Q&_A_for_RFP.docx

1) The NASA SOW document mentions the following in section 1.5 for Phase A: “The vacuum shell assembly shall be built, assembled to the government tank, and tested for buckling and vacuum retention. Test data shall be compared with analysis predictions to determine if the tested deflections are consistent with the modelling.”

Please clarify if the tank provided in Phase A by NASA (between Phase A Design Review at 5 months and Phase A Testing at 10 months) is that shown in figure 2 or is there another tank that will be provided for Phase A and if so what is it’s dimensions.

The tank is that in figure 2. The drawing for it is G13706mra002, as listed in Table 2.

2) Note that in section 7.2 (Phase A deliverables) there is no reference to the vacuum shell and therefore assume that the vacuum shell built in Phase A is not delivered.

In section 5.6.7 it states: If Phase B is not awarded, the vendor shall return all government furnished property to NASA Glenn Research Center, Building 401 (shop), 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH, 44135. There is not a deliverable for the vacuum shell written, so NASA will not pay for that. Given that the vacuum shell is attached, NASA expects it to be sent to NASA or removed at the vendor’s cost.

3) Is the cost of building the Phase A vacuum shell, integrating it with the NASA provided tank and testing part of the $350K funding available?

Yes.