Low-Boom Flight Demonstration (LBFD) Request for Proposals
Added: Mar 14, 2017 1:44 pm
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for LOW-BOOM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION (LBFD).NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) strategy is guided by six strategic thrusts identified in response to three overarching global mega-drivers that will, in large part, shape the needs of aeronautical research in the coming years. These drivers and thrusts are described in the ARMD Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) (http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/strategic-plan.htm). In the near term (2015-2025), Strategic Thrust 2, Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft, outlines the ARMD objective of enabling the establishment of a standard for acceptable overland supersonic flight, in cooperation with international standards organizations. ARMD will develop and validate analysis tools and technologies intended to enable the design and development of supersonic aircraft with low sonic boom. In the longer term (2025-2035), ARMD will continue research on technologies required to meet the desired boom level in larger aircraft, but will also conduct research in areas related to other challenges to successful supersonic transports.Under NASA ARMD's Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP), the Commercial Supersonic Technology (CST) Project provides the research and leadership to achieve ARMD's objectives in Strategic Thrust 2. ARMD has formed Research Themes that support the desired outcomes for this strategic thrust (see the ARMD SIP link above). Within these Research Themes, the CST Project focuses a majority of its research on certain key Technical Challenges that are viewed as enabling to the Strategic Thrust 2 near-term outcomes. The current Technical Challenges are: 1) Integrated Low Boom Aircraft Design, 2) Sonic Boom Community Response Metric and Methodologies, and 3) Low-Noise Propulsion for Low-Boom Aircraft. Concurrently, the CST Project also conducts research in other key areas related to successful supersonic transports, such as improvements in supersonic cruise efficiency, reduced emissions, aero-servo-elasticity, and flight systems.Based on research over the past few years, NASA determined that the best approach to accomplish the goals of the Thrust 2 near-term objective and the first two CST Project Technical Challenges is to conduct a flight demonstration. To that end, the CST Project conducted concept feasibility studies and project planning for a Low-Boom Flight Demonstration (LBFD) aircraft that would provide validation of design tools and technologies applicable to low sonic boom aircraft and create a database of community response supporting the development of a noise-based standard for supersonic overland flight. NASA has refined a set of LBFD aircraft capabilities required to conduct effective community response studies. NASA's objectives would be accomplished through the design, construction, and flight validation of a sub-scale research aircraft that creates a shaped sonic boom signature with a calculated loudness level of 75 PLdB [Perceived Level (PL), decibels (dB)] or less during supersonic cruise (Mach ≥ 1.4) flight. Although the aircraft will be smaller in size than future supersonic airliners, its sonic boom ground signature will be traceable to that of the larger aircraft. The LBFD aircraft will be capable of performing multiple supersonic overflights of a single community with passes that are nominally 50 miles in length, and 20 minutes apart on a single flight. A task order was awarded for preliminary design of a Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft concept. An Aircraft System Requirements Review (ASRR) was completed in June 2016 to refine and finalize NASA's mission and aircraft requirements. Maturation and integration of a preliminary QueSST aircraft concept over the past year has confirmed that the desired mission and aircraft requirements are valid. A Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of this aircraft concept will be completed in June 2017. The resulting requirements and design approaches may be leveraged for the detailed design phase.Under NASA ARMD's Integrated Aviation Systems Program (IASP), the LBFD Project will be executed in two distinct phases, with a third phase envisioned as a follow-on activity. Phase 1 includes the LBFD aircraft development activities from detailed design through fabrication, concluding with functional checkouts and supersonic envelope expansion.In Phase 2, a NASA-led team will perform low-boom acoustic validation flights of the LBFD aircraft. These flights will be conducted from NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) and characterize and evaluate the near-field, mid-field, far-field, and ground signatures from the LBFD aircraft. This characterization will include the effects of changing atmospheric and aircraft flight conditions. Phase 2 will conclude with an initial community response overflight study involving communities near AFRC. The purposes of this study will be validation of the community test designs developed by the CST Project and an initial exploration of community acceptance of low-boom noise.For the Phase 3 follow-on, a NASA-led team will conduct low-boom community response overflight studies with multiple test campaigns using the LBFD aircraft over varied locations. Studies may include multiple deployments over a 2-year period to capture a representative spectrum of communities, geography, and meteorological conditions across the United States. The primary data from these studies would be community