Thermal Protection System (TPS) Production for Mars Sample Return (MSR)

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for Thermal Protection System (TPS) Production for Mars Sample Return (MSR). This potential procurement is to pursue highly reliable sample return missions that require an Earth Entry Vehicle (EEV) that will use robotic systems and a Mars ascent rocket to collect and send samples of Martian rocks, soils, and atmosphere to Earth for detailed chemical and physical analysis. The EEV will use robust thermal protection system materials with substantial ground and flight test heritage in order to preserve the integrity of the returned samples. PROPOSED WORK: The Contractor shall provide research and development in the following four potential TPS products in support of the MSR EEV mission: 1. Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) infusion/processing and part machining of various flat and curved composite panels, tooling, and fittings. These articles will provide the necessary TPS for the backshell of the MSR EEV. 2. Single-piece, 1.3 [TBR] meter diameter PICA forebody heat shields for the forebody of the EEV. 3. Infusion and machining of Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) preforms for a tiled forebody heat shield. 4. Infusion and machining of single-piece, 1.3 [TBR] meter diameter HEEET heat shield preforms for the forebody of the EEV. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ARC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small 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 for Thermal Protection System (TPS) Production for Mars Sample Return (MSR). The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on beta.SAM.gov. Interested firms are responsible for monitoring these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Interested firms having the required capabilities necessary to meet the above requirement described herein should submit a capability statement of no more than 10 pages indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort. The draft Statement of Work is attached. This notice has two purposes: 1) To request information on capabilities of potential Offerors to provide the services described in the attached Draft Statement of Work (SOW) in order to determine if this will be a small business set-aside. Information received as a result of this notice will be considered by the Government and used for acquisition planning purposes only. An interested parties list will be posted. 2) To request information from interested parties regarding their preferred contracting approach to provide the services described in the attached Draft SOW. This capability statement should indicate the ability to be the Prime Contractor or Subcontractor and perform all aspects of the effort described herein. It is insufficient to provide only general brochures or generic information. Additionally, your responses must include the following: name and address of firm, size of business; whether they are large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and/or woman-owned, affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, and a summary of past relevant experience with the components mentioned above. All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Gary Shelley at [email protected] no later than August 3, 2020 at 4:00 PM PDT. Please reference “TPS MSR” in any response. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement.