Space Launch System (SLS) Spacecraft Payload Integration and Evolution (SPIE) Payload Accommodation for 8.4m Cargo Vehicle

Introduction The NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA GRC) has a requirement to procure a Space Launch System (SLS) Spacecraft Payload Integration and Evolution (SPIE) 8.4m Payload Fairing (PLF) from Dynetics Inc. (Dynetics). NASA GRC intends to procure the PLF as a modification to the current Universal Stage Adapter (USA) contract, 80GRC017C0008, which was awarded to Dynetics Inc. within the Space Launch System (SLS) Spacecraft Payload Integration and Evolution (SPIE) element. Background SLS is the launch vehicle designed to send humans and hardware beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The vehicle is one element in the overall Exploration Systems Development (ESD) architecture that includes launch vehicles, spacecraft, mission systems, and ground systems needed to embark on a robust human solar system exploration program. In the current architecture, the USA functions as the fairing for payload accommodation on the Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1B Crew vehicle. On both the Crew and Cargo versions of the SLS rocket, the fairing is crucial to ensuring exploration payloads are delivered safely to their destination. Evolving the USA to a fairing for the SLS Block 1B Cargo vehicle is an integral part of the overall SLS manifest, which will be used to carry payloads in support of the Space Policy Directive-1 mandate to land the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024. Synopsis The acquisition contemplated to fulfill the Government's requirements for procuring the 8.4m Payload Fairing (PLF) is similar to the development and delivery of the Universal Stage Adapter (USA) for the SLS Block 1B vehicle. The USA is responsible for protecting large payloads launched on the SLS Block 1B Crewed rocket. The baseline configuration for the Artemis Program includes the SLS 1B Cargo vehicle with an 8.4m PLF as the payload encapsulation structure. The function and shape of the USA and PLF are derived from traditional fairings, and the primary features of the USA and PLF are either identical or directly transferrable. The scope of the Statement of Work (SOW) for the USA contract, currently held by Dynetics, includes the evolution of the USA to a PLF. NASA GRC intends to procure the above requirements on a sole-source basis from Dynetics under the authority of 10 U.S.C - 2304(c)(1) and FAR Part 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Suppliers or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements." The PLF will be a modification to the current USA contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing PLF Flight Unit-1 Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E) and Associated Data, PLF Flight Unit-1 Flight Unit Production, Acceptance, and Delivery, and Post-Delivery Vehicle Integration and Support, with options for 5 additional flight units. Dynetics and their major subcontractor, RUAG, have developed critical knowledge, capabilities, and essential infrastructure that will be required for the development of a PLF during performance of the current USA contract. The USA and PLF are composite structures of the same diameter (8.4m) that are exposed to similar environments. The USA and PLF enclose the payload at the identical location on the SLS, and many of the analyses that have been completed for the USA directly correlate to the PLF. The Dynetics workforce is currently engaged with SLS for the completion of these analyses for the USA. In addition to a dedicated analysis and design workforce, Dynetics and their major subcontractors have established production and integration facilities unique to meeting this requirement. Major subcontractor RUAG Space USA is currently producing composite panels of the same scale as the PLF at their Decatur, AL facility. Dynetics also has an existing supply chain for all Production and Ground Support equipment required to assemble and transport hardware this size. They have built an integration facility directly adjacent to the RUAG manufacturing facility for the processing of these large structures. They have suppliers, already delivering similar hardware, for assembly at their facility in Decatur, AL, transportation to various NASA centers, and support and integration at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The combination of the production of the USA and the PLF into one facility maximizes manufacturing capability and builds efficiencies in the schedule. These efficiencies are required to meet the schedule set in the Space Policy Directive-1 mandate. All of these factors: established workforce, on-line production and integration facilities tailored to meet this requirement, established relationships with key subcontractors and major tooling suppliers, understanding and maturity of analyses to meet NASA requirements, schedules, and delivered study results directly applicable to an 8.4m Payload Fairing demonstrate the advanced position that Dynetics is in to deliver a Payload Fairing. An 8.4m Payload Fairing for SLS has been extensively studied by NASA. An analysis of the most recent relevant market research, a Request for Information (RFI) released in 2017, was issued to identify potential Payload Fairing sources for an SLS Block 1B. The NASA evaluation of the RFI responses, which included 23 Subject Matter Experts from NASA GRC, Marshall Space Flight Center, Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and Langley Research Center (LaRC), was completed on 23 February 2018. The evaluation concluded that using the current USA contract for the PLF would leverage infrastructure, processes, and production synergy with USA at a significant cost savings to the Government. The RFI evaluation coupled with the new requirement stemming from the Space Policy Directive-1 mandate show that award to any source other than Dynetics would result in the duplicative effort in the establishment of the existing processes and efficiencies, the establishment of a separate dedicated workforce, dedicated infrastructure, and a new supply chain, as well as an unacceptable disruption to the launch schedule; resulting in substantial duplication of overall costs and schedule delays that would not be recovered through competition. 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 336415, "Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing, and has a size standard of 1,250 employees. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Response Instructions 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 to the Contracting Officer, Bernadette Kan, via email to Bernadette.j.kan@nasa.gov no later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) (local time) on May 15, 2020 (15 calendar days from the posted date). All responses, including capability statement, shall be provided in MS Word document format via email and include the Reference Number: 80GRC017C0008PN. Font should be Times New Roman, size 12. Among others, NASA is seeking capabilities from all categories of Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)/Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the purpose of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or Small Business and HBCU/MSI subcontracting goals for this requirement. Such capabilities and qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Based upon responses to this notice, a determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis 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 Part 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 Part 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. The information obtained will be used by NASA for planning and acquisition strategy development. NASA will use the information obtained as a result of this notice on a non-attribution basis. Providing data/information that is limited or restricted for use by NASA for that purpose would be of very little value and such restricted/limited data/information is not solicited. No information provided in the responses or questions received will be posted to any website or public access location. NASA does not plan to respond to the individual responses. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition is Michael J. Zernic, michael.j.zernic@nasa.gov .