|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Fundamental Aeronautics RFI
Request for Information
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNH0600000L
Posted Date: Jan 03, 2006
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jan 03, 2006
Original Response Date: Jan 31, 2006
Current Response Date: Jan 31, 2006
Classification Response Code: A – Research and Development
NAIS Code: 541710 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Topic
1. BACKGROUND
2. DESCRIPTION
3. PROCESS
4. INFORMATION FOR RESPONDENTS
4.1 How to Respond
4.2 Evaluation Factors
4.3 General Information
4.3.1 Proprietary and Confidential Information
4.3.2 Intellectual Property
4.3.3 Compliance with U.S. Laws, Regulations, and Policies
4.3.4 Use of Government Resources
4.3.5 Period of Performance
4.3.6 RFI Issuance and Response Selection
APPENDIX A FUNDAMENTAL AERONAUTICS DESCRIPTION
1. Background
The NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate has recently
restructured its Aeronautics Research into three separate Programs:
Fundamental Aeronautics, Aviation Safety, and Airspace Systems. The
specific purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit
external interest in collaborative public-private research partnerships
under NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program:
Fundamental Aeronautics Program: The top-level goal of
this program is the development of system-level, multi-disciplinary
capabilities for both civilian and military applications. This program
provides long-term investment in research to support and sustain expert
competency in critical core areas of aeronautics technology.
While not part of this RFI, separate RFIs will also be issued for NASA's
other two Aeronautics Research Programs:
Aviation Safety Program: This program will build upon the
unique safety-related research capabilities of NASA to improve aircraft
safety for current and future civilian and military aircraft, and to
overcome aircraft safety technological barriers that would otherwise
constrain the full realization of the Next Generation Air Transportation
System. This program will also provide long-term investment in research
to support and sustain expert competency in critical core areas of
aviation and aircraft safety.
Airspace Systems Program: The top-level goal of this
program is the development of high capacity, efficient, and safe
airspace and airportal systems that will enable the Next Generation Air
Transportation System, as defined by the Joint Planning and Development
Office.
+ Back to Top
2. Description
Under this RFI, NASA solicits interest primarily from industry to
collaborate at the systems level in Fundamental Aeronautics. NASA seeks
to enter into research collaborations that benefit both industry and
NASA, and NASA intends to use its authority under the National
Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended ("Space Act"), to enter
into non-reimbursable agreements where each party funds their own
participation in the research effort. One or more initial agreements are
anticipated. NASA is particularly interested in collaborating with
industry consortia, and responses from existing or proposed consortia
are encouraged. While educational institutions may also respond to this
RFI, it is anticipated that a NASA Research Announcement (NRA)
soliciting participation by educational institutions, non-profit
organizations, and companies engaged in foundational research will be
issued in early 2006.
The Fundamental Aeronautics Program encompasses core capabilities in the
four (4) thrust areas of Subsonic Fixed Wing, Subsonic Rotary Wing,
Supersonics and Hypersonics. See Appendix A for a more detailed
description of the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. Fundamental
Aeronautics also supports NASA's Vision for Space Exploration by
providing key aeronautical capabilities that can be adapted for
high-speed vehicles exiting and entering the atmosphere of our planet as
well as operating throughout the atmospheres of other planetary bodies
such as Mars.
This RFI solicits proposed research collaborations that are appropriate
to NASA's unique capabilities. NASA intends long-term support in the
thrust areas described above. NASA intends to focus its resources on
fundamental technology and build upon that investment to develop
system-level, multidisciplinary capabilities that enable both civilian
and military platforms of the future. As NASA does not typically build
or operate military or commercial aircraft, we seek partnerships with
industry at the systems level.
Consistent with the Space Act, a key element of the restructured
Aeronautics program is that the Nation's aeronautical expertise and
unique facilities are maintained as national assets for the benefit of
both civilian and military aeronautics applications.
