BPA 80ARC023AA001 - Material Property Testing of Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) for Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Missions - Ceiling Increase

NASA/Ames Research Center (ARC) intends to increase the ceiling value of the Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) 80ARC023AA001 for the Material Property Testing of Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) for Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Missions. 

The purpose of this BPA is to conduct high accuracy material property characterization of NASA-provided thermal protection system materials ranging from low density conformable or flexible materials to fully densified composites. The testing will support the Entry Systems and Technology (TS) Division at ARC including but not limited to the following projects: the Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System Aeroshell TPS (MSR EEV TPS) project, the Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator -Domestic (PICA-D) project, the Conformal PICA (C-PICA) project, the Orion/Artemis project, and various Internal Research and Development (IRAD) projects within TS Division. This requirement includes material property characterization of NASA-provided thermal protection system materials. To ensure the continuity of test results, prior test results will be compared with results of current testing for the same or similar materials.

Testing include but are not limited to:
1) Thermal conductivity over a range of temperatures and pressures by guarded hot plate, comparative longitudinal heat flow, radial inflow;
2) Specific heat by adiabatic drop calorimetry or differential scanning calorimetry;
3) Thermal expansion;
4) Tensile strength, strain to failure and modulus;
5) Compression strength, strain to failure and modulus;
6) Shear strength;
7) Gas permeability;
8) Additional material characterization as needed for various project requirements.

NASA ARC awarded BPA 80ARC023AA001 to KRATOS SRE, Inc. located in 10680 Treena St., Ste 600, San Diego CA  92131-2440 on November 7, 2022, on a sole source basis under the authority 10USC 2304(c)(1), and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.  The BPA is for five years and firm, fixed-priced Call Orders were awarded against it. NASA ARC intends to continue the BPA 80ARC023AA001 with KRATOS SRE, Inc. on a sole source basis. This action does not extend the period of performance of the BPA.

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

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Wilma L. Estrada, Contracting Officer at Wilma.L.Estrada@nasa.gov no later than 3:30PM PDT on September 4, 2025. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a
competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at:https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf