Synopsis – Dec 13, 2005
Modification 01 – Posted on Dec 14, 2005

General Information
Solicitation Number: NNL06LCT
Posted Date: Dec 13, 2005
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Dec 13, 2005
Original Response Date: Dec 28, 2005
Current Response Date: Dec 28, 2005
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541710 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001

Description

NASA/LaRC plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for conceptual design of an air bag landing attenuation system for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). NASA intends to procure the CEV air bag conceptual design as a non-commercial item using FAR Part 15, and also as a Small Business Set-aside in accordance with FAR-19.502. NASA intends to award at least one (1), but no more than two (2) air bag conceptual design contracts depending on responses received. Results and data from the air bag conceptual design(s) will be used to evaluate the air bag landing attenuation system against alternative CEV landing attenuation system concepts as part of a trade study being conducted by NASA.

The base period of the contract(s) will be approximately 120 calendar days, and will include:

(a) attending a conceptual design kick-off meeting;

(b) developing the air bag landing system conceptual design including layout drawings and mass breakdowns;

(c) conducting air bag performance analyses;

(d) conducting a risk assessment and providing an air bag development plan;

(e) administering a mid-term site visit at the Contractor’s facilities;

(f) attending weekly telecons; (g) conducting a final design presentation; and

(h) delivering a final report.

NASA intends to include two Not-To-Exceed (NTE) priced Options in addition to the base contract. The Option 1 period of performance will be approximately 120 calendar days from the day the Option is exercised, and will include the design, fabrication, delivery, and testing support of sub-scale air bags for tests to be conducted at NASA/LaRC. Option 2 period of performance will be approximately 365 calendar days from the day the Option is exercised, and will include the design, fabrication, delivery, and testing support of full-scale air bags for tests to be conducted at NASA/LaRC.

The following landing attenuation system specifications are preliminary and therefore subject to change. The specifications are intended to depict the general performance envelope of the anticipated air bag landing attenuation system. Specific, more-detailed performance requirements will be developed by the Government at a later date.

(1) The landing attenuation system shall be designed for a CEV landing within a Government-controlled land range in the continental United States, but must also be suitable for off-nominal water landings associated with launch abort scenarios.

(2) The landing attenuation system shall reduce the landing loads of the CEV to within human-acceptable limits. The human-acceptable limits will be defined by the Government at a later date.

(3) The landing attenuation system shall prevent the CEV capsule from over-turning or rolling over during or after landing. (4) The landing attenuation system shall operate within acceptable limits for the following ranges of landing conditions: a) CEV weight of approximately 21,000 pounds; b) vertical landing velocity of approximately 22 ft/sec to 26 ft/sec; c) horizontal landing velocity of approximately 0 ft/sec to 51 ft/sec; d) a capsule of approximately 0 to 20 degrees.

(5) The landing attenuation system shall stow within the available volume within the CEV capsule, be capable of withstanding a space environment for an extended duration, and then be capable of being deployed during the CEV terminal descent at Earth. The available CEV volume will be provided by NASA at a later date.

(6) The landing attenuation system shall be capable of being successfully deployed at angles-of-attack up to +/- 20 degrees during the CEV terminal descent.

(7) The landing system shall be at a state of technological readiness such that a full-scale system can be designed, fabricated, and tested before September, 2007.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26.

This procurement is a total small business set-aside. See Note 1.

The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 541710 and 1,000 employees, respectively.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about January 13, 2006 with an anticipated offer due date 30 days from release date.

An ombudsman has been appointed — See NASA Specific Note “B”.

The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/LaRC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=23

Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.

All contractual technical questions must be submitted in writing (e-mail or fax). Telephone questions will not be accepted.

Point of Contact

Name: Lionel E Nadeau
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: (757) 864-2434
Fax: (757) 864-8863
Email: Lionel.E.Nadeau@nasa.gov

Name: C. Tom Weih
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: (757) 864-3878
Fax: (757) 864-8863
Email: Carl.T.Weih@nasa.gov

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF AN AIR BAG LANDING ATTENUATION SYSTEM FOR THE CREW EXPLORATION VEHICLE (CEV)

General Information

Document Type: Modification to a Previous Notice
Solicitation Number: NNL06LCT
Posted Date: Dec 14, 2005
Original Response Date: Dec 28, 2005
Current Response Date: Dec 28, 2005
Original Archive Date: Dec 14, 2006
Current Archive Date: Dec 14, 2006
Classification Code: A — Research & Development Naics Code: 541710 — Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton, VA 23681-0001

Description

This is a modification to the synopsis entitled CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF AN AIR BAG LANDING ATTENUATION SYSTEM FOR THE CREW EXPLORATION VEHICLE (CEV) which was posted on December 13, 2005. You are notified that the following changes are made: The small business set aside restriction for the intended procurement is hereby removed and is changed to full and open competition. Accordingly, the synopsis reference to note 1 is also removed by this notice. The due date for responses is not extended. Documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/LaRC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=23 Offerors are responsible for monitoring this site for the release of the solicitation and any amendments. Potential offerors are responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any).

Point of Contact

Lionel E Nadeau, Contract Specialist, Phone (757) 864-2434, Fax (757) 864-8863, Email Lionel.E.Nadeau@nasa.gov – C. Tom Weih, Contract Specialist, Phone (757) 864-3878, Fax (757) 864-8863, Email Carl.T.Weih@nasa.gov

Email your questions to Lionel E Nadeau at Lionel.E.Nadeau@nasa.gov