environmental temperature range of -70degrees C to + 250 degrees C. The conductor temperature rating shall not be exceeded when conducting expected nominal full load currents at rated voltage at the highest environmental temperature. Estimated current values are 160 amps @ 3 phase 400 volts AC and 5 amps @ 10KVDC. They shall be non-combustible or self-extinguishing, corona resistant and atomic oxygen (4.88X10(21)(superscript) atoms per square centimeter per year in Low Earth Orbit) resistant. They shall be constructed of no (preferred) or low out-gassing materials suitable for space vacuum operations. They shall be resistant to arc-tracking in both wet and dry conditions and they shall be resistant to moisture, fungus, chemicals, abrasions, cut-through, scrapes and orbital debris impacts. They shall be capable of draining off space plasma charge. They shall be flexible enough to be deployed without damage or excessive deployment mechanism power requirements. In addition, the 10KV conductors/cables shall be capable of flexing in any axis at its minimum bending radius without fatigue failure throughout the expected mission life. They shall be resistant to the effects of radiation over the life of the mission. The Total Ionizing Dose (TID) will be 2000 Mega-RAD (2G-RAD) over the whole mission. The Displacement Damage Dose (DDD) will be 1.1×10(16)(superscript) neutrons/cm2 (1 MeV equivalent neutron fluence). The radiation levels are expected to be worst case values but, are still being determined. All materials, including jackets, fillers and shields, used in the conductors/cable shall meet the same requirements given above. The insulation shall be removable by standard stripping means without damage to the conductor.
Vendors having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation, literature, brochures, and references. Responses must include the following: name and address of firm, size of business; number of employees; ownership; whether they are large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and/or woman-owned; number of years in business; affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact – address and phone number). 1.Show capability to produce conductors/cables to the above requirements. 2.Experience manufacturing conductors/cables rated 600 volts and above qualified for low earth orbit and deep space. 3. The typical delivery schedule the firm could achieve. 4. List the in house or outside test capabilities for the manufactured cables.
Technical questions should be directed to: Francis M Haraburda, (216) 433-2325, NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, MS 301-3, Cleveland, Ohio 44135. Please advise if the requirement is considered to be a commercial or commercial-type product. A commercial item is defined in FAR 2.101. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses hereto. All responses shall be submitted to Francis M Haraburda, (216) 433-2325, MS 301-3. no later than January 15, 2004. Please reference Space Cables in any response.
Original Point of Contact
Glen M. Williams, Contracting Officer, Phone (216) 433-2885, Fax (216) 433-2480, Email Glen.M.Williams@grc.nasa.gov
Email your questions to Glen M. Williams at Glen.M.Williams@grc.nasa.gov