Orion Production and Operations Contract

NASA/JSC has a requirement for the low-rate initial production and operations of the Orion spacecraft, which was developed under the current Orion contract, NNJ06TA25C by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC).

The Orion spacecraft will serve as the NASA exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to Beyond Earth Orbit, provide emergency launch abort capability, sustain and support the crew during in-space operations, and provide safe re-entry, descent, and landing from deep space return velocities. The Orion spacecraft is an element of the overall Exploration Systems Development (ESD) architecture that includes launch vehicles, spacecraft, mission systems and ground systems, as well as future in-space and surface systems, needed to embark on a robust human solar system exploration program.

The acquisition contemplated to fulfill the Government's requirements for low-rate initial production is the Orion Production and Operations Contract (OPOC). The OPOC will support the ESD architecture through the production and operations of the Orion spacecraft for Exploration Missions (EMs) potentially through 2029, including sustaining engineering, ground and flight operations support, and the development of mission kits which will represent new capabilities and functions required in addition to the base vehicle design to enable the Orion spacecraft to meet mission-specific requirements for each EM as they are further defined by NASA during the period of performance. Some of these mission kits will have a notable impact on the base vehicle design as integration of the upgraded capabilities will affect the design of the overall base vehicle, as opposed to a modular addition to the existing design.

OPOC is anticipated to require the low-rate initial production of the Orion spacecraft to support the Agency's exploration launch date requirement of EM-3 no later than August 2023, but as early as August 2022, and a subsequent launch rate currently estimated at one launch per year through 2029. Given currently available performance data on the Orion DDT & E contract, the lead-time for the production of an Orion spacecraft is approximately 4 years. Low-rate initial production for Orion is considered to represent the production and operations efforts for approximately the first 7 to 12 missions following completion of the Orion spacecraft design on the current Orion Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT & E) contract, NNJ06TA25C. This is based on the estimated 4 year production lead-time along with the currently planned launch rate of one launch per year, which would align with the completion of approximately 7 missions within a period of performance of approximately September 2018 through December 2029. However, it is anticipated that the OPOC will allow the Government to procure Orion spacecraft for up to 12 missions in order to accommodate any potential acceleration in launch rate that may occur during the OPOC period of performance. Production and operations of the spacecraft for these first 7 to 12 missions are anticipated to demonstrate a core set of spacecraft performance capabilities, stabilize the production process, incorporate mission-unique capabilities, and demonstrate refurbishment and reusability of spacecraft components.

This approximate 4 year lead-time and planned annual launch rate will result in an overlap of approximately 3 years between the period of performance of the current Orion DDT & E contract with LMSSC, finishing EM-2 in August 2021, and the OPOC performing initial production and operations for an EM-3 launch in August 2023, but potentially as early as August 2022. This would also lead to a subsequent overlap of approximately 3 years between the launch of each EM and the start of production to support each successive EM, resulting in at least 3 spacecraft being in the production flow at any given time throughout the majority of the OPOC period of performance.

NASA/JSC intends to procure the above requirements on a sole-source basis from LMSSC under the authority of 10 U.S.C 2304 (c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Suppliers or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements." LMSSC is the incumbent contractor under the current Orion contract, and is responsible for the DDT & E and production of the highly specialized Orion spacecraft system to meet the mission requirements through EM-2. LMSSC has developed unique and critical knowledge, capabilities, and essential infrastructure during performance of the DDT & E of the Orion spacecraft design which uniquely qualifies them to support the transition from DDT & E to low-rate initial production of the Orion spacecraft under the OPOC. LMSSC's unique qualifications also include its ownership of Orion unique facilities and capital equipment, integrated corporate processes for material handling, manufacturing, and production processes that support Orion spacecraft production, as well as exclusive familiarity and experience with the design, development, and testing of the Orion spacecraft. These qualifications, developed under the current DDT & E contract, uniquely position LMSSC to support an effective, timely, and safe transition from DDT & E to low-rate initial production without the substantial duplication of cost and schedule delay that would result from beginning the OPOC work with a new contractor. In addition, given the anticipated overlap in production processes throughout low-rate initial production, LMSSC is uniquely qualified as the incumbent DDT & E contractor to ensure knowledge gained in performance of the OPOC, including the stabilization of the production process, incorporation of mission kits, and demonstration of refurbishment and reusability of spacecraft components, is continuously and effectively transferred across the low-rate initial production of spacecraft in order to avoid the introduction of undue risk to crew safety and mission schedules. This will progressively reduce the risk associated with performance and support a future contract for full-rate production and operations.

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

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541712, "Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences." The exception for "Guided Missiles and Space Vehicles, Their Propulsion Units and Propulsion Parts" is utilized under this NAICS code and has a size standard of 1,250 employees.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals.

All responsible sources may submit a written capability statement which shall be considered by the Agency. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort via email to the christina.a.hibbs@nasa.gov not later than 4:00 p.m. CDT on July 13, 2017. Such capabilities and qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

All information received from this notice shall be used for planning purposes only. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information submitted. As stipulated in FAR 15.201, Exchanges with Industry Before Receipt of Proposals, paragraph (e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This notice is subject to FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. Any responses to this notice that are subject to export controlled items should be properly marked as such.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

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.

