I. Background
NASA is in the concept phase to identify key performance indicators for the successful design and production of the Ares V vehicle. Our goal is to meet NASA’s Lunar Exploration requirements at the lowest life cycle cost. NASA is developing an Ares V integrated acquisition strategy to meet Constellation’s flight manifest while maximizing competition. Early planning also involves analysis of synergies to be gained from existing NASA projects such as Ares I and the Space Shuttle Program.
II. Objective
This RFI is issued to disseminate and request information from the aerospace industry per the evolving Ares V requirements and specifically to give industry an opportunity to understand and provide input to the Government's acquisition planning.
III. Technical Requirements
The Ares V point of departure architecture is included as a separate attachment. Specific technical areas for comment may be requested in the future. Note that the Constellation Program will look for commonality in technical requirements and reporting between its projects, and will use commercial items and processes when available and which better meet its needs.
IV. Acquisition Strategy
A. Initial planning and market research has begun for all elements of the Ares V vehicle. These plans are in the early stages of planning and will be refined significantly over the next several months. Industry involvement early in the NASA led design and development phase is highly desirable. Therefore, we are reviewing strategies that include the potential for concept design contracts to be awarded as early as the first half of calendar year 2009. The Ares V planned acquisition approach will utilize these guiding principles:
1. Maximize competition for all elements to include the ability to re-compete at appropriate times.
2. Procure sufficient data, and identify production techniques and ease of operability to maximize the use of fixed price type contracts and competition for long term production efforts.
3. Leverage existing programs to include Shuttle, on-going Constellation efforts, and any on-going industry programs (i.e., non-NASA) if they lead to an overall lower life cycle cost.4. Effectively enable a blend of NASA led design efforts with contractor involvement while maintaining a competitive environment until the most effective time to award full scale development and production contracts.
5. Develop the appropriate set of performance measures and incentives.
6. Leverage existing industry programs.
7. Review all requirements from a zero-based approach.
8. Maximize the use of all categories of small businesses, with particular emphasis in significant technical areas.
9. Optimize the cost/risk relationship for Ares V procurements.
B. Using these principles as a guide, industry is invited to provide inputs in the following specific areas:
1. Pros and cons of early, multiple, fixed price concept design contracts that are part of phased acquisitions with subsequent competitions and award at a major program milestone such as System Design Review (SDR) or Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Discuss all alternatives you would like NASA to consider.
2. Identify barriers to competition in any Ares V element that could be mitigated to foster a more competitive environment.
3. Discuss alternative procurement approaches to the Ares V stack integration approach. One alternative would be to compete a dedicated support contract for all Ares V stack development activities (e.g. systems management, requirements and verification, integrated design and analysis, supportability, etc.) in lieu of utilizing existing center institutional support contracts. In either case, appropriate organizational conflict of interest clauses would be implemented.
4. Discuss alternative procurement approaches to the hardware element approach followed in the Ares-1 procurement. One alternative would be to compete based on the primary function (composite dry structures, metallic cryogenic tank systems, integrated stages, etc) vs. the individual major elements themselves (first stage, core stage, earth departure stage, shroud, etc).
5. Recommend process improvements and efficiencies, both in the acquisition phase as well as the performance phase, along with identification of non-value added steps.
V. Review of Shuttle Assets
NASA’s number one priority is to safely complete the Shuttle manifest. Shuttle inventories of parts, tooling, raw materials and manufactured articles are in some areas already at levels over and above that required to safely complete the Shuttle mission. NASA is, and will continue processing such property through the appropriate property disposal process. This includes utilizing excess Shuttle property for Ares V development. To ensure we diligently review all potential uses, industry is requested to review and comment on the following general areas:
1. Potential reuse of Shuttle property for Ares V using the existing Point of Departure.
2. Recommendations for efficient storage of assets, such as cost sharing and rent free use of Industry underutilized warehouse space pending reuse for other programs.
3. Recommendations for maximizing the Government’s return on property sold beyond the normal Government property disposition process.
Lists of currently identified inventory may be posted to ensure industry is fully aware of the types of materials, parts, and tooling that may become available.
VI. Summary
While there is no formal page limit or format, a page guideline of 30 pages is recommended for the primary narrative text response. Inputs shall be compliant with all legal and regulatory requirements concerning limitations on export controlled items. Responses are requested to be submitted in Microsoft Office products in a user friendly environment to facilitate review. One hard copy and 3 CDs or DVDs are requested. Responses are to be submitted no later than August 4, 2008, to Earl Pendley/PS43/Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812.
Ares V will be the vehicle to enable the United States to return to the moon and beyond. Merging NASA’s and industry’s core expertise will foster this endeavor. Decisions made now in our early planning phase may have significant impacts for decades to come. We solicit your response and will continue to utilize this site to provide further updates to include the possibility of an Ares V Industry Day. Any questions can be directed to Earl Pendley at 256-544-2949.
