Exploration Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) Sub-Assembly

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) has a requirement to acquire the Exploration Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) Sub-Assembly. The LCVG Sub-assembly will interface with the Exploration Primary Life Support System. This acquisition supports the xEMU Project during Qualification and Flight of the xEMU for Demonstration and Lunar 2024 Suits.

NASA JSC intends to purchase this item from Gibson & Barnes (G&B). G&B is the only company currently capable of delivering the LCVGs for xEMU qualification without significant impacts to the mission schedule and duplication of costs. G&B already has a preliminary design under an existing contract and has completed significant non-recurring engineering costs on the design, patterning, tubing layout, and manufacturing of the xEMU LCVG. A high-fidelity prototype is currently undergoing fabrication. The xEMU project requires an LCVG for the program to be successful and the xEMU would be unable to fly without the LCVG, as it is considered a critical part of the space suit assembly. Delivery of units for qualification testing is required no later than March 2021. In addition to the hardware described, data deliverables on the contract must include all drawings, patterns, models, and work instructions required to fabricate the LCVG and any associated tooling.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday, April 17, 2020. 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/pub_library/Omb.html.