SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- LONG LIVED VENUS LANDER COOLING SYSTEM STUDY AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
- Notice Date
- 4/13/2010
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135
- ZIP Code
- 44135
- Solicitation Number
- NNC10326157Q
- Response Due
- 4/30/2010
- Archive Date
- 4/13/2011
- Point of Contact
- Marilyn D. Stolz, Contract Specialist, Phone 216-433-2756, Fax 216-433-5489, Email Marilyn.D.Stolz@nasa.gov - Linda M. Kendrick, Contracting Officer, Phone 216-433-2407, Fax 216-433-5185, Email Linda.M.Kendrick@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Marilyn D. Stolz
(Marilyn.D.Stolz@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared inaccordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additionalinformation included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the onlysolicitation; offers are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.This notice is being issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for Task 1: RequirementsAssessment, Task 2: Trade Study, Task 3: Conceptual Design, and Task 4: Reports, inaccordance with the following specifications for a system for providing cooling for Venusexploration:BACKGROUND:In the coming years, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) intends to build a room-sized testcell that simulates the physical conditions on the surface of Venus. Venus is theclosest planet to Earth, but it has an extremely hostile environment. Its surfacetemperature is 500 degrees Centigrade;its surface air pressure is about 95 times thatof earths; the planet revolves so slowly that just one of its days is equal in lengthto 243 earth-days; and the atmosphere on the surface of Venus includes sulfuric acid asone of its components.NASA has explored Venus in the past, but those missions have beenvery limited because of the environmental constraints; instruments actually melt withinhours of exposure to the planets atmosphere and heat.Consequently, our first-handknowledge of Venus is limited to a very short sampling-timeframe, roughly equivalent towhat we could learn in a two-minute sampling window on earth. NASAs goal is to be ableto sample a full sunup-to-sunup Venus day (or, 243 earth-days), in order to betterunderstand its unique environment. Building this world-class, unique test cell is aprelude to robotic exploration of our nearest planetary neighbor, and it is expected toattract/service researchers from all over the world. NASA GRC intends to develop a combined Stirling power and cooling system (Stirlingduplex) to enable long-lived Venus surface missions. The cooling system will need to beable to provide multistage cooling using a pneumatic oscillating pressure wave drivingsource. Since this cooling system will be integrated within multiple concentric pressurevessel spheres and launched from Earth, it is paramount to maximize its efficiency whileminimizing its volume and mass. In the Purchase Order that results from thissolicitation, a trade study and conceptual design for such a cooler will be delivered toNASA GRC. The first stage will lift 400 Watts of heat from an inner coldbay sphere at 30degree Centigrade, and the second stage will lift at least 1100 Watts of heat from theouter coldbay at 250 degree Centigrade, and all this heat is to be rejected to the Venussurface at 500 degree Centigrade.NASA GRC anticipates a 9 month period of performance.The system to be studied is a cooler, which is part of a Stirling duplex machine, andutilizes energy from a heat source (exhausted to Venus ambient temperature) to both drivea Stirling-cycle cooler and a Stirling-cycle power converter. The Contractor shallprovide the initial development of a cooler conceptual design suitable for Venusoperations. TASK 1: REQUIREMENTS ASSESSMENTA. The Contractor shall define the system requirements (mass, lifetime, vibrationlimitations, environmental considerations such as Venus atmospheric pressure andcomposition, etc.) for the cooler.B. The Contractor shall define the trade space including operational temperatures;acceptable heat shielding; cooler staging configurations; heat engine working fluid,frequency, gas pressure, and gas amplitude; and acceptable PV power draw from the heatengine to drive the Venus Lander Cooling System (VLCS). The trade space is defined asthe range of cooler design parameters in which the system performance meets the standardsshown in Task 2.TASK 2: TRADE STUDYA. The Contractor shall generate a simplified thermal model of the Venus Lander. TheContractor shall calculate heat shield heat rates as a function of the shieldtemperatures.B. The Contractor shall calculate the PV power draw, gas flow, and gas phase relative topressure phase, over the trade space defined in Task 1 (i.e., across the defined range ofoperating frequency, gas pressure, and gas pressure amplitude)C. The Contractor shall address a minimum of 3 different staging configurations, inorder to optimize the system performance (minimize heat engine heat input) byintercepting the environmental heat at