Description
PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking to facilitate the use of certain under-utilized property at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), which is located at the Redstone Arsenal. This notice is issued by NASA’s Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama, which has responsibility for the management of these facilities. NASA seeks, through this notice, to (1) provide industry and other non-federal public or private entities with broad awareness and visibility of opportunities to partner with NASA in use of certain NASA facilities and adjacent land at MSFC; and (2) obtain responses, in the form of Partnership Plans, from industry and other entities who have a specific interest in establishing an agreement with NASA for the use of Available Facilities, as defined herein. NASA will make facilities available only if deemed in the Government’s best interests. This notice is to identify interested parties and initiate discussions which may result in one or more formal agreements for the use of the Available Facilities. Responses to this NOA place NASA under no obligation to proceed with any partnering arrangements. NASA may initially issue a Letter of Intent to a Partner in lieu of entering into a legally binding agreement. Depending on responses received under this NOA, NASA may determine to engage in a formal competitive process prior to proceeding with any partnering arrangements or Letters of Intent. NASA is not precluded from entering into agreements with other Federal entities, or for deciding to use the property for NASA purposes, regardless of expressions of interest and proposed uses NASA may receive from industry or other entities pursuant to this notice. Additionally, NASA reserves the right to initiate a formal competition to select a partner, or to take no action. AVAILABLE FACILITIES This section of the announcement encompasses test facilities located within the secured and restricted-access test complex area of MSFC that is surrounded by the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal. The following facilities are located in an area with ample adjacent vacant land suitable for facility expansion purposes if necessary, and each facility would accommodate multiple reconfiguration options to better meet potential partner requirements. MSFC may also be able to accommodate the provision of additional facility space outside of the MSFC test complex for requirements related to a respondent’s interest in the test facilities listed below, as well as access to tracts of land within the MSFC boundaries suitable for development of new complimentary facilities. Additional buildout space is available, in addition to multiple smaller building areas located within the MSFC footprint and within the secure boundary of the MSFC Test Area. Respondents should include any potential related facility space requirements as part of their Partnership Plans as described below. 1. Dynamic Test Stand (Building 4550) Located in the limited-access East Test Area at MSFC, 4550 is a 360-foot-tall test stand has been used primarily for ground vibration testing of past NASA launch vehicles. This national historically registered test stand was constructed for the Saturn V Dynamic Test Program and modified for the Space Shuttle Mated Vertical Ground Vibration Test Program. While the primary usage of test stand 4550 has been dynamic testing of launch vehicles, the facility has been used through many decades for a variety of other NASA test programs, including a microgravity drop tube. The height of the facility and the 200-ton derrick crane provide a unique test bed. Numerous upgrades have been made to Test Stand 4550 within the last ten years, including replacement of the crane controls, upgrades to the elevator, and extensive power upgrades. Supporting Infrastructure The Dynamic Test Stand is located in the secured boundary of MSFC’s East Test Area. The area is isolated from residential areas and located within the secured perimeter of U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal. Roadway access is available to the test stand. The test stand also has direct access to the Tennessee River for large test articles and stages. The test stand is offered as-is and any modifications and/or refurbishments will be the responsibility of the partner. Utilities currently available at the facility - Electrical Power High Pressure Air High Pressure Nitrogen The following facility photos are provided in the attachment: Test Stand 4550 Test Stand Adjacent Blockhouse, Building 4551 MSFC Building 4666 Office Space MSFC East Test Area Aerial View Test Stand 4550 Current Interior Configuration 2. Propulsion Development Test Stand 500 Area Test Stand 500 is a dual position development area originally built to support J2 engine development for the Saturn program. It was later repurposed and reconfigured for various propulsion technology development projects. Position 501 consists of a 55 ft by 55 ft concrete pad. Above that pad was a 40 ft by 125 ft high open steel structure with run tanks and an elevator. The steel superstructure was demolished in 2018 leaving the blank concreted pad below. Position 502 is a 32 ft by 33 ft concrete pad. This position was used as a turbomachinery bearing/seal tester position. That hardware was removed in the mid-2000s. Both positions are open concrete pads for new propulsion development and/or test stand fabrication. A propellant storage area is located just north of the test area location. The development area also has a support building (4524) that was constructed in 1987. It has 1,344 sq ft gross with a net usable of 858 sq ft. The building has 480V/3 phase power feed. The approximate area for the development area that includes the pads, support building, propellant storage area and parking is 6.50 acres. Supporting Infrastructure Roadway access is available to the test development area. The development area also has direct access to the Tennessee River for large test articles and stages. The test stand is located within the secured boundary of MSFC’s East Test Area. The area is isolated from residential areas and located within the secured perimeter of U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal. This location may enable testing of engines and stages up to 200k lbs of thrust without disturbing the surrounding communities. The Test Stand 500 development area is offered as-is and any modifications and/or refurbishments will be the responsibility of the partner. Utilities currently available at the facility - Electrical Power Cooling Water Deluge System High Pressure Air High Pressure Nitrogen High Pressure Helium High Pressure Hydrogen The following facility photos are provided in the attachment: MSFC Test Stand 500 Development Area MSFC Test Stand 500 Building 4524 MSFC Test Stand 500 Development