Robust Separator and Plastic Current Collectors in 21700 Li-Ion Cells

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center (NASA/NSSC) has issued a Special Notice for a sole source contract opportunity involving Robust Separator and Plastic Current Collectors in 21700 Li-Ion Cells. The notice indicates NASA's intent to award a contract to Edward Buiel Consulting LLC, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) after determining they are the sole provider of these specialized components. The procurement will be managed by NASA/NSSC, with performance occurring at NASA Johnson Space Center, and falls under the NAICS Code 335910 for Battery Manufacturing. The notice is specifically focused on a research project aimed at improving the safety of lithium-ion cylindrical cells through innovative design modifications.

Contractors interested in this opportunity must submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing to Cara Craft (Cara.s.craft@nasa.gov) no later than 1 p.m. Central Standard Time on May 27, 2025. The government will evaluate submissions solely to determine whether to conduct the procurement on a competitive basis, with the final decision at their discretion. The project objective is to develop cell designs that can tolerate internal short circuits caused by nail penetration, focusing on eliminating fragile winding processes for ceramic separators and testing different polymer layers for current collectors. Coulometrics will produce 3-5 cell groups per iteration, with up to 10 groups total, and conduct nail penetration tests at 100% state of charge. NASA will provide additional analytical support including calorimetry, high-speed radiography, and tomography analysis. Deliverables will include weekly progress meetings, cell build plans, formation data, and specific cell quantities, with all cells to be delivered to NASA-JSC within 4 months of the contract start date.