Inactive

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE This notice is issued by the NASA/(GRC) to post a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit responses fro... THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE This notice is issued by the NASA/(GRC) to post a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit responses from interested parties. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. As part of the NASA Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP), a new project has been formulated called Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) in which NASA intends to accelerate the development of small turbofan engine core technologies, culminating in an advanced core ground demonstration in the 2026 timeframe. NASA intends to collaborate with industry in a cost sharing arrangement to accelerate key technologies that can strengthen the U.S. industry’s position on small cores for a future single-aisle aircraft. NASA has identified key technology areas for this collaboration: High Pressure Compressor (HPC), High Pressure Turbine (HPT), Advanced Materials, Turbofan Power Extraction, and Combustor. The project is separated into two development phases. HyTEC’s first phase will focus on the development of these individual technologies through subsystem or component tests. These efforts will accelerate and mature the needed technologies to Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) of 4-5 by 2023. The second phase intends to integrate TRL 4-5 technologies into a full engine core to demonstrate a functional high power-density small core at TRL 6 no later than 2026. The second phase of HyTEC will be a collaboration with industry on the small core demonstration. This process will begin in 2023. The goal of these collaborative contracts will be to culminate in a final turbofan engine or core demo or demos, to fully integrate advanced core technologies that have met the NASA goals and objectives. The goal is for NASA to further fund the technologies from Phase 1 that were successful in performance and TRL maturation, carrying them forward into Phase 2. However, additional technologies will be considered that were not part of Phase 1 NASA contracts, as long as industry developed those technologies successfully to a minimum of TRL 4. HyTEC intends to focus on cost sharing the technology maturation and integration alone in Phase 2, as part of the overall full engine core demonstrations. The core demonstration would take the technologies to TRL 6 for insertion onto new engine products. Similar to Phase 1, these technologies should carry more risk than any baseline planned core demonstrations. The NASA investment is to help to offset the risks of integrating these more aggressive technologies thereby creating more robust commercial products. Technologies that show significant promise in terms of fuel burn reduction goals will be prioritized. The HyTEC contribution should be that the final engine products are more fuel efficient, durable, sustainable, and give the U.S. aircraft engine manufacturers a clear competitive advantage. NASA intends to approach the Phase 2 collaboration in a different manner than Phase 1. Rather than share the cost of an entire engine or core demonstration, HyTEC intends to only share the cost of the technologies that will be integrated into the core tests. The Government plans to share the cost of impactful technologies, in an effort to reduce the risk to industry for successful integration into future products. This will include Phase 1 technologies under HyTEC, and additional TRL 4-5 small core technologies that will be considered. By doing this, NASA can focus the investment on technology development and integration, rather than cost sharing supporting hardware, institutional costs, and facility costs. This approach is intended to make the Government funds go further, so that more technologies can be integrated into these cores for even stronger fuel burn benefits, and ultimately robust US aircraft engine manufacturer competitive advantage. NASA is seeking input on this approach to determine if this would be agreeable to eligible US aircraft engine manufacturers. The HyTEC Project would like responses that indicate whether a cost sharing technology development and integration approach for engine core demonstrations rather than cost sharing full core demonstrations would be viable for our potential industry partners. Furthermore, we are seeking advisement as to any potential risks or problems associated with this approach, and potential benefits that could be realized from it. HyTEC would use this input to inform our Phase 2 development activities so that our future collaborative activities are as productive as possible. This presolicitation synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government will use the information to finalize the solicitation as necessary. All comments or questions shall be submitted electronically via email to Ian Park, Contracting Officer, ian.park@nasa.gov, no later than 3:00PM ET, October 29, 2021. When responding reference 80GRC022RFI001. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html . If a solicitation is released, then it and any additional documents will be available on www.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. NASA may publicize a listing of respondents in order to facilitate teaming arrangements. Should your firm desire not to be included in this listing, clearly indicate this desire in your response.