Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT)

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has a requirement to establish, manage, and maintain a public-private partnership (PPP) additive manufacturing (AM) consortium for the Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT) project. The additional workscope requirements, which add additional scope upon current Task 2 development tasks within the RAMPT project, includes the establishment of public-private partnerships with specialty- manufacturing, industry vendors and associated cost-sharing partnerships that will focus on following tasks: a. Task 2.1 - Continuous large-scale dedicated machine development using blown powder directed energy deposition (DED) for fabrication of integral- channel thin-walled nozzle components and witness test specimens. b. Task 2.2 - Development and fabrication of a full-scale nozzle liner using blown powder directed energy deposition (DED). RAMPT will continue to develop, advance, and integrate large scale, light-weight, additive manufacturing techniques to reduce design and fabrication cycles for regeneratively- cooled liquid rocket engine components. RAMPT will reduce design, fabrication, and assembly schedules while allowing for reduced parts, increased reliability, significant weight reduction and a healthy American supply chain through these PPP with specialty manufacturing industry partners. This program and a subsequent contract with Auburn will fulfill the decision memorandum directive, dated October 3, 2017, for the - Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT) program established under NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate PPBE19 New Content and approved under GCDP- 02-PLN-18027 to execute - public-private partnership to design and manufacture component parts of the thrust chamber and meet cost-sharing requirements. This effort is a directed outcome of the NASA-Auburn University cooperative agreement. It is not appropriate for execution under the established cooperative agreement due to the specific directed scope of work required in successfully establishing a public-private partnership to conduct additive manufacturing research and development for which the Government is funding Auburn to perform. NASA, in conjunction with Auburn University, will establish and manage public-private partnerships with specialty manufacturing vendors specific to Task 2.1 and Task 2.2, which will specify large scale nozzle development with and without integral channels using the DED process. This technology is currently established as a PPP with the current contract and additional scope is being requested using these PPP's to increase scale of the nozzle hardware. These partnerships will focus on development activities using the blown powder directed energy deposition (DED) technology thrust area described above. The total estimated cost for this effort is $4,900,000. This estimate is based on previous history, including Phase I and II SBIRs, market research, and engineering technical experience. This recommendation is made pursuant to FAR Part 6.302-1, which implements the authority for 10 U.S.C. - 2304(c)(1) for acquisition of supplies or services from only one source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Auburn University was previously awarded contract 80MSFC19C0010 on March 26, 2019 under the RAMPT project and established various public-private partnerships (PPP) additive manufacturing (AM) consortium with specialty manufacturing vendors. Auburn University is currently maintaining these partnerships and in partnership with NASA and the specialty manufacturing vendors fabricating hardware and samples meeting the requirements of the RAMPT project. Auburn has since established public private partnerships with specialty manufacturing partners with capabilities to produce DED nozzles of the scale required for Task 2.1 and 2.2. Additionally, Auburn University was previously awarded cooperative agreement, 80MSFC17M0023, on September 27, 2017, entitled - Additive Manufacturing of Durable Mission-Critical Components by Establishing Process-Structure-Property-Performance Relationships. The awarded Cooperative Agreement (CA) objectives are - A Cooperative Research Program (CRP) between Auburn University (AU) and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). In order to accomplish the objectives, the PPP and CA consists elements that are specific to the continuation of the scope of work: a) Establish a public-private partnership to conduct additive manufacturing (AM) research and development. b) Develop large-scale freeform laser directed energy deposition technology for forming regen-cooled nozzle components with specialty manufacturing vendor. c) Assist in characterization of materials through development processes with vendors. The current RAMPT contract to establish the PPP and maintain specialty manufacturing partners was in the amount of $5,200,000. The cooperative agreement between NASA and AU was established in the amount of $215,299 under CA 80MSFC17M0023. It would be impractical for NASA to provide additional funding to re-establish a capability that already exists for the public-private partnerships. Under the CA, AU established a National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence and AU was recently awarded the Center of Excellence (COE) for AM from the ASTM International. Under the NASA-established CA Auburn is responsible as a consortium to establish public-private partnerships between government and industry partners to develop additive manufacturing technology and dissemination of data. AU has already established more than 40 industry and government collaborators under the COE awarded from ASTM and it would be impractical for the government to setup and establish these partnerships outside of this mechanism. The intent of the RAMPT public-private partnership that was directed by the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate in the decision memo approving the project is to take advantage of cost-sharing across government and industry investments and provide process development data and technology improvements across propulsion and propulsion-related U.S. industries. The current AU awarded efforts in additive manufacturing enables the sharing of integration of process development data and technology improvements that would not be feasible by a single entity unbiased in sharing and distributing data across government and industry partners. This is further established under Space Act Agreement SAA8-1623444 with Auburn University for - Collaborative Agreement for Synergistic Technologies active through October 21, 2021. Under the current RAMPT contract 80MSFC19C0010, Auburn has established two public-private partnerships specific to Key Technology Area #2 for blown powder directed energy deposition (DED). This continuous scope of work builds upon this development to increase scale and will continue to maintain the PPP and cost sharing required through these partnerships. Pursuant to FAR Part 5.201, this proposed contract action will be synopsized in the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO). Any responses received as a result of the public publishing on FBO will be appropriately dispositioned and documented in an addendum to this document. The anticipated cost to the Government for this requirement is considered fair and reasonable. Historical cost data based on awarded rates from 80MSFC19C0010 and 80MSFC17M0023 will be utilized in the evaluation of all proposed costs. Additionally, a comparison against similar products of comparable complexity will be performed. A certificate of certified cost or pricing data will be required prior to award. A market survey was not conducted due to the fact that under the current RAMPT contract 80MSFC19C0010, Auburn has established two public-private partnerships specific to Key Technology Area #2 for blown powder directed energy deposition (DED). This continuation of scope of work builds upon this development to increase scale and will continue to maintain the PPP and cost sharing required through these partnerships. While other contractors exist that could establish, manage, and maintain a public-private partnership additive manufacturing consortium following a lengthy learning cycle, these firms could not develop the three technology thrust areas required without unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Agency's requirements. Additionally, given the sizable investment above from AU and the NIST noted above, there would be substantial cost to the Government that would not be expected to be recovered through competition. AU has the Laboratory for Fatigue and Additive Manufacturing Excellence (FAME). AU organized the Annual Congress-Wide Symposia on Additive Manufacturing at the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's 2017 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. The university formed the National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence within AU's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, and AU made major investments in faculty, laboratories, and equipment to achieve a leadership position in additive manufacturing. These investments by AU exceeded $8,000,000 to enable research and establish the public-private partnerships involved with additive manufacturing research. AU currently has access to small businesses with additive manufacturing technology that aligns with RAMPT objectives for specialty manufacturing vendor development. The RAMPT project requires expertise across industry and these partnerships to establish the integrated key technology areas outlined above. Ultimately, this sole source contract will provide an effective mechanism to establish, manage, and maintain a PPP AM consortium for the RAMPT project. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical Engineering, and Life Sciences and has a size standard of 1,000 employees. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. All responsible sources may submit a written capability statement which shall be considered by the Agency. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort via email to Jesica.p.henderson@nasa.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. CST on January 06, 2020. Such capabilities and 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. All information received from this notice shall be used for planning purposes only. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information submitted. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This notice is subject to FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. Any responses to this notice that are subject to export controlled items should be properly marked as such. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. 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.