Definitive Contract NNJ14GA02C

Award Date 9/17/14
Potential Completion Date 9/14/16
Potential Value $47K
Federal Agency
Johnson Space Center
Ultimate Awardee
Not listed
Federal Contract Vehicle
Set-Aside Type
No Set-Aside Used
Extent Competed
Not Competed under SAP
Major Defense Program
Not listed
Pricing Type
Firm Fixed Price
Place of Performance
Houston, TX 77058, USA
Solicitation Procedures
Simplified Acquisition
Number Of Offers Received
1
Legislative Mandate
Not listed
National Interest Action
Not listed
Research Type
Not listed
Primary Consortia Member
Not listed

PROTEIN CRYSTALS REQUIRE A THERMO-STABILIZED ENVIRONMENT DURING THEIR GROWTH PERIOD FOR OPTIMAL CRYSTALLIZATION. RESEARCHERS ALSO DESIRE ON-ORBIT MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION TO VERIFY CRYSTAL GROWTH PROGRESS. THIS OBSERVATION ALSO DOCUMENTS THE CRYSTALS PRIOR TO THEIR RETURN TO EARTH WHICH MAY CAUSE DAMAGE IN SOME CASES. THE ISS DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE SUCH ACCOMMODATIONS. NANORACKS SHALL PROVIDE PCG SERVICES UTILIZING THE CRYSTAL HOTEL AND THE CRYSTAL CARD INSPECTION SYSTEM CONSISTING OF A MICROSCOPE AND REMOTELY CONTROLLED ROBOTIC ARM. THE RATIONALE FOR CONTINUING TO CONSIDER A CRYO-COOLER/FLASH FREEZER IS THAT THE SUCCESS RATE FOR A BROADER ARRAY OF CRYSTALS WILL BE MUCH HIGHER WITH THE ABILITY TO FLASH FREEZE THE CRYSTALS AT THE OPTIMUM POINT IN THEIR GROWTH PATTERN. NANORACKS HAS STARTED TO PLAN ITS OWN INVESTMENT IN A FACILITY FOR THE CRYO-COOLER/FLASH FREEZER IN A SEPARATE LOCKER. SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN HELD WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF THE KLEEMENKO CRYO-COOLER UNIT AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS THE COOLING POWER TO FLASH FREEZE A CRYSTAL CARD. TO MAKE THE CYRO COOLER MORE FLEXIBLE (AND TO ENSURE THAT ITS OPERATION DOES NOT INFLUENCE THE GROWTH OF ANY CRYSTALS), NANORACKS REQUEST AN ALLOCATION OF A SEPARATE LOCKER FOR THE CRYO FACILITY. NANORACKS SHALL PROVIDE THE CRYO-PRESERVATION THAT WILL INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF RETURNING CERTAIN CRYSTALS BACK TO THE EARTH IN GOOD SHAPE FOR TERRESTRIAL ANALYSIS. WHILE ON-ORBIT ANALYSIS REMAINS OPTIMAL, NANORACKS WILL ACCEPT SUCH ANALYSIS AS A LONGER-TERM OBJECTIVE FOR COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON PCG. NANORACKS SHALL UNDERTAKE ALMOST ALL THE SAME ACTIVITIES AS DETAILED FOR PHASE II WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MODIFYING THE PROPOSED CYRO-COOLER. THE HOURS SPENT ON SAFETY, FLIGHT VERIFICATION, HARDWARE MODIFICATION, GROUND CONTROL SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES, OPERATIONS PRODUCTS GENERATION, COFR AND DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT OPS FOR PHASE II HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO REFLECT THE DECISION TO NOT INCLUDE THE CRYO-COOLER/FLASH FREEZER FOR THE EFFORT ON THE HOTEL CONTROL.

Posted 9/17/14, 12:00 AM