Area Aerial 500 MSFC Test Stand 500 Historical View SUBMISSION OF PARTNERSHIP PLANS Respondents wishing to partner with NASA in the use of any portion of the available facilities at MSFC, described above, should submit a partnership plan to the NASA Point of Contact designated below. This partnership plan should provide enough information for NASA to understand the general parameters of the plan. The plan should include, as a minimum, the following information, in general terms: Facilities desired, Planned use of the facilities Desired timetable and duration of the proposed lease or other agreements Proposed return to NASA Services expected to be needed from NASA Contingencies, such as: Obtaining financing, Receiving a contract award from a third party Verifying site conditions Company information sufficient to enable NASA to make an initial assessment of company capabilities and suitability as a partner Provide the name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number for the primary point of contact for the partnering entity. See additional information under “Instructions for Responses” listed below. NASA and the respondent may further develop the partnership plan through discussions. However, respondents are cautioned that NASA has no obligation to enter into any discussions with respect to a partnership plan, and NASA may, without further discussions, discontinue consideration of any Partnership Plan that is not deemed to be in the Government’s best interests. Therefore, respondents should include enough information in their Partnership Plan to clearly show the value of the plan to the Government. NASA will not consider responses that: Are deemed incompatible with the Agency Master Plan, MSFC Master Plan, land use policies, environmental conditions, or pose a negative impact on NASA’s mission Propose transfer of title to land Are otherwise considered, in NASA’s sole discretion, not to be in the best interest of the government The initial deadline for submissions of Partnership Plans is March 17, 2022. However, if the available facilities are not fully committed, NASA may, at its discretion, consider new partnership plan submissions under this NOA until April 18, 2022, unless NASA sooner decides to cancel, amend, or supersede the NOA. Submission by e-mail is satisfactory. GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO APPLY CRITERIA: NASA reserves the right to apply criteria for assessing the "best fit" for alternative uses and users which may be considered for the Available Facilities identified in this announcement. Such criteria may include, but not be limited to: Compatibility with other ongoing and planned operations and activities at MSFC. Returns to MSFC, NASA and other U.S. Government interests Extent of alignment with the advancement of the Government’s space and aeronautical objectives, including encouragement of commercially provided space services and hardware and the fullest commercial use of space. Risks to MSFC, NASA and other U.S. Government interests, including (but not limited to) an assessment of costs risks and the environmental, safety and security impacts of the proposed user or proposed use. An assessment of the financial capability, responsibility, and past performance of the proposed user, and the likelihood that the project will come to fruition and endure for a long term. FOLLOW-ON AGREEMENTS: A formal agreement will have to be negotiated as the process moves forward. NASA has the legal authority to enter into various types of agreements and will utilize the type of agreement deemed most appropriate for the particular circumstance. The preferred agreement type will be determined after receipt of Partnership Plans. Prior to the execution of any agreement, the respondent may need NASA to undertake certain activities or support certain activities of the respondent, such as site investigations or environmental assessments, with respect to the available facilities or other aspects of the partnership plan. As a general rule, NASA will expect the respondent in those circumstances to enter into a reimbursable agreement with NASA under which the respondent will reimburse NASA for the full cost of the support required from NASA. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Proposed uses of land and facilities at MSFC under a partnership plan may require environmental analysis in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. §4321 et seq. ). No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of a solicitation. Additional information, if forthcoming, will be synopsized in the System for Award Management (SAM). It is the responsibility of potential users to monitor SAM for the release of any additional information or synopsis. This NOA is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into any contract or agreement, or into the negotiation of any contract or agreement. NASA will not pay for any information provided. NASA will not be obligated to respond or provide the results of any evaluations. The terms “partner” and “partnership” as used herein are used in the informal, generic sense, and are not intended to denote any kind of general partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, or any kind of formal business organization. Instructions for Responses: Potential users interested in the described MSFC facilities shall submit responses electronically, via e-mail, to the primary Point of Contact (POC) listed below. The response shall be a maximum of ten (10) pages that includes a one-page summary. Responses shall contain a minimum font size of 12. To facilitate a prompt review, the response shall clearly identify the needs and planned utilization of the facilities. The response shall include all of the following information: Company information. Specify organization name, address, primary POC and telephone number, business size and type, and product or service line (NAICS code if available). Identify the facilities desired and their proposed use. Identify when the facilities are needed for the proposed use and the duration for which they are needed. Please note that if you have previously responded to a NASA announcement or submitted a written request for the use of any of the MSFC facilities listed in this NOA, you must provide a response to this NOA that reaffirms your interest. It is not NASA’s intent to publicly disclose proprietary information obtained through this NOA; therefore, if proprietary information is included, it should be clearly marked. Consistent with its statutory obligations and to the extent permitted under the Freedom of Information Act, NASA will protect such data from public disclosure. Questions or Requests for Site Visits: For additional information about MSFC, questions about this NOA, or to arrange a site visit, please contact the NASA Point of Contact identified below.