SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- REINFORCED CARBON CARBON CRACK REPAIR MATERIAL
- Notice Date
- 5/3/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- NNM06156436
- Response Due
- 5/17/2006
- Archive Date
- 5/3/2007
- Description
- NASA/MSFC has a requirement for Non-Oxide Adhesive eXperimental -Revision D (NOAX-D) Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Repair Material. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from ATK Thiokol, Inc., an affiliant of Alliant Techsystems, Inc., pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, which implements the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) for acquisition of supplies or services from only one source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Competition is impractical for the following reasons: 1. The development of an on-orbit Crack Repair Material (CRM) for the Space Shuttle orbiter wing leading edge represents a state-of-the-art technological advancement. This advancement is based in part upon the CRM's ability to be applied in the harsh environs of space and still survive the high temperatures of re-entry. Several known materials have already been tested and determined to be inadequate for this effort. During the CRM down select in fall of 2004 the unique ceramic adhesive, NOAX-D supplied by only ATK Thiokol, Inc., was the only known CRM that performed in accordance with the technical requirements. 2. NOAX-D is a paste-like polymer which functions as an environmental barrier to retard oxidation of the carbon/carbon substrate of the Shuttle's Wing Leading Edge. Since the initial CRM down select in the fall of 2004, NOAX-D has gone through extensive testing and evaluation in route to certification of Safe to Fly, Safe to Apply, and Safe to Repair for the Space Shuttle. Through the current MSFC technical effort, NOAX-D has been certified Safe to Fly and Safe to Apply due to meeting and/or mitigating various safety and contamination requirements for handling NOAX-D on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. As part of this continuing effort, it is anticipated that the material will be certified "Safe to Repair" based on computer modeling and test data ensuring that repairs made with NOAX-D can safely re-enter. NOAX-D is worked in place by a crew member using a spatula to cover the repair site. After application during the early stages of re-entry, NOAX-D will convert to a ceramic/glass state via pyrolysis (~750-1470 degrees Fareinheit). Once fully pyrolized, the repair will be capable of surviving temperatures up to a maximum of 2960 degrees Fareinheit for 1200 seconds. 3. As stated previously, ATK Thiokol invented NOAX-D, and the material is only available from them. In addition ATK has intimate experience with the formulation, mixing, packaging, and application of NOAX-D by working and developing the CRM over the last 2 years; this previous experience is of vital interest to the Agency. ATK Thiokol is currently the only qualified vendor who can produce NOAX-D for the Agency, and change would require a re-qualification and certification process costing unacceptable budget and schedule impacts. In order to maintain continuity of the research and development activities, it is considered an impractical, as well as inefficient, use of resources to seek a contractor different from the one who initiated the technical effort. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on May 17, 2006. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
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- Record
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