EPOC Presolicitation Synopsis 07.26.2022.pdf

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

Reply to Attn of: PS40

July 26, 2022

FROM: PS40

SUBJECT: Pre-Solicitation Synopsis of the Exploration Production and Operations Contract Action

Under FAR 5 .2, Synopsis of Proposed Contract Actions, in paiiicular, FAR 5.201 ( a), General, as required by the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C.637(e)) and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act ( 41 U.S.C.1708), agencies must make notices of proposed contrnct actions available. In accordance with FAR 5.203(a), Publicizing and Response time, an agency must transmit a notice of proposed contract action to the GPE. The notice must be published at least 15 days before issuance of a solicitation, or a proposed contrnct action the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302, Circumstances Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition. In accordance with FAR 5 .207, Preparation and Transmittal of Synopsis, the below is provided:

(1) Action Code. NI A

(2) Date. MMMM, DD

(3) Yeai·. 2022

(4) Conti·acting Office ZIP Code. 35812

(5) Product or Service Code. V126, Space Transpo1iation/Launch

(6) Conti·acting Office Address. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Building

4260, Room 206, Office Code: PS40, Huntsville, Alabama 35812

(7) Subject. Exploration Production and Operations Contract (EPOC)

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number. 80MSFC22R0010

(9) Closing Response Date. 15 days from date above

(10) Contact Point or Contracting Officer. Kellie Craig

(11) Conti·act Award and Solicitation Number. 80MSFC22R0010

NASA FORM 1858 04/22 (116)

NASA FORM 1858 04/22 (1.16)

(12) Contract Award Dollar Amount. To be determined

(13) Line Item Number. To be determined

(14) Contract Award Date. Anticipated by December 31, 2023

(15) Contractor. Deep Space Transport, LLC

(16) Description. NASA intends to acquire 5 launch services using the Space Launch System (SLS) vehicle under a service contract entitled Exploration Production and Operations Contract (EPOC) for Artemis V through IX with 15 additional options; an option for 5 launches for Artemis X through XIV and 10 additional launches during the launch periods for Artemis V through XIV for other NASA missions. This effort may result in multiple contracts to cover the launches services as well as tasks associated with transition planning, concept of operations, and transition activities to include moving from existing hardware procurement contracts to a single launch service contract. The SLS vehicle is comprised of a Core Stage (CS) with four RS-25 engines, an Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) with four RL10 engines, two 5-segment Solid Rocket Boosters, and a Universal Stage Adapter (USA) for the Orion spacecraft with a capability for co-manifested payloads and secondary payloads. Responsibility for the Systems Engineering and Integration functions as well as Flight Software Development and Test, both of which are currently performed by the Government, will also be a part of this contract. This contracting approach will allow the contractor to also provide EPOC launch services to other Government entities and commercial parties as identified in the future.

The EPOC contractor will provide all launch services by use of NASA facilities currently in use for SLS manufacture, testing, and transportation and other facilities as identified by NASA. Current Government property in use for the production of the SLS vehicle will also be provided for manufacturing purposes to the EPOC provider. The EPOC scope will include up to ten Artemis flights, Artemis V through XIV, providing the capability to transport the Orion Spacecraft, co-manifested payloads, and secondary payloads to trans-lunar injection.

NASA has developed the SLS vehicle as a heavy-lift capability for the Artemis missions and deep space missions use as needed. NASA is transitioning the contracting approach from the purchase of SLS hardware for integration into a launch vehicle to purchase of a launch service utilizing an SLS vehicle. NASA expects to procure at least one flight per year to the Moon or other deep-space destinations. The EPOC Contractor will interface with other common Exploration Systems Development Division programs such as Exploration Ground Services (EGS), the Orion Program, and the Cross-Program Systems Integration (CSI) office to efficiently conduct NASA space operations. NASA's use of the Space Launch System (SLS) is established by law. Specifically, 51 U.S. Code § 20302 describes a vision for space exploration and requires the NASA Administrator to establish a program to develop a sustained human presence in cis-lunar space or on the Moon, to promote exploration, science, commerce,and United States preeminence in space, as a stepping-stone to future exploration of Mars and other destinations. The Administrator is directed to manage human space flight programs, including the Space Launch System and Orion, to enable humans to explore Mars and other destinations by defining a series of sustainable steps.

The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 directed NASA to initiate the development of a SLS vehicle leveraging existing systems to the extent practicable, including propulsion. To that end, NASA is using all the available heritage Shuttle hardware. This action directly aligns with the strategy for risk and cost minimization by using existing contracts, investments, workforce, industrial base, and capabilities. The Space Launch System was initiated in 2011 through the conversion of Constellation Program contracts to meet the requirements of a NASA heavy lift launch vehicle. The SLS program office oversaw the conversion of contracts for the SLS requirements.

The intended source is Deep Space Transport, LLC, (DST) a joint venture currently comprised of The Boeing Company and Northrop Grumman, and this action will be pursued as a sole source. DST will contract with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for CS, EUS, RS-25, RL10, and Booster. Manufacturing methods and processes used in the production of the SLS launch vehicle are proprietary in nature. Specifically, the methods and processes used to manufacture the Core Stage and Exploration Upper Stage are those used by Boeing in their commercial aircraft business and cannot be transferred to another company. The methods, processes, and capabilities used to manufacture the solid rocket motors were developed by Northrop Grumman which cannot be transferred to another company. The RS-25 has limited rights data and some data is withheld with only data outputs provided to NASA. The RL10 drawings may be inspected but are withheld from the Government.

Additionally, some components used by Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Aerojet Rocketdyne are proprietary to their suppliers and cannot be transferred to another company;

these components are available to NASA to review at the company location but the data cannot be reproduced or provided to another company. To have another company manufacture the Core Stage and Exploration Upper Stage may take as long as 10 years with additional Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation costs which would be a duplicative cost to the Government not expected to be recovered through competition; to have another company manufacture the 5-segment boosters may take as long as 9 years with additional Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation costs which would be a duplicative cost to the Government not expected to be recovered through competition; to have another company manufacture the RS-25 with the current modifications to the engine controller may take as long as 7 years with additional Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation costs. It is anticipated that Deep Space Transport, LLC will assume all responsibility for the manufacture and production of the SLS vehicle.

Upon transition to EPOC, the SLS Vehicle design will have a certified performance capability to deliver 42t (metric tonnes) to trans-lunar insertion (TLI) in a single launch with characteristic energy C3=.99 km2/sec2. EPOC will continue to develop performance enhancements (Block Upgrades) to increase future capabilities. EPOC will deliver hardware to Kennedy Space Center where ground operations, vehicle stacking, and maintenance will be provided by a separate services contract managed by KSC. EPOC will certify to the flight safety of their service through payload separation and upper stage disposal. EPOC Period of Performance will be from Authority to Proceed (ATP) through the Artemis XIV mission currently planned for 2036.

Performance Work Statement core requirements are segregated as follows: Program Management, Program Support, Systems Engineering and Integration, Safety and Mission Assurance, Co-Manifested and Secondary Payload Integration, Production and Ground Operations, Logistics, Mission Planning and Execution, and SLS Vehicle Capability.

This is a non-personal services contract because the personnel rendering the services will not be subject, either by the contract's terms or by the manner of its administration, to the supervision and control of the Government (FAR 37.104 and NFS 1837.104).

The Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) statute is applicable to this services acquisition and the resulting contract will be subject to Service Contract Labor Standards for applicable positions and will be incorporated prior to award.

A Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) Priority Rating of DO-C9 (miscellaneous) will be applied.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 336414, Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing. Security requirements will be levied via a DD 254, Contract Security Classification Specification, for contract performance.

A Request for Proposal will be issued to the contractor. Award of EPOC is anticipated by December 31, 2023.

The solicitation will include the FAR clause at 52.225-3, Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act, or an equivalent agency clause: "One or more of the items under this acquisition is subject to Free Trade Agreements." The solicitation will include the FAR clause at 52.225-5, Trade Agreements, or an equivalent agency clause: "One or more of the items under this acquisition is subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Kellie Craig, kellie.d.craig@nasa.gov, not later than 4:00 p.m.

Central Daylight Savings Time on August 10, 2022 (15 days after posting). Such capabilities/ qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

(17) Place of Contract Performance. Huntsville, Alabama, Promontory, Utah, Desoto Park, California, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Michoud Assembly Facility, Louisiana, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html"