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Added: Jun 28, 2017 3:00 pm NASA/JSC has a requirement for the low-rate initial production and operations of the Orion spacecraft, which was developed under the current Orion contract, NNJ06TA25C by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC).

The Orion spacecraft will serve as the NASA exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to Beyond Earth Orbit, provide emergency launch abort capability, sustain and support the crew during in-space operations, and provide safe re-entry, descent, and landing from deep space return velocities. The Orion spacecraft is an element of the overall Exploration Systems Development (ESD) architecture that includes launch vehicles, spacecraft, mission systems and ground systems, as well as future in-space and surface systems, needed to embark on a robust human solar system exploration program.

The acquisition contemplated to fulfill the Government's requirements for low-rate initial production is the Orion Production and Operations Contract (OPOC). The OPOC will support the ESD architecture through the production and operations of the Orion spacecraft for Exploration Missions (EMs) potentially through 2029, including sustaining engineering, ground and flight operations support, and the development of mission kits which will represent new capabilities and functions required in addition to the base vehicle design to enable the Orion spacecraft to meet mission-specific requirements for each EM as they are further defined by NASA during the period of performance. Some of these mission kits will have a notable impact on the base vehicle design as integration of the upgraded capabilities will affect the design of the overall base vehicle, as opposed to a modular addition to the existing design.

OPOC is anticipated to require the low-rate initial production of the Orion spacecraft to support the Agency's exploration launch date requirement of EM-3 no later than August 2023, but as early as August 2022, and a subsequent launch rate currently estimated at one launch per year through 2029. Given currently available performance data on the Orion DDT&E contract, the lead-time for the production of an Orion spacecraft is approximately 4 years. Low-rate initial production for Orion is considered to represent the production and operations efforts for approximately the first 7 to 12 missions following completion of the Orion spacecraft design on the current Orion Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E) contract, NNJ06TA25C. This is based on the estimated 4 year production lead-time along with the currently planned launch rate of one launch per year, which would align with the completion of approximately 7 missions within a period of performance of approximately September 2018 through December 2029. However, it is anticipated that the OPOC will allow the Government to procure Orion spacecraft for up to 12 missions in order to accommodate any potential acceleration in launch rate that may occur during the OPOC period of performance. Production and operations of the spacecraft for these first 7 to 12 missions are anticipated to demonstrate a core set of spacecraft performance capabilities, stabilize the production process, incorporate mission-unique capabilities, and demonstrate refurbishment and reusability of spacecraft components.

This approximate 4 year lead-time and planned annual launch rate will result in an overlap of approximately 3 years between the period of performance of the current Orion DDT&E contract with LMSSC, finishing EM-2 in August 2021, and the OPOC performing initial production and operations for an EM-3 launch in August 2023, but potentially as early as August 2022. This would also lead to a subsequent overlap of approximately 3 years between the launch of each EM and the start of production to support each successive EM, resulting in at least 3 spacecraft being in the production flow at any given time throughout the majority of the OPOC period of performance.

NASA/JSC intends to procure the above requirements on a sole-source basis from LMSSC under the authority of 10 U.S.C 2304 (c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Suppliers or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements." LMSSC is the incumbent contractor under the current Orion contract, and is responsible for the DDT&E and production of the highly specialized Orion spacecraft system to meet the mission requirements through EM-2. LMSSC has developed unique and critical knowledge, capabilities, and essential infrastructure during performance of the DDT&E of the Orion spacecraft design which uniquely qualifies them to support the transition from DDT&E to low-rate initial production of the Orion spacecraft under the OPOC. LMSSC's unique qualifications also include its ownership of Orion unique facilities and capital equipment, integrated corporate processes for material handling, manufacturing, and production processes that support Orion spacecraft production, as well as exclusive familiarity and experience with the design, development, and testing of the Orion spacecraft. These qualifications, developed under the current DDT&E contract, uniquely position LMSSC to support an effective, timely, and safe transition from DDT&E to low-rate initial production without the substantial duplication of cost and schedule delay that would result from beginning the OPOC work with a new contractor. In addition, given the anticipated overlap in production processes throughout low-rate initial production, LMSSC is uniquely qualified as the incumbent DDT&E contractor to ensure knowledge gained in performance of the OPOC, including the stabilization of the production process, incorporation of mission kits, and demonstration of refurbishment and reusability of spacecraft components, is continuously and effectively transferred across the low-rate initial production of spacecraft in order to avoid the introduction of undue risk to crew safety and mission schedules. This will progressively reduce the risk associated with performance and support a future contract for full-rate production and operations.

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

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541712, "Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences." The exception for "Guided Missiles and Space Vehicles, Their Propulsion Units and Propulsion Parts" is utilized under this NAICS code and has a size standard of 1,250 employees.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals.

All responsible sources may submit a written capability statement which shall be considered by the Agency. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort via email to the christina.a.hibbs@nasa.gov not later than 4:00 p.m. CDT on July 13, 2017. Such capabilities and qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

All information received from this notice shall be used for planning purposes only. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information submitted. As stipulated in FAR 15.201, Exchanges with Industry Before Receipt of Proposals, paragraph (e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This notice is subject to FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. Any responses to this notice that are subject to export controlled items should be properly marked as such.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

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.