18--PRIMARY OXYGEN VESSEL TEST UNITS FOR THE EXTRAVEHICULAR MOBILITY UNIT

NASA/JSC has a requirement for the fabrication of 2 Primary Oxygen Vessel (POV) test units for the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AEMU). The POV is an oxygen storage vessel in the Portable Life Support Subsystem (PLSS) that is worn on the back of the Crew during Extra-Vehicular Activities (EVA) or spacewalks. These particular prototypes will be assembled into the PLSS 2.5 which is intended to serve as a design verification and test (DVT) unit for the PLSS. NASA/JSC intends to purchase the items from ARDE, Inc. The ARDE all-metal life support vessels are manufactured in cryogenically-hardened CRES 301. The cryoforming process is an ARDE-patented process, which affects a transformation of austenitic stainless steel into a dual-phase microstructure which is predominately martensite, but contains sufficient residual austenite to maintain high levels of fracture toughness and sub-critical crack growth resistance. This allows the cryogenically-hardened CRES 301 all-metal vessel to provide Leak Before Burst (LBB) capability in addition to the commonly-provided safe-life capability resident in spaceflight all-metal pressure vessels produced from alternative materials. In thin metal structures, the cryoformed material exhibits high strength (up to 240 ksi) with very high plane stress fracture toughness (260 ksi (in)^1/2) allowing this design approach to satisfy safety factor requirements while still providing weight savings. ARDE utilizes a proprietary chemistry material that is subjected to double vacuum melt in mill processing. This is controlled by ARDE specification AES 258. ARDE has produced these vessels from a large number of material heats for over 50 years and has established A-basis strength properties as well as fracture mechanics properties for the material that have been reviewed and approved by NASA for manned spaceflight use. The Government intends 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 February 12, 2016. 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/p ub_library/Omb.html .