+ Back to Top
3. Process
NASA Headquarters oversees the Aeronautics Research Programs and
implementation occurs principally at four NASA field centers (Ames
Research Center, Langley Research Center, Glenn Research Center, and
Dryden Flight Research Center). In Fiscal Year 2006 a four-step process
will be used to define the Aeronautics Research Programs:
Step 1: Assess the long-term research needs and goals in the Fundamental
Aeronautics program and establish technical roadmaps to accomplish those
goals. In developing those roadmaps, prioritize according to NASA's
unique strengths and capabilities. Establish multi-center,
multidisciplinary teams across the areas of Subsonic Fixed Wing,
Subsonic Rotary Wing, Supersonics, and Hypersonics. These roadmaps will
be discussed further at the 44th American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA) Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, January
9-12, 2006 in Reno, Nevada.
Step 2: Solicit information through this RFI on the key areas of
interest from the external community and determine potential areas to
form collaborative arrangements.
Step 3: Develop research proposals at the field centers in each of the
four thrust areas and establish NASA research teams. The responses to
this RFI will provide important source material to the NASA research
teams to be used in establishing specific collaborative partnerships as
part of their proposals to NASA Headquarters.
Step 4: NASA intends to issue NASA Research Announcements (NRA, see NASA
Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Part 35) to solicit proposals
for foundational research in areas where NASA needs to enhance its core
capabilities. Foundational research is defined as research that furthers
our fundamental understanding of the underlying physics, chemistry,
materials, etc. NASA anticipates that educational institutions,
non-profit organizations and industry engaged in foundational research
will be the primary recipients of awards under the NRA.
+ Back to Top
4. Information for Respondents
4.1 How to Respond
NASA anticipates providing additional information about its Aeronautics
Research Programs on or about January 12, 2006, at the AIAA conference
in Reno, Nevada. NASA also anticipates providing this additional
information on the following website: www.aeronautics.nasa.gov.
The website above will be used to post information about, or
modifications to, this RFI. Prospective respondents are urged to
periodically check this web site for updates.
Respondents are requested to provide a description of a proposed
non-reimbursable partnership between NASA and industry. Responses shall
describe: (1) the respondent's team and expertise, key personnel and
capabilities, and the R&D collaboration approach and areas of interest;
(2) respondent's facilities and resources (including test data) to be
provided as part of the collaboration; and (3) what is expected or
requested of NASA as part of the collaboration (including Government
facilities or other resources). Partnerships will be limited to US
companies. Of particular interest are industry consortia focused on
intellectual collaboration at the systems level in one of the four
Fundamental Aeronautics Program thrust areas.
Responses must be a maximum of five (5) pages, with minimum 12-point
Times font. All proposals shall include the company name,
point-of-contact, address, and phone number. All proposals shall clearly
indicate which one of the four thrust areas in the Fundamental
Aeronautics Program is addressed in the proposed partnership, by placing
the name of one program thrust (either "Subsonic Fixed Wing", "Subsonic
Rotary Wing", "Supersonics", or "Hypersonics") in the upper right hand
corner of each page in your proposal. All proposals shall include an
e-mail address for the point-of-contact in order to expedite
communications. All questions posed by email shall get a response.
Please submit all responses in electronic format to the Point-of-Contact
listed below by NOON Eastern Standard Time, January 31, 2006:
Name: Mr. Herb Schlickenmaier
Title: Deputy Director, Fundamental Aeronautics
Phone: 202-358-4638
Email: [RFI is closed]
Questions regarding this RFI should also be addressed to the above Point-of-Contact.
+ Back to Top
4.2 Evaluation Factors
The evaluation process NASA intends to use for selecting collaborative
partnerships (under non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement[s]) has been
designed for this RFI. Respondents are reminded that this process does
not involve the procedures set forth in the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR) nor the NASA FAR supplement since this announcement
will not result in the award of a contract, grant, or cooperative
agreement.
Responses will be assessed on the following evaluation factors:
- Overall responsiveness to furthering the goals of this RFI, in
particular the objectives and results-oriented goals of NASA's
Fundamental Aeronautics Program.
- Management Confidence in the structure and management of the
proposed collaborative activity through the formation of Industry
consortia.
- Technical Confidence in the research proposed under the
collaborative activity on system level topics.
- Interest in long-term, rather than short-term research.
The NASA Point-of-Contact referenced in Section 4.1 will provide the RFI
responses to the NASA planning lead of the thrust area identified by the
respondent. Based upon assessment of the responses, as part of the
process of submitting proposals under Step 3 (see "Process" above), the
planning leads may contact RFI respondents to finalize terms and
conditions of agreements.
+ Back to Top
4.3 General Information
4.3.1 Proprietary or Confidential Information
Respondents are NOT to provide any information that is considered
proprietary, trade secrets, or privileged or confidential.
+ Back to Top
4.3.2 Intellectual Property
Intellectual property rights between NASA and collaboration partners can
be negotiated to fit the goals of the parties. Under NASA's standard
approach, title to inventions remain with the respective inventing
parties without any exchange of rights unless otherwise agreed.
Proprietary data developed and provided by the collaboration partner to
NASA remains proprietary. NASA takes no rights in background inventions
or data developed prior to or outside of collaborative agreements under
this RFI.
NASA requires that consortia and teams agree to intellectual property
rights among members prior to finalizing terms and conditions of a
non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement.
Respondents to this RFI may comment on this general approach and/or
suggest alternate approaches to intellectual property rights between
NASA and the partner.
+ Back to Top
4.3.3 Compliance with U.S. Laws, Regulations, and Policies
Proposals must comply with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations and policies.
+ Back to Top
4.3.4 Use of Government Resources
In support of this RFI, the Government will consider requests from
respondents for Government furnished resources and technologies.
Requests for use of Government equipment, facilities or services should
be provided to the Point-of-Contact for this RFI.
+ Back to Top
4.3.5 Period of Performance
The Government anticipates that proposed research collaborations under
Space Act Agreements will have an initial period of performance of five
(5) years, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties
+ Back to Top
4.3.6 RFI Issuance and Response Selection
NASA will not issue paper copies of this RFI. NASA reserves the right to
select for negotiations all, some, or none of the proposed collaborative
partnerships in response to this RFI.
+ Back to Top
APPENDIX A: Information on FUNDAMENTAL AERONAUTICS
The Fundamental Aeronautics Program is dedicated to the mastery and
intellectual stewardship of the core competencies of Aeronautics for the
Nation across all flight regimes. NASA will focus the research in areas
that are appropriate to our unique capabilities.
The research is long-term and is both focused and integrated across
disciplines. NASA will invest broadly and deeply in the core
competencies of aeronautics, producing knowledge, technology, and tools
that are applicable across a broad range of air vehicles.
NASA has defined a four-level approach to technology development: (1)
conduct foundational research to further our fundamental understanding
of the underlying physics and our ability model that physics, (2)
leverage the foundational research to develop technologies and
analytical tools focused on discipline-based solutions, (3) integrate
methods and technologies to develop multi-disciplinary solutions, and
(4) solve the aeronautics challenges for a broad range of air vehicles
with system-level optimization, assessment and technology integration.
Interaction with the aeronautics community aligns with the four levels.
The first three levels reflect relationships with the aeronautics
community in which NASA seeks to ensure the national aeronautical
technical expertise: (1) NASA will advance the state of knowledge of the
underlying physics and its modeling by partnering with universities and
companies engaged in foundational research where that partnership
supplements NASA capabilities, (2) NASA will investigate
discipline-related challenges and will interact with the aeronautics
community through published reports and direct technology transfer, and
(3) NASA will develop multi-disciplinary methods and technologies, and
disseminate them in published reports and direct technology transfer.
The interaction with the aeronautics community at the systems level is
unique because NASA typically does not design and build air vehicles for
operational use. We look toward collaboration with industry to provide
insight into issues associated with flight, manufacturing and design.
