59--FEA DEVELOPMENT OF FRACTURE MECHANICS FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS TOOLS.

NASA/MSFC has a requirement for Fracture Machanics Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Tool Development NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Quest Reliability, Boulder, CO (formally Structural Reliability) for the following reasons: 1. Quest Reliability is the sole developer of the FEA-Crack software program that forms the base infrastructure for this effort. The Government currently utilizes this software platform for fracture mechanics analysis supporting the flight safety of structures. It is a unique tool that is proprietary to Quest Reliability and that does not exist elsewhere in the marketplace. The procured software development activity builds directly on this existing architecture, therefore Quest Reliability is the only company capable of adding these new capabilities to this code. 2. Development of the required capabilities by someone other than Quest Reliability would require additional time and expense because they could not build on the existing FEA-Crack architecture. To achieve the required analysis product, any company other than Quest Reliability will have to invest heavily in fundamental data handling capabilities for the WARP3D and ABAQUS software analysis packages, which is a duplication of effort already accomplished by Quest Reliability. 3. Development of these analysis tools outside the FEA-Crack package would present compatibility issues and hinder efficient workflow within the Damage Tolerance Assessment Branch by requiring a recurring time investment to integrate two separate analysis packages. The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on 7/12/2007 Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.