AFFTC/PKAE Directorate of Contracting, 5 S. Wolfe Ave, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1185

A -- IDENTIFICATION OF ONGOING OR PLANNED COMMERCIAL BOOST AND UPPER STAGE ROCKET ENGINE SYSTEMS DUE 122898 POC Teresa Weber, Contract Negotiator, (805) 277-3900 ext 2273 ;or Penny (PJ) Barnhill, Contracting Officer, (805) 277-3900 ext 2235 WEB: Click here for the On-Line Acquisition Solicitation, http://AFFTC_PK.elan.af.mil/oasis/index.asp. E-MAIL: Click email link to contact the POC, Teresa.Weber@edex.edwards.af.mil. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. The Government does not intend to award a contract or any other type of agreement on the basis of this synopsis or to otherwise pay for the information solicited under this synopsis. This is NOT a request for a proposal or an invitation for bid, merely a request for information only. The Government is interested in obtaining information from industry to identify ongoing or planned commercial boost and upper stage rocket engine systems in which the Government may provide up to 50% cost sharing for cost and risk reduction toward the application of advanced turbopump technologies in a near term engine system. For each engine system identified, please provide the following information: 1) Engine cycle, 2) Propellants, 3) Thrust level, 4) Potential areas for advanced turbomachinery technology application, 5) Specific launch vehicle application, and 6) Anticipated Government customers with a time frame for Government use of the resulting rocket engine systems. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: AFRL/PR-West plans to start several rocket engine turbopump technology programs beginning in FY '00. The goal of these programs will be to apply and demonstrate advanced turbopump technologies for future boost and/or upper stage rocket engines in pursuit of Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT) Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 goals. [The Baseline IHPRPT boost and upper stage rocket engines are the RS-27, the Block II Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), and the RL-10-A3-3A. For turbopumps, Phase 2 goals are: 1) a 35% decrease in component weight, 2) a 20% decrease in component cost, and 3) a 50% increase in component reliability. Phase 3 goals are: 1) a 40% decrease in component weight, 2) a 25% decrease in component cost, and 3) a 75% increase in component reliability.] It is not expected that all IHPRPT goals will be attained in any one of these programs, but rather that key improvements can be accomplished through a phased approach. Ongoing or planned commercial boost and upper stage rocket engines may offer the Air Force an opportunity to demonstrate some performance, cost, and/or reliability improvements in near-term rocket propulsion systems while simultaneously demonstrating these same advanced technologies for future systems. A commercial rocket propulsion system may benefit by having the Air Force share risk of development of new turbopump hardware while incorporating advanced technologies. A partial list of examples of advanced turbopump technologies includes: high stage loading and high efficiency impellers and turbines, reduced-diameter high performance diffusers, low-cost manufacturing techniques, high specific strength materials, and reduced part-count turbopump designs. New, innovative, and advanced concepts and processes are encouraged. THREE copies of each response must be submitted to Richard LeClaire, AFRL/PRRE, 4 Draco Drive, Edwards AFB CA 93524-7190. Faxed or electronic responses are acceptable. Any company proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately marked. Responses shall be limited to TEN pages and are due not later than 45 days from the publication date of this notice. The information provided through the responses will be used to aid in requirements definition for future acquisitions. Should government contracts or agreements be awarded to achieve the program objectives, it is anticipated that the following solicitation methods be employed: Program Research and Development Announcements (PRDAs) and Broad Agency Announcement (BAAs). POINTS OF CONTACT: Richard LeClaire, AFRL/PR-West, Edwards AFB, CA (805) 275-5972, FAX (805) 275-6255 and James Cannon NASA/MSFC Huntsville, AL (205) 544-7072. Posted 11/04/98 (W-SN268651). (0308)

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