FalconSAT-8 Reaction Wheels

Added: Jul 05, 2016 3:38 pm

Notice of Intent to Sole Source
FA7000-16-T-0104
FalconSAT-8 Reaction Wheels

The 10th Contracting Squadron, Directorate of Contracting, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Colorado intends to award a firm-fixed price contract on a Sole Source basis to Blue Canyon Technologies for the products: (4) RW1 Reaction Wheels and (10) Motors. The procurement strategy for this acquisition of a sole source commercial item is the use of the procedures found in FAR Parts 12 & 13.

These spacecraft parts are required by US Air Force Academy Space System Research Center (SSRC) for the FalconSAT-8 Satellite project. These reaction wheels are being purchased for flight simulation testing to be conducted in the lab that simulate the exact movement and capability being conducted in space. The reaction wheels must match the exact specifications of the reaction wheels already purchased from Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT), 2425 55th St, Suite #200, BLDG A, Boulder, Colorado 80301.
 
USAFA and AFRL are partnered for this capstone project. Under the Engineering Research and Consulting, Inc. contract FA9300-15-C-0004, AFRL selected and purchased the wheels (6) required for the start of the project one year ago. AFRL determined that the reaction wheels from Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) are the only reaction wheels on the market that delivery the required performance with the allowable mass, volume and power requirements for the spacecraft design. The BCT wheels also meet the extremely important reliability requirements for a spacecraft.
At this time, four more wheels are required bringing the total wheels used by the capstone team to ten. Originally, USAFA and AFRL planned to fly three wheels and to maintain three wheels in the laboratory to mirror/simulate the actions of the wheels in space. The requirement is now to fly 4 wheels and to maintain 4 wheels in the laboratory. Additionally, two wheels will be purchased for attitude experimentation. The additional four wheels must be the same make, so that they behave in the same way for the experiments. Even the slightest variation from wheel to wheel will cause measurement errors and limit the capstone team's ability to achieve the basic scientific research objectives. Therefore, the acquisition strategy for the purchase of four additional reaction wheels will be a sole source acquisition.

The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 336414 and the size standard is 1,250 employees. Blue Canyon Technology is considered to be a small business concern.

CLIN 0001:
Small, Low Friction Reaction Wheels (4 Each):

• Momentum storage of 1.5 Nms (Newton-meter-
seconds)
• Max Torque: 0.04 Nm (Newton-meters)
• Mass: 1.6kg
• Volume: 15x15x6.5 cm
• Peak Power: 48W
• Power at 1/2 Momentum: <3.0 Watts
• Power at Full Momentum: <7.0 Watts
• Design Life: >10 years

CLIN 0002:
RW1 Motors (10 Each)

This synopsis is for notification purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. Please DO NOT submit a proposal/quote at this time.

Any offerors believing they can provide BCT's Reaction Wheels or Motors requirements described above may provide evidence for consideration. Evidence must support the offeror's claim they can provide this service. All qualified sources may submit a response, which if received timely, will be considered by this agency. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a competitive procurement can be conducted. A determination not to compete this proposed procurement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Responses must be received NLT 1:00 PM MST on 07 July 2016.

The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this announcement. Contractors must have a current registration in the System for Award Management at www.sam.gov.

Questions should be addressed to the Primary POC: Susan Hashemi, Contracting Officer, (719) 333-8059 or susan.hashemi@us.af.mil. Alternate POC is Olivia Gorman, Contracting Officer, (719)333-3587 or olivia.gorman@us.af.mil.

5352.201-9101 OMBUDSMAN (APR 2010)

(a) An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the party to another official who can resolve the concern.

(b) Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions).

(c) If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, concerned parties may contact the USAF Academy Ombudsmen,

James Anderson
8110 Industrial Drive, Ste 103
USAFA, CO 80840
Telephone number 719-333-2074
FAX 719-333-9103
Email: james.anderson.72@usafa.af.mil

Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the MAJCOM/DRU or ARISRA level, may be brought by the concerned party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (703) 588-7004, facsimile number (703) 588-1067.

(d) The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency.

(e) Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer.