NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BG

18 -- EXPRESS PALLET FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SOL BG3-XP-JPG POC James P. Gips, Contracting Officer, Phone (281) 244-7878, Fax (281) 244-7563, Email james.p.gips1@jsc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/JSC/date.html#BG3-XP-JPG. E-MAIL: James P. Gips, james.p.gips1@jsc.nasa.gov. NASA/JSC is hereby soliciting information for potential sources for the EXPRESS Pallet. The EXPRESS Pallet is the ISS truss attached payload facility which provides structural, data, and power services for multiple external payloads. It accommodates on-orbit installation, removal, and change-out of payloads using ISS logistics hardware and Extra Vehicular Robotics (EVR) or Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) capability. The EXPRESS Pallet program consists of the following hardware: four EXPRESS Pallet flight units, the Express Pallet Adapter (EPA) flight units, the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory (NBL) unit, the Suitcase Test Environment for Payloads-EXPRESS Pallet (STEP-EP) the PTC Trainer unit, and the KSC Simulator unit. The EXPRESS Pallet provides mounting accommodations, communication, and power services from the ISS Truss to external payloads through the EXPRESS Pallet Adapters. The EXPRESS Pallet can accommodate up to 6 EPA's. The Pallet will have a structural and mechanical interface with the ISS Truss S3/P3 via the Payload Attachment System (PAS). The EPA provides structural, mechanical, electrical, and communications interfaces and accommodations for payloads. The EPA will provide for a structural and mechanical interface with the EXPRESS Pallet, with a capability for robotics or EVA manipulation, connection and attachment of Adapter-to-Pallet related interfaces. The EPA's will utilize existing ISS logistics systems and will provide keep alive power for use in the cargo bay and while payloads are in route to the truss site. It should be noted that any Pallet EVA operations will be conducted on a contingency basis. NASA has not identified a funding source for this requirement. Proceeding with the procurement depends upon funds availability. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in the CBD and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these cites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Vendors having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation, literature, brochures, and references. Please advise if the requirement is considered to be a commercial or commercial-type product. A commercial item is defined in Internet "Note A". This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses hereto. All responses shall be submitted to James P. Gips no later than 30 days after issuance of this synopsis. In responding reference BG3-XP-JPG. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html Posted 09/27/99 (D-SN384757). (0270)

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