SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- EXPLORATION FLIGHT TEST 1
- Notice Date
- 11/7/2011
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BT
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- NNJ12ZBT001R
- Response Due
- 11/22/2011
- Archive Date
- 11/7/2012
- Point of Contact
- Brad Niese, Contracting Officer, Phone 281-483-3005, Fax 281-483-0503, Email bradley.niese-1@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Brad Niese
(bradley.niese-1@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC) has a requirement for critical performance datafrom an integrated flight test of the Orion spacecraft as part of the Orion MultipurposeCrew Vehicle (MPCV) Design, Development, Test and Evaluation (DDT&E) phase. The Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) is an early flight test, planned for early 2014,of the Orion spacecraft that is currently being developed by Lockheed Martin SpaceSystems Corporation (LMSSC), Denver, Colorado under contract NNJ06TA25C. The Orionspacecraft is a crew vehicle for missions beyond low-Earth orbit and will be launched onNASAs Space Launch System (SLS), which is expected to have a first flight in December2017. The EFT-1 flight test of the Orion spacecraft is intended to facilitate earlier and morerobust testing of critical Orion spacecraft systems that contribute to 10 of the 16highest risks to crew survivability and exploration mission failure. The requirements ofEFT-1 support early risk reduction of Orions critical systems by providing informationneeded for Loss of Crew (LOC) and Loss of Mission (LOM) assessments during an un-mannedtwo orbit, high apogee high-energy entry flight test. This early orbital flight test iskey to providing early test data that is critical to influence design decisions andvalidate Orion spacecraft systems in flight environments that cannot be duplicated on theground. Conducting this test before the Orion Critical Design Review mitigatesspacecraft DDT&E cost and schedule risks, and enables the final Orion spacecraft designto support the Exploration Mission 1 scheduled to occur in December 2017 on the SLS.EFT-1 flight test objectives are focused on demonstrating beyond low earth orbit (BEO)spacecraft capabilities. The flight conditions required for EFT-1 were selected todemonstrate integrated vehicle performance for ascent, on-orbit flight, and a high-energyre-entry profile of approximately 30,280 feet per second from BEO. This trajectory willprovide two orbital revolutions with an inertial entry interface velocity of nearly 84%of lunar re-entry velocity to stress the entry, descent, and landing functions, includingthe heat shield, propulsion, guidance/navigation/control and parachute recovery systems. The flight test specifically will address risk mitigation of the largest contributors toLOC and LOM risks through demonstration of high energy re-entry performance determinationof the heatshield Thermal Protection System, Forward Bay Cover deployment and othercritical separation events, drogue and main parachute deployment, crew module up-rightingsystem deployment, and launch abort system (LAS) jettison. Other objectives critical tomitigate development risk are demonstration of on-orbit control via the power, Guidance,Navigation and Control (GN&C) and reaction control systems, and the ground to spacecraftcommunications and tracking. The test flight will incorporate specific elements andselected system capabilities that will provide critical integrated vehicle data to thesystems designers that otherwise would be unavailable until the planned December 2017fully integrated flight with NASAs SLS.To accomplish the EFT-1 objectives, NASA plans to expand the scope of the existing Orioncontract. The EFT-1 flight test utilizes an early production variant of the Orionspacecraft which is comprised of four elements: the Orion launch abort system, crewmodule, service module, and spacecraft adapter and fairings. The Orion contractor iscurrently developing these four elements under the existing contract. The additionalscope required is to integrate the spacecraft with the launch system, along with otherunique integration efforts between this integrated stack and the ground and operationssystems. The contractor also will be responsible for providing the launch service,including a launch vehicle capable of lifting the spacecraft into a highly lofted orbitto achieve the high energy reentry requirement. The primary deliverable for this effortwill be the flight test data and engineering evaluation of the test results against theformal flight test objectives established by NASA. NASA/JSC intends to procure this additional scope for the integrated flight test on asole-source basis from LMSSC, Denver Colorado, via a modification of the Orion contract. This decision is made pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no othersupplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, which implements the authority of10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). As the developer of the Orion spacecraft, LMSSC possesses the required technicalunderstanding of the integrated spacecraft design and its predicted responses in adynamic coupled environment with a launch system. This knowledge is critical tounderstanding how both vehicles must work in unison during the flight phases of launch,on-orbit maneuvering and de-orbit return in order for the Orion spacecraft to accomplishand test the objectives of EFT-1. LMSSC is uniquely positioned to assess prelaunchpredictions for integrated spacecraft/launch vehicle loads, thermal, flight control, andseparation dynamics, and then deconstruct the post-flight data for quick applicationtoward design/development updates to the Orion spacecraft. Also, LMSSC is the only contractor with the systems level knowledge of the Orion designnecessary to perform the integrated systems analyses activity that will be required tointegrate the spacecraft with the launch system to meet the EFT-1 objectives. Thesesystems analyses and integration activities are needed to mate the EFT-1 spacecraft witha launch system. Further, a detailed understanding of the unique Orion spacecraftinterfaces and environmental drivers is required. Issuance of this sole-source contractaction will permit NASA to accomplish its unique technical and schedule requirements forthe EFT-1 objectives. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform theeffort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local timeon November 22, 2011. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for thepurpose 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 opencompetition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretionof 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.NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The installation Ombudsman isMelanie Saunders. Ms. Saunders can be contacted at 281-483-0490 orMelanie.Saunders-1@nasa.gov.
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