PRESOLICITATION NOTICE - SYNOPSIS: 10-KILOWATT CLOSED BRAYTON CYCLE (CBC) POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM (PCS) PROTOTYPE FOR FISSION SURFACE POWER

NASA Glenn Research Center plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for developing a 10-Kilowatt Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) Power Conversion System (PCS) Prototype for Fission Surface Power (FSP) project to provide power on the Lunar and potentially, Martian, surface. To support this effort, NASA intends to procure relevant CBC power conversion unit (PCS) test setup. The primary goal of this procurement is to develop industry experience and capability to reduce risk for a future flight procurement. This procurement will additionally provide NASA with valuable data and test hardware to support continued maturation of this technology.

The basic requirements for the CBC PCS are a nominal turbine inlet temperature of 1100-1200 K, a nominal water coolant supply temperature of approximately 375 K, and a nominal alternator power output at these temperatures of 10 kW electrical. The system should utilize technologies compatible with a notional 10-year mission life as part of a fission space power system, however the delivered test article will not be required to have such stringent life requirements. The contractor is expected to deliver a complete electrically-heated CBC PCS test loop along with the necessary instrumentation for operation and performance verification, as well as a gas management system to supply the required working fluid and the electronics necessary to control the alternator and the heater. Upon delivery, the system will be integrated with NASA data acquisition and cooling water supply for further testing and technology development.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial product or commercial service using FAR Part 12.   

The NAICS Code and Size Standard are 541715 Research and Development in the Physical Engineering, and Life Science (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) and the size standard in number of employees is 1,000 respectively.

The anticipated release date of the RFP is on or about July 14, 2025, with an anticipated offer due date of on or about August 13, 2025.  

All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered by the agency.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf

If a solicitation is released, then it and any additional documents will be available on Sam.gov.

It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website 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). 

Prospective offerors are encouraged to notify this office of their intent to submit an offer. All contractual and technical questions must be submitted electronically via email to Linda Nabors, Contracting Officer at linda.m.nabors@nasa.gov not later than July 14, 2025. Telephone questions will not be accepted.