NASA's role at this level is to develop multidisciplinary design,
analysis, and optimization tools based on the underlying physics. NASA
intends to collaborate with industry consortia to provide value to
industry of a more enduring nature, rather than immediate design and
manufacturing problem-solving.
The following four thrust areas describe the objective, anticipated
results and more detailed areas of investment for Subsonic Fixed Wing,
Subsonic Rotary Wing, Supersonics and Hypersonics.
A.1 SUBSONIC FIXED WING
OBJECTIVE: Perform foundational research in materials and structures,
tribology, power and combustion, dynamics and control, aeroacoustics,
aerodynamics, aerothermo¬dynamics, and experimental methods to enable
revolutionary capabilities in propulsion and power systems, vehicle
systems integration and analysis, airframe systems, and systems for
experimental validation, which will ultimately yield multidisciplinary
analysis and optimization capabilities that will enable system-level
design of a wide class of air vehicles that are aligned with the
Environment objectives in the Next Generation Air Transportation Systems
plan and meet the performance challenges of the future for both the
civilian and military applications.
RESULTS: Validated, fast and effective physics-based multidisciplinary
design, analysis, and optimization capability integrated with high-value
technology development including virtual access to the flight envelope,
and virtual expeditions through design space that enable system-level
design of a wide class of subsonic fixed wing vehicles.
AREAS OF INVESTMENT:
Propulsion and Power Systems: Alternative propulsion and power concepts,
materials and structures technologies for durable, active,
multi-functional propulsion and power systems, advanced technologies for
intelligent engines, and engine icing characteristics to address the
trade space of noise, emissions, and performance.
Vehicle Integration and Analysis: Engine and airframe noise source
decomposition, advanced control techniques and autonomous control
architectures, and aeroelastic analysis methods to address the
interaction between engine and airframe.
Airframe Systems: Metallic, composite, and hybrid materials and
structures, analysis methods for property characterization, advanced
materials, processing and manufacturing technologies, multifunctional
materials and structures concepts, expanded design space enabled by
high-lift design, edge of envelope stability and control, enhanced,
physics-based noise prediction, integrated aerodynamic, acoustic and
structural advanced analysis tools.
Systems for Experimental Validation: Autonomous testbeds, high-fidelity
piloted simulations, and instrumentation with new capabilities
integrated into a multidisciplinary system validated with flight tests
as appropriate
A.2 SUBSONIC ROTARY WING
OBJECTIVE: Perform foundational research in materials and structures,
engines and drive systems, dynamics and control, aeroacoustics,
aerodynamics, aeromechanics, and experimental methods to enable
revolutionary capabilities in propulsion and aeromechanics,
super-integrated vehicle management system, integrated rotorcraft
design, and integrated experimental systems, which will ultimately yield
multidisci¬plinary analysis and optimization capabilities that will
enable system-level design of advanced capability vehicles that will
meet the noise and performance challenges for both the civilian and
military applications.
RESULTS: Validated physics-based multidisciplinary design, analysis, and
optimization tools integrated with technology development that enable
rotorcraft, with advanced capability, to fly as designed for any
mission.
AREAS OF INVESTMENT:
Propulsion-Aeromechanics Integration: Variable speed drive systems,
minimal or no-lubricant transmission concepts, component technologies
for life extension, and alternative engine designs to address
on-condition health management and interior noise concerns.
Super-Integrated Vehicle Management System: Simulations and flight
research to validate investigative results of active-control techniques
and adaptive displays to address control system design capabilities.
Integrated Rotorcraft Design: Aeromechanics and aeroacoustics predictive
design capabilities for rotorcraft of various size, operating in varying
flight regimes to address the trade space of performance, loads,
vibration, noise, and airloads.
