Summary: Statement of Work for Six-Degree-of-Freedom 10k lbf Thrust Measurement System Load Cell Development

This Statement of Work (SOW) issued by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) outlines requirements for the design, fabrication, calibration, and delivery of sixteen (16) load cells for a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) Thrust Measurement System (TMS) to support hot-fire testing of liquid rocket engines. The contract requires delivery of fourteen (14) load cells with 3,000 lbf capacity and two (2) load cells with 10,000 lbf capacity, all meeting stringent accuracy specifications including static error band of ±0.03% FS, nonlinearity of ±0.035% FS, and hysteresis of ±0.04% FS. Each load cell must include eccentric load compensation, barometric compensation, and temperature compensation across the range of +15°F to +115°F, with an operating temperature range of -65°F to +200°F and a maximum mass of 3 lbm per cell.

All hardware and documentation must be delivered within 15 weeks of contract award to Central Receiving at MSFC in Huntsville, AL. The contractor must be the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the load cells and perform a minimum of 75% of the total contract value in-house, with only specific activities permissible for subcontracting (raw materials, standard components, calibration services, and environmental testing). Qualification evidence required from bidders includes OEM documentation, at least three prior similar programs within five years, active ISO 9001 quality management certification, and identification of any proposed subcontractors. Acceptance is conditional upon receipt inspection, documentation review, and NASA's functional verification testing (bridge resistance, zero balance, calibration verification). The contractor must provide NIST-traceable calibration certificates, a Certificate of Conformance for each load cell, and supporting documentation including datasheets and installation instructions. A one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship is required, beginning from the date of NASA acceptance.