Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Project
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center seeks to acquire several models of the CIMEL CE318-T family of Sun-Sky-Lunar Spectral Photometers, along with essential parts for repair, maintenance, and upgrades of photometers, tracking robots, and advanced control boxes. These instruments are critical for monitoring aerosol optical properties and support NASA's global climate change and satellite validation initiatives. The acquisition will take place under a sole-source, Firm Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with CIMEL ELECTRONIQUE, the sole provider capable of meeting the AERONET program's specific requirements. The contract will span five years, reflecting the unique status of these photometers as the standardized instrumentation in the Aerosol Robotic Network, which has been operational for over three decades. The procurement adheres to FAR Part 12 for the acquisition of commercial products or services, justified under 10 U.S.C 3204(a)(1) due to the absence of alternative sources capable of meeting NASA's technical and scheduling needs. While this is a sources-sought notice, responses from interested parties will only influence whether NASA proceeds with a competitive acquisition. The solicitation is managed by NASA Goddard’s Contracting Specialist, with capabilities and qualifications due by June 23, 2026. This effort supports NASA's commitment to maintaining a consistent, long-term aerosol data set, critical for climate research and satellite validation, with no viable substitute vendors available.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Paris, FR-75, 75011, FRASet-Aside
Documents
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Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
NASA/GSFC has a requirement for several models of the CIMEL CE318-T family of Sun-Sky-Lunar Spectral Photometers and necessary parts for the repair, maintenance, and upgrade of the photometers; tracking robots; and advanced control boxes. These photometers monitor aerosol optical properties and provide a uniform database for the long-term characterization of aerosol optical properties within NASA’s global climate change and satellite validation programs.
NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole-source, Firm Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to acquire the items from CIMEL ELECTRONIQUE in support of NASA’s Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) program. The period of performance for this contract will be 5 (five) years. This requirement is being is pursuant to 10 U.S.C 3204(a)(1), Only One Responsible Source. The network has been in existence for over 30 years, and no other source is available within the market to provide instrumentation that meets the Government’s needs, other than CIMEL. The AERONET Project has grown due to standardization across all aspects of the program. This includes data processing, data measurement protocols, calibration procedures, and scientific equipment. With respect to the latter, one fundamental photometer produced by CIMEL ELECTRONIQUE, the CE318-T, has been the only instrument used in and designed to the specific requirements of the AERONET program. Award to any other vendor would not meet the Government’s instrumentation schedule requirements.
The Government intends to acquire a commercial product or service using FAR Part 12.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Kermit Stanbach, Contracting Specialist, at Kermit.S.Stanbach@nasa.gov, not later than 4:00 PM EST on June 23, 2026. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf.