Mars Vacuum Annulus Cryogenic System (MarVACS)

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT

Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, the NASA Glenn Research Center intends to award a sole source Firm-Fixed Price contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Under the authority of USC 2304(c)(1) pursuant to FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), the supplies needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source.

 A determination not to compete this proposed contract is based on market research and is solely within the discretion of the government. As evidenced in the sole source justification provided by the requiring activity there is only one contractor that has the specific qualifications that meet the peculiar requirements of this contract. Any effort to promote competition for this requirement would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

NASA is currently investigating concepts to liquefy and store oxygen propellant on the surface of Mars, which is generated through an electrolysis process to separate oxygen from carbon dioxide, the primary component of the atmosphere on Mars. NASA is studying designs of a flight weight system to liquefy and store oxygen and methane on Mars. NASA studies have suggested that a lightweight vacuum shell designed for atmospheric pressure on Mars and not Earth will save several hundred kilograms on the lander ascent stage. The goal in this procurement is to further develop the Lockheed Martin design from a conceptual design into a manufacturing ready design.

As a follow on procurement to the Phase A contract the Lockheed Martin team is the only team qualified to take Phase A work and continue it through the Phase A Delta objectives. This is due to methodologies used for the design that are Lockheed Martin specialties and proprietary. Phase A Delta falling in between the Phase A and Phase B is a natural extension of the Phase A award. In order for a successful development Lockheed Martin must be the one to execute Phase A Delta.

The NAICS code is 332420 – Metal Tank (Heavy Guage) Manufacturing.

Even though the intent is for a sole source contract, all responsible sources may submit a quotation which will be considered by the agency. Quotations are not being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

Interested persons may identify their interest and capability by responding to the requirement through email submission to Noah Garrison at noah.s.garrison@nasa.gov no later than 04:00 PM EST, March 8, 2021.

If no responses are received by the above referenced date/time a sole source contract will be awarded Lockheed Martin Corporation. The award date is estimated to be no later than April 30, 2021.