NASA Teaming Opportunity for Nanomaterials Based Superstructures
Synopsis – Mar 08, 2011
General Information
Solicitation Number: SS-NanoBasedSuperstructures
Posted Date: Mar 08, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Mar 08, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Mar 21, 2011
Current Response Date: Mar 21, 2011
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001
Description
NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is performing a technical assessment to form the basis of a possible proposal for the NASA Office of Chief Technologist Game Changing Technology Program opportunity. This assessment is focused on the development of nanomaterials based lightweight multifunctional structures with mechanical properties surpassing those of state-of-the-art carbon fiber composites.
The purpose of this announcement is to enable LaRC to identify and select potential providers to participate in the development of the technical concept, proposal, and concept development in response to the NASA Office of Chief Technologist Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) NNH11ZUA001K, Unique and Innovative Space Technology.
NASA’s Game Changing Technology Division is soliciting proposals for research and development of disruptive innovations with potential to enable revolutionary improvements to America’s space capabilities. NASA will seek proposals that align with the agency’s Space Technology Roadmaps and NASA’s Space Technology Grand Challenges. Game changing proposals must address topics that dramatically change how NASA performs its space missions, uses space as a resource, or matures and applies space technology for important problem solving in space and on the Earth.
More information is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/game_changing_technology/game_changing_solicitations.html
The Space Technology Grand Challenges can be found at: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/strategic_integration/grand_challenges_detail.html .
The Space Technology Roadmap (Draft) can be found at: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html .
Participation in this partnering synopsis is open to all categories of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as NASA Centers and other U.S. Government Agencies. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Other Minority Universities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned small businesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBzone small businesses, and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are encouraged to apply. Participation by non-U.S. organizations is welcome but subject to NASA’s policy of no exchange of funds, in which each government supports its own national participants and associated costs.
Specific areas where LaRC is seeking potential partners include:
(1) Large scale supply of nanotubes, graphene sheets, fibers from nanotubes, sheets from nanotubes, high strength and modulus nanotube reinforced carbon fibers and similar materials.
(2) Processing/fabrication of above material systems to yield nanomaterials based systems with mechanical properties superior to carbon fiber composites
(3) Structural design and analysis of nanomaterials based structures and/or systems components.
(4) Computational modeling of nanomaterials to guide structural design.
(5) Net shape fabrication methods using nanomaterials.
(6) Structural sensing in nanomaterial based systems.
(7) System concepts design and analysis for evaluation of payoffs from nanomaterials based multifunctional structures
In particular, NASA LaRC is seeking potential partners having demonstrated experience in nanomaterials based structures and materials development in the specific areas listed above. Key members of the NBS Team at NASA LaRC are scientists and engineers having documented experience with and understanding of nanomaterials synthesis, characterization, processing and computational modeling, polymer synthesis and testing, composite design and analysis, non-destructive evaluation and systems analysis and concept design.
Respondents will be reviewed, evaluated, and selected at NASA LaRC. If selected through this synopsis, each partner is expected to participate in the technical assessment, proposal development, and on the mission implementation team. LaRC will require each selected partner to submit a detailed letter of commitment outlining their contribution, which will be included in the proposal.
LaRC anticipates issuing contracts or other agreements to the Offerors provided the NBS proposal concept is selected for implementation. Interested parties may propose as a provider for any, all, or any combination of the areas sought. Partner selections will be made by LaRC based on the listed criteria in the following order of importance:
(1) Relevant Experience and Past Performance: This criterion evaluates the proposer’s relevant technical experience and past performance in similar development activities. The proposers shall provide a description of relevant technical experience including a summary of significant achievements and technical performance. The proposer shall specifically discuss the relevance of their experience in reference to the design and development of nanomaterials, nanomaterials based structures, nanomaterials based structural design and analysis, computational modeling of nanostructured material systems, net shape fabrication of nanostructured materials, experience in the integration of structural sensors in nanomaterials based structures and nanomaterials based system concept design and analysis.
(2) Cost and Schedule Control: This criterion evaluates the proposer’s ability to control both cost and schedule. The proposer should provide evidence of successfully controlling cost and schedule for similar development programs and provide evidence of management processes in this area.
(3) Technical Capability, Key Personnel and Facilities: This criterion evaluates the proposer’s technical capability to perform the development proposed, the availability and adequacy of key personnel, and the availability and adequacy of facilities. The proposer shall describe the technical capability, facilities and key personnel available to support the proposal and mission development.
NASA will not reimburse organizations for the cost of submitting information in response to this synopsis. NASA will not pay for technical assessment or proposal preparation costs incurred by the team members.
It is expected that the selected partners will participate actively in the proposal process and that selection of the proposal for mission implementation would result in contract(s) or grant(s) for the selected providers. This synopsis opportunity does not represent a guarantee to selection of award of any contracts, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for the information solicited. It is expected that provider(s) selected would provide (at no cost to NASA), conceptual designs, technical data, proposal inputs, schedule and cost estimates consistent with the NASA Office of Chief Technologist guidelines as described in the BAA.
RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS: Responses to this partnering synopsis shall be limited to 5 pages in not less than 12-point font. Offerors responding to more than one area of interest may submit up to 5 pages for each area of interest. Responses shall address each of the aforementioned evaluation criteria. A cover page that clearly identifies the area or areas of interest addressed by the response does not count towards the total allocated page count. All responses shall be submitted to LaRC electronically via email by 5:00pm EST on March 21, 2011 to Emile (Mia) Siochi (Emilie.J.Siochi@nasa.gov) and Teresa Hass (Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov).
Technical and Programmatic questions should be directed to Emile (Mia) Siochi (Emilie.J.Siochi@nasa.gov). Procurement questions should be directed to Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov.
Point of Contact
Name: Teresa M Hass
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 757-864-8496
Fax: 757-864-8863
Email: Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov
Name: Robert B. Gardner
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 757-864-2525
Fax: 757-864-7898
Email: Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov
