The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for its Ares Electric Thrust Vector Control (TVC) Prototype Risk Reduction System requirement.
The purpose of this requirement is to contract for the design, development and construction of a prototype electric TVC system that will address the technical feasibility of an electric design concept. The selected contractor will be responsible for tailoring a risk reduction program that addresses anticipated forward development technical risks such as: thermal management of high power electrics, corona discharge at reduced pressures in the presence of high voltages, qualification of power semiconductor components and development of high power flow and high power density rechargeable batteries. The developed non-flight, prototype system will then be thoroughly tested by the contractor to assess the technical feasibility of continuing on to flight system development. A single cost-plus-fixed fee contract is anticipated with a period of performance of approximately eighteen (18) months.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 541712 and 1,000 employees, respectively. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.
The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about August 29, 2008 with an anticipated offer due date of on or about September 30, 2008. A draft RFP is anticipated for release on or about August 14, 2008. Potential offerors are invited to comment on all aspects of the draft solicitation, including the requirements, schedules, proposal instructions, and evaluation approaches. Potential offerors are requested to identify unnecessary or inefficient requirements. Comments are also requested on any perceived safety, occupational health, security (including information technology security), environmental, export control, and/or other programmatic risk issues associated with performance of the work required. The specifications for this acquisition are issued in advance of other solicitation sections and may be accessed at the website identified below.
The specifications, draft solicitation, final solicitation, and any documents related to this procurement 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/MSFC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=62
NASA will evaluate and disposition comments as determined appropriate by the agency. Potential offerors are advised that the draft RFP is not a solicitation and NASA is not requesting proposals until the final solicitation is released. A summary of the disposition of significant draft RFP comments will be included with the final RFP.
Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer no later than 1600 Central Time on August 27, 2008. All comments on the draft documents shall be submitted no later than 1600 Central Time on August 27, 2008. All contractual technical questions must be submitted in writing (e-mail or fax). Telephone questions will not be accepted. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B".
All responses shall be submitted to the attention of Ms. Sarah Annerton via e-mail to: Sarah.D.Annerton@nasa.gov. Please reference Purchase Request Number 4200261607 in any response.
It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site 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). Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
