Flight-Like Advanced Materials Reactor (FLAMR) Units

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has identified a requirement for the continued development and acquisition of Flight-Like Advanced Materials Reactor (FLAMR) units to support the hydrogen recovery process via Carbon Vapor Deposition (CVD). This effort advances the system to the Critical Design Phase. The reactor under development through this contract is a low-mass, flight-representative unit engineered to withstand the elevated temperatures inherent to the CVD process. It will be specifically designed and dimensioned for seamless integration into the Methane Pyrolysis Brassboard skid. These enhanced, heat-resistant reactors are intended to address key technical challenges and fulfill the objectives outlined in NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH14ZOA001N-14GCD-C2-Phase II. This additional, in-scope work will extend the maturation of the FLAMR CVD system, reduce schedule risk, and strengthen the overall system architecture—ensuring alignment with NASA’s strategic goals for advanced materials and in-situ resource utilization technologies.

NASA/MSFC intends to issue a within scope modification to contract 80MSFC21CA010 to acquire these services from Honeywell under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”  Pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, the Hydrogen Recovery by CVD is a new proprietary technology developed by Honeywell and funded by a NASA contract for a Brassboard version of the system.  Specific next generation technology for oxygen recovery for future human exploration missions is proprietary to Honeywell. This technology is of high value to NASA’s human exploration missions to accomplish the goal of advancing the state-of -the art atmospheric revitalization system technologies required for success.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.  

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to cornelius.d.edison@nasa.gov and to cynthia.a.hubbard@nasa.gov not later than 3:00pm CST on August 22, 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 competition 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