Additional supplier of NASA standard initator-3A

NASA/JSC has a requirement for an Alternate Supplier to produce the NASA Standard Initiator-3a (NSI-3a), a Human rated and flight certified pyrotechnic device.

NASA/JSC intends to request proposals from Ensign Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBA&D) and Pacific Scientific Energetics for the qualification effort to become an alternate supplier for the NSI-3a to maintain a facility, produce, and manufacture NSIs essential to the Orion Program. A Synopsis/solicitation NNJ13461188Q was posted on July 10, 2013. Pacific Scientific and Ensign Bickford were awarded contracts to build 50 initiator units that would be able to pass the -420 degree firing test. The firing tests were completed mid-2015 at Johnson Space Center and resulted with both Ensign Bickford and Pacific Scientific passing the -420 degree Fahrenheit test with their units firing under the program requirement environments. This test proved that both Ensign Bickford and Pacific Scientific possessed the technical capability to compete for the qualification effort to qualify as a new vendor and use their facilities, manufacturing methods, and personnel for the production of the NSI-3a.

The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 1:00p.m. local time on July 10, 2015. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

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