Chemical Vapor Deposition of Government provided substrates

NASA/GRC has a requirement for Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) of multilayer coatings within cooling channels in the Government provided cooling channels of 12" and 18" long hexagonal rods with 19 cooling channels to: (a) optimize the processing parameters for depositing these multilayered coating architectures and thicknesses by chemical vapor deposition (CVD); (b) establish best practices and methodologies; and (c) deliver specimens for microstructural analyses, thermal cycling and other tests, and proof-of-concept demonstration. NASA/GRC intends to purchase the services from Ultramet. This recommendation is made pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), for the acquisition of supplies or services determined to be reasonably available from only one source. Only Ultramet has the expertise and facilities in CVD technology to ensure successful deposit of the multi-layered coatings on NASA-provided Graphite (Gr) substrates of different geometries. Ultramet is currently working on developing methodologies and processing parameters for coating disks as well as coating hexagonal rods with 19-hole channels, 0.75" flat-to-flat and 6" long. Thus, it is essential that the contract for fabricating the new batch of test specimens be issued to Ultramet Corp. so as to ensure that the processing parameters and coating methodologies are identical to those used in the first batch being fabricated under our current contract (80GRC017P0012). They have performed tasks that are fairly complex and require considerable expertise in CVD coating of Gr substrates since there is a steep learning process to develop processing parameters and methodologies. Only Ultramet Corp. can ensure that theses processing parameters and coating methodologies are identical to those used in the first batch being fabricated under our current contract. Award to any other company would result in substantial duplication of cost and unacceptable schedule delays to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. 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 September 7, 2018. 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