NASA, Johnson Space Center, BJ23, Houston, TX 77058

B -- SOFTGOODS MATERIAL STUDY FOR THE LUNAR INFLATIBLE SPACE HABITAT CONCEPT SOL 9-BJ23-18-6-10Q DUE 091896 POC Contract Specialist: Marie D. Kliment, (713) 483-4168 Contract Officer: Marie D. Kliment, (713) 483-4168 NASA/JSC plans to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for a softgoods design study and a softgoods materials study for the Lunar Inflatable Space Habitat Concept. Results and recommendations from this study will be used to develop a demonstration test article to be tested at the end of calendar year 1997. NASA/JSC intends to issue a Purchase Order to ILC Dover, Inc. in Frederica, Delaware, for this study. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) portion of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA). Note: This procurement is sole-source based on the fact that ILC/Dover is uniquely qualified to provide the design guidelines and expertise required for the inflatable section of the inflatable habitat due to their current flight experience with the Shuttle suit assembly and advanced EVA glove assemblies under two previous NASA contracts. In addition, ILC/Dover has built numerous inflatables for other government agencies, including a man-related hyperbaric chamber which somewhat resembles the inflatable habitat concept under the proposed procurement. In addition, ILC/Dover, under the shuttle EMU contract, has gained valuable design and fabrication experience in producing suit and glove assemblies for the shuttle flight crew. This procurement, encompassing the proposed follow-on activities, will require further development, modification, and incorporation of these unique and specific design concepts for an inflatable habitat design. ILC/Dover's prior experience with the design, development, manufacturing, and integration features of these unique softgoods concepts provides them with the specialized knowledge. This includes specific knowledge of the interface requirements and design interactions among the critical joint elements, knowledge of multi-layer insulation fabrication and attachment limitations, and knowledge of softgoods structural loads. This knowledge base is critical and essential for maintaining design and fabrication continuity in developing an inflatable habitate demonstration test article at the Johnson Space Center. Interested firms have 15 days from the publication date of this synopsis to submit in writing their qualifications/capabilities in the critical areas mentioned above. Such qualifications/ capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after the 15 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract, on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. See Numbered Note 22. See Numbered Note 26. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses must be submitted in writing to the contracting officer via E-mail at marie.d.kliment@jsc.nasa.gov or by phone at (713) (0267)

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