temperatures in between the 500C environment andthe 30C electronics.D. The Contractor shall assess the expected performance of a cooling system driven by anacoustic Stirling heat engine and a free piston Stirling engine. This assessmentincludes identifying the system mass and volume; the system efficiency and heat lifted;and, the anticipated development risk and cost for each option studied.TASK 3: CONCEPTUAL DESIGNA. The Contractor shall provide an electronic copy of conceptual design drawings (asdefined below) for an optimized multistage cooler optimized for a proposed Venus FlagshipMission Lander.Conceptual Design Drawing: The intended use for a Conceptual Design Drawing is to reducetechnical uncertainty by verifying preliminary design and engineering concepts. Conceptual Design Drawings may not necessarily be accurate to scale, but they shall belegible and shall, as a minimum, disclose engineering design information sufficient toevaluate an engineering concept. Layout drawings may be used to convey the engineeringconcept in such a manner that the engineering information is understandable to cognizantGovernment engineers and scientists or enable fabrication by the design Contractor ofdevelopmental hardware for test or experimentation. The Contractor may imprint itsname/logo on a Conceptual Design Drawing. A Conceptual Design Drawing may be deliveredas a hardcopy, and/or as an electronic copy, and/or in any other readable/reproducibleformat, at the Contractor's discretion. TASK 4: REPORTSA. The Contractor shall provide oral briefings (telecoms with the NASA COTR on abi-weekly schedule as determined by the NASA COTR) that are brief, factual, and informaland shall reflect the interests and concerns of the COTR. B. The Contractor shall deliver monthly written reports that include preliminaryconceptual drawings, trade spaces considered, and progress for the month in accomplishingthe goals of this Purchase Order as follows:Report Format:All written reports shall follow the format describved below. Oral reports shouldreasonable apply the guidance that this format implies. (a) A cover page containing: (1) Contract number, task order number and title.(2) The type of report ('Monthly Technical Progress Report') and the period/unit beingreported.(3) Contractor's name, address, and organizational segment generating the report.(4) Signature of Contractor's cognizant Project Manager (or, if submittedelectronically, an unambiguous indicator that the Project Manager has generated/reviewedthe report).(5) Date of issuance.(6) Inclusion of the following statement: 'Prepared for NASA Glenn Research Center,Cleveland, OH 44135'.(b) Section I-- Technical Progress Summary: A description of the work performed duringthe report period and the overall technical progress achieved.The current schedulestatus shall also be addressed in this summary.(c) Section II -- Current Problem(s):A description of any current problem(s) which mayimpede technical, schedule and/or cost performance, along with proposed correctiveaction(s). (d) Section III -- Risk Management: Include a list of Significant Open Risks andassociated Mitigation Plans.(e) Section IV -- Work Planned: A description of the work to be performed during thenext monthly reporting period.(f) Section V -- Analysis: Interpretation of the results obtained, recommendations offurther action, and discussion of the relationships between work performed and theultimate objectives of the Purchase Order.C. A final report shall be submitted.The Final Report shall conform to the format forMonthly Technical Reports and shall address the accomplishments of the entire effort.Work product(s) of Tasks 1 through 4 as generated shall be delivered to the NASA GlennResearch Center, Attn:Rodger Dyson, 21000 Brookpark Road, M.S. 301-2, Cleveland, OH44135 with a written notice of said delivery to the NASA GRC Contracting Officer, MarilynD. Stolz via an email: Marilyn.D.Stolz@nasa.gov. Delivery shall be FOB Destination.The NAICS Code and the small business size standard for this procurement are 541712 and500 employees respectively. The offeror shall state in their offer their size status forthis procurement.All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.Offers for the items(s) described above are due by April 30, 2010, 4:30 p.m. local timeand may be mailed or faxed to Marilyn D. Stolz, 21000 Brookpark Road, M.S. 500-306,Cleveland, OH 44135 and must include, solicitation number, FOB destination to thisCenter, proposed delivery schedule, discount/payment terms, warranty duration (ifapplicable), taxpayer identification number (TIN), identification of any specialcommercial terms, and be signed by an authorized company representative. Offerors areencouraged to use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for CommercialItems form found at URL:http://server-mpo.arc.nasa.gov/Services/NEFS/NEFSHome.tml All contractual and technical questions must be in writing (e-mail or fax) to Marilyn D.Stolz not later than April 20, 2010. Telephone questions will not be accepted.EVALUATION AND AWARD FOR BEST VALUEAward will