RFI Pressure Vessels for Facilities in Support of Rocket Propulsion Testing

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON PRESSURE VESSELS FOR FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF ROCKET PROPULSION TESTING AT STENNIS SPACE CENTER MISSISSIPPI

SYNOPSIS
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking current market information from pressure vessel manufacturers on large volume, thick shell pressure vessels for hydrogen and inert gas service. The information requested is related to design, materials of construction, and the time required for construction and transport of nine (9) identical vessels meeting the general requirements and special operating conditions described herein.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Pressure vessels shall be horizontal on saddle supports with cylindrical single layer shells. The maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) shall be no less than 6000 psig. The volume of each vessel shall be no less than 1500 cubic feet. A minimum of nine (9) vessels are required to provide a total volume of no less than 13500 cubic feet. Code of construction shall be the ASME Section VIII, Division 2 and each vessel shall be code stamped. Installation will be in the Mississippi Gulf Coast region at Stennis Space Center.
Initial fluid service will be with hydrogen and with special operating conditions. After the initial service period, the vessels will be placed into nitrogen, helium, or missile grade air service.

SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR HYDROGEN SERVICE
Initial service for the vessels will be with hydrogen in a process that requires partial depressurization (blowdown) over a relatively short time interval. The nominal conditions under which the vessels undergo depressurization are:
• Nominal Ambient and Hydrogen Temperature: 68 °F
• Initial Pressure: 4500 psig
• Depressurization Time: 7 minutes
• Calculated Final Coincident Pressure and Temperature (cold gas): 1665 psig, -56 °F
The final cold gas pressure and temperature are calculated assuming isentropic expansion of para-hydrogen with no heat gain from the surroundings. The final temperature is calculated for the gas only and is not intended to be taken as the final temperature of the vessel shell. Not more than twenty (20) depressurization events are planned for the duration of service with hydrogen. The time interval between depressurization events will vary from several days to several months.

NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR INERT GAS SERVICE
After initial service with hydrogen, the vessels will be re-purposed for inert gas storage. Gases shall include nitrogen, helium, and missile grade air. The normal operating pressure range may be 5,400 psig to 1,500 psig at ambient temperature conditions. Short duration depressurization events are not expected during normal operation.

REQUESTED INFORMATION
The following information is requested from interested vessel manufacturers:
1. General description of manufacturer's vessel design that would meet the requirements described herein.
2. Is there an existing design the meets the requirement?
3. Material of construction and required shell and head thickness.
4. How the special operating conditions (depressurization events) in hydrogen service affect determination of the minimum design metal temperature (MDMT) and impact testing requirements for shell and head materials.
5. Time required to construct and deliver nine (9) vessels.
6. Preferred methods of shipment to Stennis Space Center MS.
7. History of similar vessels produced.
8. Any recommended alternatives that meet the overall pressure and volume requirements

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This synopsis should not be construed as a formal request for proposals, but rather a Request For Information (RFI) requesting information under the authority of FAR 15.201. Responses to this request for information are not offers and cannot be accepted by NASA to form a binding contract. This synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to make a purchase, nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. The information gathered from this RFI will be used for market research analysis and to plan future procurements.

NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps). It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor this site for the release of any follow-on solicitation or synopsis. Since this is only a request for information, no evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents.

DEADLINE for responses is close of business November 17, 2017.

Any questions or other feedback shall be submitted in writing via e-mail to the POC listed below. Faxed correspondence and telephone correspondence will not be accepted.
Point of Contact: Rachel Clayton, Contract Specialist, E-mail rachel.clayton@nasa.gov.