NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

A -- GRAVITATIONAL MODELING ANALYSIS STUDY SOL 8-1-8-PP-B8374 DUE 032098 POC Glynda H. Meeks, Contract Specialist, Phone (205) 544-0422, Fax (205) 544-9080, Email glynda.meeks@msfc.nasa.gov -- Valerie N. Holmes, Contracting Officer, Phone (205)544-0314, Fax (205)544-4400, Email valerie.holmes@msfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/MSFC/date.html#8-1-8-PP-B8374. E-MAIL: Glynda H. Meeks, glynda.meeks@msfc.nasa.gov. NASA/MSFC plans to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for a study, "Gravitational Modeling Analysis." Gravitational theoretical analysis efforts led by NASA offer the potential to greatly enhance our fundamental understanding of gravity and may provide the basis for future breakthroughs in the transportation technology vital to NASA flight programs and missions. Even incremental advances in the field offer opportunities for immensely beneficial returns. Tasks: 1. Building on education, experience, and a close working relationship with other members of the Satellite Energy Exchange (SEE) working group, the contractor shall provide expertise and support in the area of gravitational theoretical analysis, to include an assessment of the current state of the art. 2. Building on the SEE working group findings to date, the contractor shall address the potential for breakthrough physics in the area of gravitational research and its application to space transportation. 3. The contractor shall examine componentlevel technologies such as those proposed for in the Satellite Energy Exchange Experiment, to include distance measuring and remote temperature sensing and evaluate their applicability to Project SEE and other NASA areas such as the Next Generation Space Telescope. 4. The contractor shall conduct a theoretical analysis for constructing a nanogravity laboratory on orbit. Specifically, the Contractor shall provide a conceptual configuration which shows the gravitational balancing used including accommodation for thermal variations. 5. The contractor shall develop conceptual experiments enabled by the nanogravity environment provided by the laboratory and to be performed therein. 6. The contractor shall identify those basic physical processes and universal constants which may be explored through the utilization of an orbiting, nanogravity facility. This is the next step beyond microgravity experimentation. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the research from the University of Alabama in Huntsville under the University Research BOA Program. This sole source procurement is based on the university's domain expertise in the area of orbiting gravitational nano-g laboratory system technology. Interested universities have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities. 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 to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive 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. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". (0065)

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