Sunpower Robust Stirling Converter (SRSC) Support and Prototypes: Notice of Intent to Sole Source

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NASA GRC has a requirement for support in government evaluation of Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor (SRSC) prototypes and numerous other deliverables . This contract is being established to enable continued on-call support of ongoing government Verification and Validation (V&V) testing of the prototypes produced on the previous effort as well as options for a convertor inspection, additional production heater heads, and additional production and delivery of four (4) hermetic protypes. This effort consists of a Base and six (6) Options: Base: Support of Ongoing Government V&V Activity Option 1: Inspection of One (1) Flanged SRSC Option 2: Fabricate and deliver up to five (5) Heater Heads Option 3: Fabricate and Test One (1) Prototype Convertor Option 4: Fabricate and Test One (1) Prototype Convertor Option 5: Fabricate and Test One (1) Prototype Convertor Option 6: Fabricate and Test One (1) Prototype Convertor NASA GRC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire the ongoing V&V support and options for converter inspection, heater heads and additional prototypes. Sunpower Inc. is the only provider of the Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor (SRSC). The contractor is the only responsible source for fabricating and testing this technology and no other source is capable of performing this unique and specialized work. The Contractor facilities utilize specialized production tools and equipment and rely on dedicated contractor resources including unique skills and specialized equipment, and ongoing use of dedicated contractor labs and test equipment to enable production testing of this state-of-the-art free piston Stirling conversion technology. The SRSC contains numerous features that are protected by limited rights in data and special license rights data that would not be available for use by other offerors in a full and open competition. Award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling NASA's requirements. Currently, NASA has invested over $7.8 million in SRSC converter development and over $69 million in past Advanced Stirling Converter (ASC) development, the point of departure for the SRSC. Integrating another brand into the current infrastructure would cause the invalidation of relevant reliability assessments, successful performance verification, accumulated operational hours, and maturation of robustness and interfaces of the SRSC design. It would also result in an increase of risk related to material tolerances, manufacturing, and integration. To replace the current converter equipment and accumulated verification and validation data competitively is estimated to cost at least $7M to $9M. This amount is based upon the investment NASA has made in acquiring and testing SRSC units. Transitions from this standard would cause unacceptable delays to agency conversion efficiency goals and adversely impact NASA's ability to mature a technology to the levels needed for flight infusion. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Krystal A. LaMarca, Contracting Officer at contact@example.gov no later than Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 4:00 pm EST. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. 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