Alternative Adhesive RFI

1.0 Introduction

NASA/Langley Research Center (LaRC) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources regarding alternative adhesives to dichloromethane (alternative names include DCM, Methylene Chloride, Methylene Bichloride, CH2Cl2) to be used for solvent welding and adhesive bonding of polymeric substrates such as polycarbonate and acrylic.  This RFI will be used for market research purposes to gain knowledge of current capabilities that may relate to requirements for future missions.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) LaRC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI), and members of the underserved communities as defined by Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, for the purposes of market research. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received.

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov.  Interested firms are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

2.0 Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate alternatives.  This evaluation will apply to all parts of the bonding process (mixing, application, and post cure of alternative joining materials):

• Health and environmental risks
• Enironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or European Union (EU) compliant
• Flammablity
• Ease of use, application method
• Functional use environment at ambient/room temperature 68-72F (20-22C)
• Color/ Transparency after full cure
• Achieves holding and full mechanical strength at room temperature cure
• Low outgassing/ Volatile Organic Compounds content

3.0 Information Requested

Vendors having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation, literature, brochures, references, and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing information related to applicable products and capabilities.

NASA seeks input in the following areas:

1. Technical question(s) regarding the alternative adhesive     
2. Identify if the alternative adhesive is currently commercially available or developmental in nature
3. Any other questions you may have for industry or what industry should include in their submittals

4.0 Instructions for Submission      

All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to NASA LaRC Contracting Officers Point of Contracts (POCs) Cody Lichvar, cody.j.lichvar@nasa.gov, and Jenni Schnarr, jennifer.schnarr@nasa.gov, no later than February 23rd 2024 at 11:59PM.  Please reference (Alternative Adhesive RFI) in any response. 

This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only to allow industry the opportunity to verify feasibility of the requirement, as well as inform NASA about existing technologies or technologies in development that have the potential to serve as an alternative adhesive to dichloromethane. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited.  Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.