Cancelled: Final Request For Proposal (RFP): 10-Kilowatt Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) Power Conversion System (PCS) Prototype for Fission Surface Power   3

Background
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) is developing power conversion systems (PCS) as part of the Fission Surface Power (FSP) project to provide power in Lunar and Martian environments.

This acquisition aims to design, manufacture, and test a 10-kilowatt Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) Power Conversion System (PCS) prototype, which will inform the requirements for a future spaceflight fission power system.

NASA has not procured a new CBC PCS since the 1970s, making this project significant for advancing technology in high-power space applications.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for the design, analysis, build, testing, and delivery of a CBC PCS unit suitable for integration into a test setup at NASA GRC.

Key specifications include:
- The Brayton converter must have a nominal turbine inlet temperature between 1100 to 1200 K.
- It should reject waste heat via a heat exchanger to a pumped water loop with a supply temperature of 375 ± 2 K.
- The system must output 10 ± 0.5 kW of electrical power at specified temperatures and should operate within an electrical power output range of 20-120% of nominal power.
- An inert gas or mixture of inert gases must be used as the working fluid.
- Bearings must have a maintenance-free lifespan of 10 years.
- The thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency should be no less than 22%, with a goal of at least 25%.
- The converter must fit within a rectangular prism with maximum side lengths of 2 meters, excluding test stand and instrumentation protrusions.

Period of Performance
The contract will have a total potential period of performance of 19 months.

Place of Performance
The contract work will be performed offsite at the Contractor’s facilities.