In-situ mapping of defects and microstructure from weld pool thermal monitoring in wire arc additive manufacturing.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center (NASA/NSSC) has issued a Special Notice for a sole source contract with Carnegie Mellon University focused on in-situ mapping of defects and microstructure from weld pool thermal monitoring in wire arc additive manufacturing. The notice is being published under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), with NASA determining that Carnegie Mellon University is the sole provider of these specialized services. The contract will be performed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), with NSSC serving as the procuring center. The opportunity is categorized under NAICS code 611310 for Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools. The procurement is intended to support advanced additive manufacturing research and development for spaceflight systems.

Interested organizations are invited to submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing by 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on March 07, 2025, to potentially demonstrate alternative providers for this work. The submissions will be evaluated to determine if the procurement should be conducted on a competitive basis, though the final determination remains solely at the government's discretion. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to the notice. The project involves establishing melt pool thermal imaging for wire arc additive manufacturing using off-the-shelf cameras, with a specific focus on Alloy 718 and its applications in space technologies. The research aims to develop techniques for monitoring and analyzing solidification conditions and potential defects in additive manufacturing processes. Contractors should note that the work is intended to support NASA Technical Standard NASA-STD-6030 and includes collaborative elements with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center intern program.