NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

A -- PHASE II FRICTION STIR WELDING (FSW) RETRACTABLE PIN-TOOL SOL 8-1-8-EH-B8155 DUE 022198 POC Joseph D. Hobson, Contract Specialist, Phone (205) 544-0375, Fax (205) 544-9354, Email joseph.hobson@msfc.nasa.gov -- Valerie N. Holmes, Contracting Officer, Phone (205)544-0314, Fax (205)544-4400, Email valerie.holmes@ msfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/MSFC/date.html#8-1-8-EH-B8155. E-MAIL: Joseph D. Hobson, joseph.hobson@msfc.nasa.gov. NASA/MSFC plans to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) for a research study entitled "Phase II Friction Stir Welding (FSW) Retractable Pin-Tool." This effort includes an assessment of data generated from the testing of the Phase I automated retractable pin-tool already in -work. Phase I retractable pin-tool hardware performance will be characterized for full scale welding applications typical of a Vertical Weld Tool(VWT) designed to develop fifteen foot longitudinal welds which is located in building 4705, MSFC, AL. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) load data will be generated using several manually adjustable pin-tools for the welding of material ranging in thickness from .320" to 650." An Assessment of this load data will provide direction for design and engineering of the pin-tool hardware required for the Phase II retractable pin-tool assembly. Level I engineering drawings will be generated for all Phase II retractable pin-tool sub-component hardware. Sub-components will be fabricated, delivered and assembled into the final configuration required for integration with the FSW system. The final retractable pin-tool will meet identified specifications. A control system will be engineered and installed on the Phase II retractable pin-tool hardware. The controls must be programmable, user friendly and must provide retractable pin-tool hardware. The controls must be VWT, debugged and tested. Level I Engineering drawing for operational Phase II retractable pin-tool and the operational Phase II pin-tool installed and demonstrated will be delivered at the completion of the contract performance. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Boeing North American, Rocketdyne Division, Canoga Park, CA., pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 which implements 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) for acquisition of supplies or services form only one source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Competition is impractical for the following reasons: (1) Rocketdyne possess the unique capability of designing, engineering and fabricating a Phase II retractable pin-tool. Rocketdyne contributed significantly to design and fabrication of Phase I retractable pin-tool prototype. Rocketdyne is identified as the co-inventor of the Phase I reractable pin-tool. The performance of the prototype has been successfully tested at MSFC. It is the only known pin-tool successfully demonstrated to provide the mechanical movement required to weld tapered material thicknesses. (2) Rocketdyne is the only known company with FSW process understanding and expertise relative to retractable pin-tool technologies. Rocketdyne, through an existing contract, has already addressed preliminary design constraints relative to FSW process/retractable pin-tool integration with the VWT. It is impractical for the government to invest the effort to provide the expertise and training for another entity to provide this service. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". Interested firms have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after the 15 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Firm date for receipt of offers will be stated in the RFO. All qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nnotes.htm. (0041)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0003 19980212\A-0003.SOL)