NASA/LaRC plans to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) to develop new technology leading to a matrix resin with high fire resistance and other properties required for use in primary and secondary composite structures on future subsonic commercial and general aviation airplanes. The Contractor shall conduct appropriate research to develop new technology leading to a cured resin with high fire resistance that provide composites with properties similar to those exhibited by toughened epoxies used in structural applications on subsonic commercial aircraft. The fire resistance may be attained by the incorporation of phosphorus and/or some other element that provides fire resistance to the resin. Additives and halogenated compounds shall not be used to obtain fire resistance. NASA Langley Research Center shall provide 250 grams each of up to 4 different fire retardant compounds such as phosphorus containing diamines and epoxies for evaluation. Other approaches and/or compounds leading to a fire resistant resin may be considered by the Government. Each promising epoxy formulation and cured epoxy molding shall be characterized for fire resistance, mechanical and physical properties. The two most promising formulations shall be used to prepare unidirectional tape using an intermediate modulus carbon fiber. Flat laminates shall be fabricated and tested. The best performing formulation shall be scaled-up to prepare adequate intermediate modulus carbon fiber unidirectional tape and fabric prepreg for more comprehensive laminate evaluation.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26.
The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 541710 and 1500 employees, respectively.
All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.
The anticipated release date of the RFO is on or about June 8, 2004 with an anticipated offer due date of on or about July 8, 2004.
An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B".
The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/LaRC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin;=23
Prospective offerors shall notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
All contractual technical questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer, Teresa M. Hass, by e-mail to Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov. Telephone questions will not be accepted.
