Mars Ascent Vehicle Service Valve

7/1/2021

Question 1:  Could you please tell me if this is a new requirement, or if there is a current or previous contractor who has performed similar services? If available, can you please send along the incumbent contract or task order number?

 Answer to Q1:  The MAV Service Valve is a new requirement.

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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) plans to issue a Request for Proposal for a Service Valve for the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). The MAV uses hydrazine propellant and gaseous nitrogen pressurant in the propulsion system. The Service Valve must meet the performance requirements and allow filling and draining of these media on the MAV.  The Service Valve shall be space-qualified and shall be capable of meeting all the performance requirements after a minimum period of ten (10) years post-delivery. The Service Valve will be required to tolerate environments of launch, 2.5 years of deep space cruise, Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL), and a storage period of approximately one (1) year on the Martian surface.  This new requirement involves the design, development, manufacturing, testing, qualification, and delivery of multiple Service Valves. More specifically, a total number of three Service Valves are needed for each unit (EM, Flight Test(s), Flight units, and spares) which is comprised of three (3) EM units, six (6) flight test units, two (2) flight test unit spares, one (1) qual unit, three (3) flight units, and two (2) flight spares (17 total). The Service Valve will be used for fuel loading operations.  The anticipated period of performance is a total of 32 months.

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

The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 336415 and 1,250 respectively.

The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about July 12, 2021 with an anticipated offer due date of on or about August 26, 2021.

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

If a solicitation is released, then it and any additional documents will be available on www.sam.gov.

It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any).  Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). 

Prospective offerors are encouraged to notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. All contractual and technical questions must be submitted electronically via email to Cynthia Hubbard (cynthia.a.hubbard@nasa.gov) and Belinda Triplett (belinda.f.triplett@nasa.gov) not later than July 09, 2021. Telephone questions will not be accepted.