Sole Source for composite test tanks

Added: Dec 18, 2015 3:30 pm NASA/KSC has a requirement for the design, analysis, and fabrication of the composite test tanks for the NASA KSC Tank Health Monitoring (THM) Project. These tanks will be test specimens for tests to failure filled with liquid nitrogen with the latest health monitoring instrumentation. Fourteen tanks are needed in total. Twelve cylindrical composite tanks, 6 gallons in volume, 10 inch diameter, overall length 20 inches and two 100 gallon tanks in volume, 24 inch diameter, overall length 56 inches. These tanks will be filled with cryogenic liquid nitrogen and pressurized until tank burst with NASA Health Monitoring Systems active. The tanks are to be fabricated with known flaws (arrived at with consultation with the NASA Principal Investigator (PI) and baseline configurations.)

NASA/KSC intends to purchase the items from Composite Technology Development (CTD). CTD is the only source that has the capability to manufacture composite tanks without liners for use under cryogenic temperatures. These tanks are necessary so that future Spacecraft which use liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks are practical for long term spaceflight. The 100% composite tanks will be a 50% reduction in weight over the current tanks being used, which will aid in reducing the amount of energy required to leave Earth's Orbit. CTD tank technology is required to minimize cracking and voids which develop between metals (or other materials) which have different thermal properties when used for liners vs other composite layers. CTD is the only know source for this based on their patents and propriety processes for the required all composite liner less tanks for cryogenic use.

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

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on January 4, 2015. Such capabilities/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.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

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

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.