be based upon overall best value to the Government among those offerors thatmeet the technical specifications shown above.Technical acceptablility will bedetermined by information submitted by the offeror providing a description in sufficientdetail to demonstrate their technical expertise, experience concerning their ability toperform the requirements and past performance.It is critical that offerors provideadequate detail to allow evaluation of their offer. (SEE FAR 52.212-1(b)) For selectionpurposes, ability to perform the specifications, total price and the best value criteriaare essentially equal in importance. The offeror is encouraged to address the best valuecriteria shown below as part of their offer. BEST VALUE CRITERIA:The following criteria will be considered best value for this procurement: 1). An offeror who is a current cooler manufacturer with a history of timely delivery andexecution within budget is of greater value to the Government.2). An offeror with demonstrated multistage Stirling and pulse-tube cooler heritage(including successful space missions incorporating their cooler technology) is of greatervalue to the Government. 3). Since the approximately three foot diameter Venus lander will have a mass of lessthan 1000 kg, and due to limited radioisotope energy availability, it is critical for thecooling system mass, volume, and efficiency to be optimized to operate within thefollowing envelope: 30 kg, 3 cubic feet, and at least 20% of Carnot efficiency for eachstage.An offeror with previously flown flight hardware meeting or exceeding theseperformance parameters is of greater value to the Government.The provisions and clauses in the RFQ are those in effect through FAC 2005-39.Offerors shall provide the information required by FAR 52.212-1 (JUNE 2008), Instructionsto Offerors-Commercial Items, which is incorporated by reference. Addenda to FAR52.212-1 are as follows: None.If the end product(s) offered is other than domestic end product(s) as defined in theclause entitled 'Buy American Act -- Supplies,' the offeror shall so state and shall listthe country of origin.FAR 52.212-4 (MAR 2009), Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items is applicable. Addenda to FAR 52.212-4 are as follows: None.FAR 52.212-5 (FEB 2010), Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes orExecutive Orders-Commercial Items is applicable and the following identified clauses areincorporated by reference: (a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions oflaw or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Feb 2009) (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)). Alternate I(Aug 2007) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)); 52.233-3, Protest After Award (Aug 1996) (31U.S.C. 3553); 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (Oct 2004) (Pub. L.108-77, 108-78). (b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that theContracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference toimplement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercialitems: 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government Sept 2006), withAlternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402); 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June2003) (E.O. 11755); 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999);52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246); 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity forSpecial Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212);52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun1998) (29 U.S.C. 793); 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans,Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212);52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) (E.O.s, proclamations,and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department ofthe Treasury); 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic funds Transfer - Central ContractorRegistration (Oct 2003)(31 U.S.C. 3332)The FAR may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html The NFS may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/nfstoc.htm Offerors must include completed copies of the provision at 52.212-3 (AUG 2009), OfferorRepresentations and Certifications - Commercial Items with their offer. These may beobtained via the internet at URL:http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/SAP/52-212-3plusadd.pdf. Theserepresentations and certifications will be incorporated by reference in any resultantcontract.An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note 'B'.Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It isthe offeror's responsibility to monitor the following Internet site for the release ofsolicitation amendments (if any):http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=22.Potentialofferors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this combinationsynopsis/solicitation and amendments (if any).Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
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