This is Sources Sought Special Notice #NNA17TPS-L to seek partners specifically interested in developing competitive proposals in response to NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) Internal Research and Development (IRAD) opportunities, including Ames Center Innovation Fund (CIF), Directors Discretionary Fund (DDF), and other internal calls. ARC is interested in partners that can perform research activities, and develop and demonstrate new technologies. Information is also sought on potential partners that, in addition to performing substantial research, can provide hardware necessary to implement proposed research activities or technology demonstration units. Under this Sources Sought notice, NASA is seeking technology that is innovative and unique and promises to enable revolutionary (game-changing) improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of our country's space capability. Responses to this Sources Sought notice must be submitted no later than Friday June 2, 2017 for consideration in the current opportunity. Responses to this notice may also be considered for evaluation with regard to future opportunities at ARC. Responses to this notice shall be submitted by email only to marianne.shelley@nasa.gov. Please include NNA17TPS-L in the subject line of the email. Responses shall: 1) Not exceed 15 pages total; 2) Use an Arial font text with a size not smaller than 12 point; 3) Address all requirements listed below; and 4) Provide a Point of Contact to address technical and contractual questions from NASA. Participation in this partnering opportunity is open to all categories of U.S. organizations, including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as NASA Centers and other U.S. Government Agencies. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Other Minority Universities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned small businesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are encouraged to submit responses. Responses may be submitted for the technology area described below. Woven Materials for Space Applications. Specifically, ARC is interested in manufacturing techniques that could produce high reliability 3-D woven thermo-structural components (implemented in the as woven or post-weaving resin infused state) for applications at temperatures exceeding 3000F for forebody and less severe environment for the backshell thermal protection. ARC is seeking partners that are familiar with weaving high temperature capable materials and able to weave various configurations from small articles (6") to large (up to 2m wide). Article thicknesses from 0.1 inch to greater than 2 inches may be required. Weaving features as well as weaving with different yarn may be required. Thus, responders must show extensibility of their capabilities from small to large test articles and over a range of thicknesses including thicknesses greater than 2 inches. Integrating woven components (as woven or resin infused) may require complex weaving architectures and incorporation of features such as pockets or stand offs, so experience incorporating such features in a woven construction is highly desirable. Responders should, at a minimum, address their experience with the following: List types of high temperature fibers used by company and level of experience weaving such fibers (ex. Carbon, Ceramic, organic). Provide weave thickness capabilities (at given deniers) for 3-D weave architectures of interest utilizing high temperature fibers. Provide ranges of widths of 3D woven material that are possible for a relevant range of thicknesses and fibers. List types of 3D weave architectures woven at given widths and thicknesses utilizing high temperature fibers (3D layer to layer, orthogonal). List relevant experience with integrating features into 3D weaves, such as pockets. List other experience the respondent feels is relevant to demonstrating their capability to weave complex 3D woven systems. Respondents must be able to handle ITAR content and materials. Please include the following information about your company/ organization: 1. Name and address of organization 2. POC's phone, address, website, e-mail address, and phone number. 3. Size of business 4. Number of employees 5. Average annual revenue for past 3 years 6. Ownership-whether the company is large, small, disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and/or woman-owned & whether the company is U.S. or internationally-owned. 7. Affiliate information: parent company (US or International), joint venture partners potential teaming partners (prime contractor (if potential prime), list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed & POC & phone number. 8. Answers to the relevant questions listed above, and a list of relevant partners/customers over the past 5 years highlighting work performed. 9. Type of partnership proposed Responses to this notice may also be considered for evaluation with regard to future opportunities at ARC, if responders so indicate. Similarly, organizations that submitted responses previously to other Sources Sought Special Notices may request that their response be re-evaluated for this opportunity. In that case, please email marianne.shelley@nasa.gov and indicate when the response was submitted previously and to what email address. This ARC partnering opportunity does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts or other agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for the information solicited. The proposal partner(s), if selected, will provide the necessary resources to support proposal development, at no cost to NASA, including technical requirements, conceptual designs, technical data, proposal input, project schedules, and cost estimates by the required due dates. Final proposal inputs will be due to ARC prior to the final due date as determined by ARC's proposal development team. Inability to adequately support proposal development will result in the partner being dropped from the proposal. If the proposal is subsequently selected by NASA ARC, ARC anticipates issuing contracts or other agreements to the selected partner(s) for performance of the proposed tasks. Potential partners may submit their responses to this notice by email to the POC listed at any time. However, ARC reserves the right to complete its evaluation of responses in a time frame necessary to support timely submission of the ARC proposal to a particular opportunity. Responses to this notice will serve as the basis for selection of proposal partners. Additional information may be requested to help in the selection process. ARC reserves the right to hold optional oral presentations, meetings or written email exchanges with potential proposal partners to obtain additional information or clarifications about their capability. Oral presentations will have a specified period of time to present and for questions and answers. Responses to this notice will not be returned. All responders to this notice should be aware that NASA support service contractors may have access to their responses to this notice and proposal information. All information received in response to this notice that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled and protected accordingly. NASA support service contractors are under an obligation to keep third-party proprietary information in confidence. By submitting a response to this notice, the responder is deemed to have consented to release of proprietary information to such NASA support service contractors This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Submitted responses will be maintained for possible future opportunities for 1 year after receipt. Questions regarding this notice may be directed to Marianne.Shelley@nasa.gov.
