Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Requirement to Purchase a Scaled Up In-House Thermal Protection System (SUIT) Processing Equipment

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; offers are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

This notice is being issued as a Request for Proposals (RFP) under solicitation number 80ARC023R0005 for a large vacuum oven (Interior: 75-86 in (width) x 75 to 85 in (depth) x 48 In (height) to support the fabrication of NASA Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials ranging from low density comformable or flexible materials to full densified composities in support of Class D missions. See ATTACHMENT 1, Statement of Work (SOW), for more details.

The provisions and clauses in the RFP are those in effect through FAC 2023-04, effective date 06/02/2023.

This acquisition is a total small business set-aside.   

The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 333994  and 500 employees, respectively.  The offeror shall state in their offer their size status for this acquisition.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

Delivery and Delivery Location:  Please see ATTACHMENT 1, Statement of Work, Section III, Pre Shipment Support.
Delivery Date: Approximately Six (6) months after award date (Estimated delivery January 5, 2024)
Estimated Completion date: March 30, 2024.
Delivery shall be free on board (FOB) Origin. 

Offers for the item described above and in the SOW are due by July 11 by 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to Wilma Estrada at Wilma.L.Estrada@nasa.gov and must include, solicitation number, proposed delivery schedule, discount/payment terms, warranty duration (if applicable), taxpayer identification number (TIN), identification of any special commercial terms, and be signed by an authorized company representative.  Offerors are encouraged to use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items form found at URL:https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/solicitationcontractorder-commercial-items.

  
The following clauses and provisions are incorporated; full text of the clauses and provisions may be accessed electronically at: 
FAR - https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far 
NFS - https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf
Offerors shall provide the information required by FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021), which is incorporated by reference.  

If the end product(s) offered is other than domestic end product(s) as defined in the clause entitled "Buy American Act -- Supplies," the offeror shall so state and shall list the country of origin.

FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021). The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The factors used to evaluate offers are included in FAR 52.212-2 in the attached RFP.  

All offerors shall include a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022) Alt I (Oct 2014), or complete electronic annual representations and certifications at SAM.gov with its offer.

FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022) is applicable.  

FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Jun 2023) is applicable and the clauses incorporated by reference are included in FAR 52.212-5 in the attached RFP.  
 
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. 

This posting, in addition to any attached documents, will be available on www.Sam.gov. Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this combination synopsis/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 Wilma Estrada at Wilma.L.Estrada@nasa.gov not later than July 5, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.  Telephone questions will not be accepted.  Questions and responses will be posted on www.sam.gov., so offerors are cautioned against including any proprietary information in a question.  

The Government is not responsible for any failure attributable to the transmission or receipt of documents submitted using electronic means, including the missing of any established deadlines.

Failure to submit a complete electronic proposal by the due date and time specified for this RFP shall result in the proposal being considered late and shall be handled in accordance with FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023).

ATTACHMENTS to this Notice:

ATTACHMENT 1 - SOW

ATTACHMENT 2 - RFP

See Amendment 0001 which posts a question and answer.