assembly and acceptance testing of two (2) 112-cell lithium-ion battery bricks

NASA's National Spaceflight Support Center (NSSC) has issued a Special Notice for the assembly and acceptance testing of two 112-cell lithium-ion battery bricks. The opportunity is targeted at small businesses and focuses on a specialized technical procurement for battery component manufacturing. The notice was posted on April 11, 2025, with a response deadline of April 15, 2025. The procurement will be conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and is currently structured as a potential sole source award to Symmetry Resources Inc. The procurement falls under NAICS category 541380 for Testing Laboratories and Services.

The primary objective of this Special Notice is to assemble Li-ion superbricks for the LEMS-A3 project, utilizing NASA-provided components including 300 screened Molicel M35A cells. Contractors must perform detailed assembly tasks including cell receipt, weld schedule verification, and comprehensive acceptance testing according to precise specifications. The superbricks must be assembled with a specific rectangular aspect ratio of 5"x17"x3" and include a thermal ground plane. Key contractor deliverables include generating Procedure Qualification Records for welds, submitting cross-section samples, and completing acceptance test results within specified timeframes. Testing requirements are extensive and include mass measurements, open circuit voltage, insulation resistance, dimensional checks, and capacity cycling with discharge capacity resistance pulse testing. Eligible contractors must be small businesses capable of meeting NASA's stringent technical and procedural requirements. The performance location will be at NASA Johnson Space Center, with NASA/NSSC serving as the procuring center.