Integrated Experimental Systems: Methodology for real-time comparison of
computational fluid- and structural-dynamics with experimental data;
integrated diagnostic instrumentation systems into facilities for
operational efficiency; simultaneous, multi-parameter diagnostic
techniques that enable rapid testing and validation of rotorcraft
behavior.
A.3 SUPERSONICS
OBJECTIVE: Perform foundational research in materials and structures,
propulsion and power, aeroservoelasticity, sonic boom, dynamics and
control, aerodynamics, and experimental methods to enable revolutionary
capabilities in propulsion and power systems, vehicle systems
integration and analysis, airframe systems, and systems for experimental
validation, which will ultimately yield multidisciplinary analysis and
optimization capabilities that will enable system-level design of a wide
class of supersonic vehicles that will meet the emission, noise, sonic
boom, and performance challenges of the future for both the civilian and
military applications.
RESULTS: Validated physics-based multidisciplinary design, analysis and
optimization capabilities integrated with technology development that
enable the design of supersonic aircraft with sonic boom and airport
noise acceptability, high temperature durability, high altitude
emissions, and supersonic cruise efficiency.
AREAS OF INVESTMENT:
Propulsion-Power Systems: Tools to predict propulsion system noise,
efficiency and high altitude emissions; reduced emissions combustor
predictive capability, variable geometry nozzle aerodynamic predictive
capability enabling low-noise at takeoff and high thrust at cruise
conditions, multi-fidelity engine-aircraft structural simulation, ice
accretion prediction, predictive capability for high-pressure recovery,
low distortion and unstart mitigation inlets, integrated
inlet-fan-nozzle predictive capability for steady-state and transient
conditions.
Vehicle Systems Integration and Analysis: Tools to predict integrated
vehicle performance, noise and sonic boom, installed propulsion system
noise-performance trades for supersonic propulsion cycles, and
integrated inlet-fan-nozzle.
Airframe Systems: Tools to predict airframe noise, lift-drag, flight
dynamics, stability and handling qualities, high-fidelity computation
method for achieving simultaneous gust and maneuver loads, ride quality
due to elasticity, and flutter suppression control.
Systems for Experimental Validation: Systems for experimental validation
of capabilities through analysis, simulation and flight research for
field noise measurements and techniques, requirements for national
facilities to support propulsion and airframe systems tests.
A.4 HYPERSONICS
OBJECTIVE: Perform foundational research in materials and structures,
propulsion, advanced control methods, aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics,
plasma dynamics, and experimental methods to enable revolutionary
capabilities in propulsion systems, vehicle systems, and systems for
experimental validation, which will ultimately yield multidis¬cipli¬nary
analysis and optimization capabilities that will enable system-level
design of a wide class of hypersonic vehicles that will meet performance
challenges of the future for both civilian and military applications.
RESULTS: Validated physics-based multidisciplinary design, analysis and
optimization capabilities integrated with technology development for
hypersonic vehicles including life cycle, risk, and gap analyses of
design space for mission performance.
AREAS OF INVESTMENT:
Propulsion Systems Design: Technology development for Turbine Based
Combine Cycle (TBCC) and Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) propulsion
systems to aid mode transition between low-speed and high-speed
flowpaths, address engine system thermal management and inlet
operability.
Vehicle Systems Design: Technologies to address the physics of
combustion, hypersonic flows, and entry, descent and landing.
Materials and Structures: Lightweight high temperature materials for
rotating and static components, structural durability analysis methods
including deterministic and probabilistic life prediction techniques and
non-destructive evaluation, materials for cryogenic tanking
applications, material and structure alternatives for vehicle hot
structures, and methods and materials for developing improved thermal
protection systems for extreme flight regimes of hypersonic flight.
Experimental Capabilities: Systems for experimental validation of
capabilities through analysis, simulation and flight research for a
single extreme environment sensor to measure multiple flow and
structural values, optical sensors for flow characterization,
multi-discipline control techniques for health monitoring, and air data
system allowing air-ground communication with the vehicle traveling Mach
12+ along the horizon.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