response, with limited collection of aircraft, ground, and meteorological data. The ultimate goal of Phase 3 will be to develop a low-boom community response database that will be provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) in support of their development of a noise-based standard for supersonic overland flight.NASA plans to select a Vehicle Contractor for the Phase 1 detailed design, build, test, and then delivery of the LBFD aircraft system that will be flown in Phases 2 and 3. NASA will retain oversight of the airworthiness certification and anticipates being a significant participant in Phase 1 activities. NASA will provide support that will include in-flight and ground systems, instrumentation and operations, simulation, wind-tunnel testing, and safety and mission assurance. NASA will also supply aircraft components and systems as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) whenever feasible, and considered to add value to the development of the LBFD aircraft. NASA envisions significant opportunities for collaboration with industry and academia, both domestic and international, during Phase 2 and 3 activities.NASA anticipates issuing a performance-based Request for Proposal for the design, build, and test of the LBFD aircraft, as described in Phase 1 above, with potential for a second aircraft. The procurement will be a requirements-driven approach, as opposed to build to print, and the maturity of the proposed concept is expected to be consistent with a PDR level of development. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. This will be an unrestricted procurement (full and open competition). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 336411 - Aircraft Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,500 employees.In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 9.104-1, FAR 9.104-2, and FAR 9.105(b)(1), NASA intends to conduct a pre-RFP release Responsibility Determination. NASA may use the list of responsible vendors to facilitate a pre-solicitation release of more detailed requirements, design data, and specifications that have resulted from the preliminary design activity described above. It is anticipated a tentative design data release to responsible vendors may occur no earlier than April 12, 2017. All responsible businesses, or team of businesses, may make an application to be considered for a responsibility determination. Qualification evidence is limited to 25 pages and shall be emailed to the Contracting Officer at robbin.m.kessler@nasa.gov. It is strongly recommended this documentation be provided no later than March 28, 2017, to ensure timely consideration of your responsibility assessment. Submissions later than this date will still be considered.To assess the responsibility standards identified under FAR 9.104-1 and FAR 9.104-2, the following information shall be presented to the Contracting Officer, in addition to the general standards for responsibility determinations:a. Evidence of relevant history, experience, and capability in design, fabrication, integration and test of a demonstrator aircraft similar in nature and complexity to LBFD.b. Evidence of experience and expertise related to the design of low sonic boom aircraft. This evidence must include an overview of tools, methods, capabilities, and recognized experts related to supersonic and low sonic boom design and analysis.c. Evidence of capability for full compliance with export control requirements of International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R. Parts 120-130) and Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. Parts 700-774).d. Evidence of an approved Earned Value Management System (EVMS) through the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), or other comparable system compliant with the guidelines in the American National Standards Institute/Electronic Industries Alliance Standard 748, Earned Value Management Systems (ANSI/EIA-748).e. Evidence of a Government Approved Purchasing System, or a purchasing system that would qualify after a Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR).f. Evidence of an existing facility or facilities located in the continental United States, including infrastructure and staffing, capable of assembling, testing, and ground test of the demonstrator aircraft.Businesses will be notified if they have been determined responsible or provided rationale for a non-responsibility determination. A small business found non-responsible may be referred to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a Certificate of Competency (CoC). NASA reserves the right to seek clarification if insufficient information has been presented to support any of the above responsibility criteria. If businesses can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer that the potential business, or team, meets the above standards established for responsibility, or can present a reasonable approach to meet these standards prior to the award date of the contract, those businesses may submit an offer which shall be considered by the Agency.The anticipated release date of the Draft RFP is June 1, 2017, with the final RFP issuance on August 1, 2017, with an anticipated offer due date of on or about September 15, 2017. The solicitation will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor FBO 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).All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing. Telephone questions will not be accepted.POC:Robbin KesslerContracting Officer661-276-3761robbin.m.kessler@nasa.gov
NND17616105R National Aeronautics and Space Administration Armstrong Flight Research Center
3/14/17, 1:44 PM