Restore-L Robot Arm Composite Tube Assemblies

This notice is modified to revise the NAICS Code to 336419, revise the introduction paragraph of this notice, include additional information in Item 5 - Instructions to Respondents, and extend the due date to August 31, 2018. Updates are noted in Bold text. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Goddard Space Flight Center(GSFC) is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SD-VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals to fabricate and test composite tube assemblies, and test coupons, for the Restore-L robotic arm. NASA is seeking information about systems previously fabricated, tested and flown, and systems currently in development for an anticipated Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses hereto. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), the information requested is for planning purposes only and is not intended to bind the Government. 1. Background: NASA's Restore-L Mission is developing a dexterous robotic arm and investigating vendors who can fabricate and test composite tube assemblies for this application. Restore-L will have two robotic arms; each arm has two composite tube assemblies. The purpose of this RFI is to survey vendor capabilities to meet the build to print assembly and test requirements, as well as provide test coupons to verify material properties are met. This request is for information and planning purposes only. Responses should focus on vendor capabilities and examples of past performance experience for both cost and schedule. Vendors should indicate where an outside vendor will be used to perform part of the fabrication or testing effort. Responses are requested to identify any unduly restrictive requirements or potential areas of non-compliance. This includes both unreasonable technical specifications and significant cost obstacles. Where there is non-compliance, please state if the requirement is considered unnecessarily stringent or if a Non Recurrent Effort (NRE) could be pursued to achieve compliance on that particular requirement (and associated cost). 2. Composite Tube Assemblies: The vendor would perform the following build-to-print fabrication activities: Composite Tubes - Fabricate a series of cylindrical tubes with 4" and 6" inner diameters. These aerospace-grade composite tubes shall be constructed using a number of cyanate ester impregnated carbon fiber sheets, vacuum compressed and cured in an autoclave. The finished length of each tube shall be approximately one meter long. Each part shall be meticulously visually inspected and inspected utilizing an approved NDE method. The allowable size and frequency of permitted visual defects shall be in accordance with Level III of ASTM D 2563. Titanium end fittings - Fabricate complex titanium parts of approximately 6-8 cubic inches, per NASA supplied production drawings. One face of each fitting will contain a cylindrical interface appropriate for insertion into a composite tube, listed above. Tube Assembly - Vendor will produce precision bonded assemblies consisting of: cylindrical carbon composite tubes, TI end fittings bonded into the cylindrical tubes using tightly control bond lines, and bonded Government-provided Aluminum harness bracketry to specified areas along the surface of the tubes. All metallic parts shall be primed prior to bonding. All parts shall be accompanied by a traveler sheet through production and final inspection. The traveler sheet shall contain check-off inspection points for each step in the manufacturing and inspection processes. 3. Testing: Vendor will be responsible for producing a comprehensive set of representative composite samples for testing. These will utilize identical materials as the composite flight tube assemblies and will be prepared per Government provided production drawings. One set of composite material properties will be derived from testing these samples. The vendor will either poses facilities and certification necessary to carry out this testing, or will contract for these testing services with an appropriately certified testing facility. Additionally, the vendor will be responsible for statically testing the Tube Assemblies. This testing shall be performed in compliance with GSFC General Environmental Verification Standard (NASA GSFC-STD-7000A). Testing will include ambient pressure and temperature tests, as well as tests conducted in a certified thermally environment, allowing static testing at various controlled temperatures, over a wide temperature range, as might be expected in a space environment. 4. Disclaimer It is NASA's intent not to publicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtained during this RFI process. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary" or "Confidential" will be kept confidential. It is emphasized that this RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal, Quotation, or Invitation for Bid. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3 titled "Solicitation for Information or Planning Purposes", and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information submitted in response to this RFI. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor the FedBizOpps site for the release of any solicitation, synopsis, or related documents. All questions shall be submitted in writing to both of the points of contact listed below. As part of its assessment of industry capabilities, the NASA-GSFC may contact respondents to this Request for Information (RFI) if clarifications or further information is needed. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the analysis of the RFI responses. 5. Instructions to Respondents: NASA appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources including, but not limited to, NASA Centers, universities, university affiliated research centers, federally funded research and development centers, private or public companies, and government research laboratories. Responses must include the following: name and address of firm, size of business; average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees; ownership; whether they are large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), Woman-owned, Veteran Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Historically Underutilized Business Zone and Historically Black Colleges and Universities)/Minority Institutions; number of years in business; affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement; and point of contact - address and phone number). Respondents are also requested to address the following programmatic items: Name of corporate point of contact, telephone number, full mailing address, and e-mail address. Corporate competencies and past performance experience with regard to the development and production of similar assemblies. Relevant flight heritage within the organization and individual component flight history is extremely relevant. Responses must have classified and proprietary information properly marked. Respondents must specify the ability to conduct functional acceptance testing of units prior to delivery. Respondents must specify their compliance with the following program requirements: Quality Assurance program compliant with AS9100 using internal practices and procedures for the development of spaceflight hardware NDE inspectors shall be trained and qualified to level 2 of MIL?STD?410, Nondestructive Testing Personnel Qualification and Certification Polymeric technicians and inspectors shall be certified to NASA-STD-8739.1 Responses must include a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate the assemblies and coupons. Please include estimates on any potential non-recurring expenses anticipated for the requirements listed. Respondents must specify a target delivery date of the hardware deliverables, from the date of any potential ARO. 6. How to Respond: All final submissions shall be submitted via e-mail to both points of contact listed below. Format: Microsoft Word (.doc) or Portable Document Format (.pdf). Please Note: This notice has been amended to extend the deadline for submission to August 31, 2018, due at 4:30 pm Eastern Time.