Application of a DARWIN Framework for Fracture Risk Assessment in Additively Manufactured Parts

NASA's National Space Science Center (NSSC) seeks to contract Southwest Research Institute for the development and application of the DARWIN Framework, specifically designed for assessing fracture risk in additively manufactured parts. This will be a sole source procurement, justified by the determination that only Southwest Research Institute can fulfill these specific requirements. The project will take place at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Interested parties can submit their qualifications by June 6, 2025, which will help assess the potential for competitive bidding, even though the government reserves the right to not pursue competitive options. The procurement falls under the NAICS Code 541990, concerning other scientific and technical consulting services. Communication regarding this opportunity is restricted to written responses only, following the incorporated terms and conditions for simplified acquisitions. An ombudsman is available for inquiries about this acquisition process, promoting transparency and accountability.

The document outlines a project focused on gathering and analyzing data related to additive manufacturing (AM) anomalies and fatigue validation, primarily to support NASA's interests. The contractor is tasked with collecting existing AM datasets, particularly from the ASTM AM Center of Excellence at Auburn University and the Space Technology Research Institute led by Carnegie Mellon University and Johns Hopkins University. The project will process alternative datasets to develop anomaly exceedance curves for specific alloys and assess fatigue life predictions using these curves. The project is scheduled to span six months, starting July 1, 2025, with key milestones including a kickoff meeting, dataset identification, processing, and final reporting. After analyzing the data, the contractor will compare life estimates derived from a program called DARWIN against actual test results. Monthly updates will keep NASA informed, leading to a final report summarizing all findings. This initiative reflects a collaborative effort between the contractor and NASA aimed at improving the understanding of AM material behavior and ensuring the reliability of materials used in aerospace applications.