Lunar Solar Concentrator Mirrors

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for the manufacture and delivery of a telescope quality primary and secondary mirror for a lunar solar concentrator. The mirrors must be integrated with a support structure, and a tracking system for concentrating sunlight at the lunar South Pole, with sufficient schedule margin for near-term (mid to late 2023). Specifically, NASA is anticipating the purchase of a 2-mirror concentrator based on a Crossed- Dragone arrangement. The primary mirror aperture is estimated to be 1.74 meters in diameter and the secondary mirror aperture is estimated to be 0.9 meters in diameter. The primary mirror is approximately F-1.5 or faster with a 1 micro-radian Root Mean Square (RMS) slope or better. The mirror shall have a coating, silver or other high reflectivity material, to allow for a high reflectivity (>95%) in the visible light range. To reduce the effects of mirror distortion due to large changes in the operating temperature environment the mirror shall be constructed from a carbon composite or material with a similar low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) on the order of -1 X10-6/K to 1X10-6/ K or smaller depending on whether the mirrors are cooling or heating respectively. In addition to the thermal expansion the weight of the mirrors is also a consideration. A material density of 2.0 gm/cm3 or less is desirable to maintain the mirror mass within an acceptable range. NASA GRC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties regardless of business size or status, for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for the telescope primary mirror delivered on or before 12 months after receipt of order (ARO). The Government reserves the right to consider a sole source, Small, 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), HUBZone, or any other socioeconomic business set-aside, based on responses hereto. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in SAM.gov. It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Vendors having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation, literature, brochures, and references. Specifically, responses should indicate if the offeror has the capabilities to build the type of mirror requested and is able to deliver in the one-year timeframe or less ARO. In addition to and in order to help determine the appropriate level of competition, responses should include the following: name and address of firm, size of business, average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees, whether they are large, or any category of small business, number of years in business, and a list of customers covering the past five years for relevant work performed. Please advise if the requirement is considered to be a commercial or commercial-type product. A commercial item is defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101. This sources sought synopsis is for information and planning purposes 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. All responses shall be submitted to Jeffrey Hoyt in writing at [email protected] , no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on 6/30/2021. Please reference “Lunar Solar Concentrator Mirrors” in any response.