DAVINCI Battery RFI

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE. This preliminary information is being made available for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled - Solicitation for Information and Planning Purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. This procurement is subject to review or cancellation at any time. The Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI) mission is scheduled to be launched 2029. The DAVINCI mission is split in 5 phases: 1) launch, 2) cruise, 3) coast, 4) entry, and 5) descent. Launch encompasses the integration of the flight battery model into the Descent Sphere (DS) and support of launch readiness activities including checkout of systems. Cruise will last approximately 2 years and may include 1 system checkout. During this phase there will be two flybys of Venus. Capability to support a third flyby is desired. Coast will last approximately 2 days and supports the turn-on of the DS and system checkout near Venus. Entry activities will last approximately 30 minutes with onboard systems and instruments will be turned on. Descent will last approximately 60 minutes and the entire DS will be on and encompasses the science activities of the DS. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is soliciting comments on requirements established regarding the Descent Sphere (DS) Battery. The present requirements are specified in the attached documents: Appendix I to DAVINCI Battery RFI Preliminary Task Description and Appendix II to DAVINCI Battery RFI Preliminary Task Specification. This notice is issued by the NASA GSFC to solicit input and recommendations from interested parties. The objective of this RFI is to gather information that promotes competition and increases procurement efficiency by improving NASA GSFC's knowledge of industry's capabilities. NASA GSFC invites potential offerors to submit information that may be used to determine eligibility and capability to participate in feedback sessions with the DAVINCI project. The intent of the sessions is to provide dialogue in which participants can provide feedback on NASA GSFC requirements. The compilation of submitted information may be factored along with DAVINCI requirements to refine the aforementioned appendix documents. Potential offerors are requested to submit information in the form of a Capabilities and Qualifications Statement that must include the following: 1) Capability to comply with the present requirements outlined in the preliminary task description and task specification. Requirements that are not in compliance should be noted with brief comment that either describe how a potential offeror's battery could be brought into compliance or state the potential offeror's position on such requirement. This would serve as a main topic in one-on-one feedback sessions. The feedback sessions will be conducted through email communication. All feedback sessions will be conducted within one week of initial response posting. It should also be stated as to whether certain requirements are cost drivers or increase risk and as to whether or not a fixed-price contract would be acceptable. 2) Capability to meet the hardware deliverable items and schedule, and 3) Summary of past relevant experience in developing batteries for aerospace applications. This notice constitutes all information concerning the DAVINCI Battery that will be furnished at this time. Interested parties are requested to submit their capability statements to Ms. Amy Aqueche, by email at mail to: amy.a.aqueche@nasa.gov, no later than the response date indicated herein. Documents, comments, and questions may be forwarded to Ms. Aqueche via electronic transmission. In addition, copies of all submissions and correspondence shall be submitted to Mr. Leonine Lee, at NASA GSFC, Mail Code 563, Greenbelt, MD 20771, by e-mail at Leonine.S.Lee@nasa.gov. When responding, reference the solicitation number 23DAVINCI_Battery_GJE. This RFI shall not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government may use the information to finalize an RFP if deemed necessary. All responses, comments and/or questions shall be submitted electronically via email to Amy Aqueche at Amy.a.Aqueche@nasa.gov and Leonine Lee at Leonine.S.Lee@nasa.gov no later than July 14, 2023 at 5:00pm EST. When responding reference Request for Information number 23DAVINCI_Battery_GJE. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement- Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf