RFI Questions and Answers.pdf

Costing related questions:

1. Question: Is NASA assuming any particular time-wise distribution of funding or will it be simply linear?

Answer: Assume a linear distribution.

2. Question: Would it be worth defining a standard methodology for costing technology from techmat through core test consistently across the industry?

Answer: If there are any suggestions on methodology, please include in the RFI feedback.

3. Question: Is NASA open to funding participation from other government entities?

Answer: If other government agencies were to help offset costs and help fund, we would be willing to consider this option.

4. Question: Can NASA provide a list of NASA facilities that might be appropriate for the core test with some indication of cost?

Answer: NASA has the propulsion systems laboratory that can run small engines and core tests. There are limitations to this facility and it is an altitude chamber with the lowest altitude that can be achieved is 5Kft. This limit may be higher depending on the flow conditions. Additional details can be found here:

https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/facilities/psl-3/. The facility manager is Rick Bozak, 216- 433-5160, Richard.F.Bozak@nasa.gov

5. Question: In the RFI, it states, "NASA intends to only cost share development and integration of advanced technologies. Industry is encouraged to not only identify these costs, but also the portion to be funded solely by industry such as facility hardware, test costs, and existing technology elements (such as but not limited to hardware required for core operation and test support hardware)." Can NASA provide more detail on what is considered to be "test costs" in this context?

Answer: NASA intends to fund the costs associated with integrating and developing the advanced technology. HyTEC doesn’t want to put funding toward something that already exists or is not associated with any advanced technology. HyTEC would fund the design and fabrication of the advanced technology components only, not the entire core demonstration hardware. Any test costs or facility costs associated with overall core testing, including instrumentation, would not be included in the cost share.

Timing related questions:

1. Question: What is the anticipated timing for the HyTEC Phase 2 RFP and associated funding?

Answer: HyTEC would like to award by the end of September 2023 but the procurement strategy has not been determined yet. Accurate information will be posted on SAM.gov when its available.

2. Question: How much time does NASA intend to allocate to the HyTEC Phase 2 RFP response (ex. 60 days, etc)?

Answer: A duration has not been set. Suggestions are welcome in the RFI feedback.

3. Question: The RFI states that "the second phase intends to integrate TRL 4-5 technologies into a full engine core to demonstrate a functional high power-density small core at TRL 6 no later than 2026." Please indicate whether the intent is for the core demonstrator testing to be initiated or completed in 2026?

Answer: The intent is to complete the core demo testing in 2026. Please provide feedback on this timeline.

4. Question: Is 2026 referred to in the RFI intended to be government fiscal year 2026?

Answer: Fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 to September 20, 2026)

Content related questions:

1. Question: Is it acceptable to combine the SAF effort described in MOP-8 and the

Enhanced Combustor Materials in MOP-4 (section 4.3) into one proposal?

Answer: The proposer can take whatever approach they would like. However, in a partial award situation, it will be important to specify whether the technologies need to be packaged together are if they can be separated.

2. Question: Will the “draft” MOE’s, MOP’s, and KPP’s change significantly?

Answer: We do not anticipate significant changes unless there is strong feedback from the RFI responses.