General Information: NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA GRC) Photovoltaics and Electrochemical Systems Branch is seeking sources to conduct joint research in support of a pending proposal to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Early Career Initiative (ECI) funding call. Specifically, NASA GRC is seeking sources that can provide relevant research capabilities in the areas of thermal management and/or wireless power transfer. A description of the competition process and the requirements of this sources sought notice follows below. Purpose of Notice: NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is issuing this Notice of Partnering Opportunity for the purpose of openly and competitively selecting prospective team members to assist it in the preparation of proposals to be submitted by GRC to NASA HQ for Early Career Initiative (ECI). This process is being conducted in accordance with NASA FAR Supplement 1872.3. By this Notice, GRC is seeking information from partners regarding their availability, cost, capabilities, and past performance that relates to the science partnerships on potential future missions, technology and instrument developments, and laboratory experiments. This Notice also authorizes NASA GRC to award grants, cooperative agreements and/or contracts to its selected partner(s) without further competition or justification, for execution of any GRC proposal that is selected in these partnerships. Overview: This Notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a partnership. This Notice is subject to revision or cancellation at any time. Based on the responses to this Notice, GRC anticipates selecting organizations with which GRC would then immediately work directly and individually to develop, complete, and submit proposals in response to the above-mentioned objectives. During the development of specific proposals, specific roles and cost estimates for the selected partners will be developed. For any GRC proposal that is selected, GRC intends to negotiate, without further competition or justification, a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract with each proposal partner, consistent with their agreed upon roles and this Notice. During these procurement negotiations, the specific statement of work, terms and conditions, and procurement value will be determined. There will be no exchange of funds between GRC and the teaming partners during the preparation of proposals. NASA GRC will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing a response to proposals or by the selected partners in assisting GRC in the preparation of proposals. Details of the Opportunity: The electrochemical systems group at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is seeking research partners for an upcoming proposal to the STMD focused on battery systems for space applications. The research efforts will be focused on thermal management and wireless charging for a battery pack operating in extreme environments, particularly Lunar conditions. The goal is to build a demonstration unit at the end of the performance period, with models developed in parallel for future efforts related to this work. The developed model(s) will be used to inform future efforts related to this work, and should be designed to understand the thermal and electrical requirements for system sizing and selection. It is intended that this be a partnership opportunity, with NASA developing the technology alongside the selected partner(s). As such, data and digital content shall be shared on structure-property relationships, such as performance data and models. It is anticipated that GRC PI/Partner-submitted proposals will be notified of a selection by August 14, 2020. As such, partners should anticipate that the awards will be made in October, 2020, and that work will commence immediately. The joint work must be completed by September 30, 2022 (i.e. within the fiscal year). Partners must be available to work on joint projects during this timeframe. Evaluation Criteria: When deciding whether to Partner with an outside entity, NASA GRC civil-servant researchers will consider the following attributes: Innovativeness and potential impact of the proposed specific joint research or technology development in the designated GRC area. Qualifications of the potential partner for generic joint research or technology development in the designated GRC area. This information should be evaluated for currency as well as excellence. Unique, distinctive or proprietary methods, codes, or facilities for support in the designated GRC area. This includes project management and technology development methods and experience your organization would bring to the team. This information should be evaluated for currency as well as excellence. Information regarding past performance, e.g. publications, list of contracts, grants and other work completed which are similar to the proposed research/technology topic(s) or the designated GRC research/technology area(s). This information should be evaluated to determine the proposer’s responsibility and capability. The ability to perform the proposed work in the period specified above. Response Instructions: Each potential partner is required to provide a capability statement that demonstrates its ability to conduct or provide research and technology development in any of the above areas. Potential partners may provide information on specific research or technology development they would like to conduct with NASA Glenn in any of the above areas. Each capability statement submitted should be limited to 2 pages . Please indicate who will be involved in the work. If a university is responding, please include all students, faculty or Post-Doctoral Research Fellows to be involved in the work. The potential partner must be able to provide an authorized, signed Letter of Commitment for this ECI proposal by June 30, 2020 . Provide a cover page with the name and address of organization; name of point of contact, address, email address, and phone number. Cover page is not included in the page count. Responses are due to NASA GRC no later than 5 p.m. EDT on June 25, 2020. Any responses received after this time and date will be handled as late proposals in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.208. Responses to this Notice must be submitted in the form of a Portable Data Format (PDF) file. Responses, technical and procurement questions should be submitted via e-mail to Rita Kizys at
[email protected] or by phone at (216) 433-3805.