Ceramic Oxygen Generator (COG) Prototype Development

Ceramic Oxygen Generator (COG) Prototype Development

Crew and Thermal Systems Division - Mail Code EC

August 18, 2025

1.0         Project Background

This statement of work (SOW) defines the scope of activities necessary to design, build, and test an oxygen generator system that used ceramic ion transport membrane technology.  The preceding contract was established to develop the technology necessary to demonstrate the ability to recharge space suit oxygen tanks on the International Space Station – as a technology demonstration activity.  The preceding contract was a technology development contract where there were no requirements for flight hardware safety, configuration management, materials controls, process controls, quality assurance, or reliability.  The objective was to design, build, and test an oxygen generation system developed as a technology demonstrator.  When the oxygen generator prototype was built, tested, and shown to work, a new contract would be established, with appropriate requirements for a flight system. 

The preceding contract produced oxygen generation requirements related to oxygen purity (>99.99%), delivery pressure (>100 psig), production rate (> 4 slpm per cell stack), and power consumption (< 125 Watts per slpm) have been met.  The intent of this SOW is to continue the work, and continue a set of discrete tasks, until there is a technology demonstrator prototype that meets all of the pre-flight criteria. 

2.0         Scope

NASA applications for an oxygen generator include: 1) space suit oxygen tank recharge, 2) in-flight recharge of high pressure contingency oxygen tanks, 3) purification and pressurization of oxygen collected as part of an In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) process.  Each of these applications have unique requirements; so specific technical requirements (e.g. process temperature, delivery rate, system interfaces, product purity) will be specified in the SOW of the task order.

Technical work performed in service of this contract will be restricted to tasks related to developing technology demonstrator oxygen generator systems.  These systems will use ceramic ion transport membranes as the basis of oxygen separation / oxygen generation. 

Technical work related to flight hardware development, developing flight hardware data products such as Interface Control Documents or Verification and Validation Test plans are excluded from this contract.  The contract is focused on technology development. 

3.0         Delivery Order Structure: 

This contract will have a delivery order structure.  Work will be specified, bid, reviewed, approved, executed, and evaluated on a task order basis.  The elements of each task are described in the following sections. 

3.1         Statement of Work           

• NASA will initiate each task by drafting a statement of work.  The contracting officer will issue the SOW to the contractor.
• Each Statement of Work will have a unique title and tracking number (e.g. “Task A”)
• Each Statement of Work will describe the rationale and technical intent of the task.
• Each Statement of Work will describe technical requirements, as appropriate for the task.
• Each Statement of Work will describe the task deliverables.  For some tasks, the only deliverables will be a written report.  For some tasks, hardware deliverables will be specified. 
• Each Statement of Work will specify delivery dates. 

3.2         Proposal / Quote for work defined in SOW

• The contractor will respond to the SOW by preparing a written proposal and delivering the proposal to the NASA contracting officer (or delegate). 
• The proposal / quote shall be delivered within 30 days of receipt of SOW.
• The proposal / quote shall include a technical assessment of the tasks described, and outline the plan of work to meet the SOW deliverable requirements. 
• The proposal / quote shall include a written statement of cost.  This written statement of cost shall include a breakdown of direct and indirect elements of cost, and rationale explaining each element of cost.
• The proposal / quote will affirm and describe deliverables.
• The proposal / quote will affirm and describe delivery schedule.

3.3         Independent Government Assessment of Cost

• Upon receipt of the proposal / quote, NASA will conduct an independent assessment of cost.
• The independent assessment of cost will use historical costs of similar work.
• The independent assessment of cost will assess the technical uncertainty and technical difficulty of a task. 
• If there is a question or concern about the costs cited in the proposal / quote, those concerns will be communicated to the contracting officer and the contracting officer will forward those questions and concerns to the contractor.
• If the independent government assessment concurs that the price listed in the proposal / quote, a written document will be prepared, signed, and sent to the contracting officer. 

3.4 Task monitoring and reporting of progress

• There are no mandatory task monitoring or progress reporting requirements for this contract. 
• If there are specific requirements for reporting progress before final delivery of the specified deliverables, those intermediate reporting requirements will be specified in the task statement of work. 

3.5 Data Reporting

• In accordance of Johnson Space Center Environmental compliance reporting policy, the contractor shall submit a written report, on an annual basis, of Sustainable Acquisitions.
• All other data reporting requirements shall be specified in the task statement of work. 

3.6 Delivery of Hardware Items to NASA

• The delivery location of hardware items shall be specified in the task statement of work. 
• Due to the nature of the task order structure, and the incremental progress of specific tasks leading to a complete and fully integrated technology demonstration prototype, many of the individual hardware delivery items will be stored at the contractor’s facilities until the contract is completed and closed out.