MSE Lite Bulk Buy Converter/Filter

This contract is a sole-source procurement issued by NASA Shared Services Center under solicitation number 80NSSC26936191Q for the acquisition of two specialized components: the MFL2812S/883 65W DC-DC converter and the FMCE-1528/883 15A EMI filter, both with MIL-STD-883 screening. The requirement is non-competitive due to the proprietary integration of these specific parts into the MSE Lite payload, where substitution would necessitate a six-month redesign and pose significant schedule and cost risks to NASA’s CLPS missions. The contract is justified under FAR 12.102(a) as a commercial item acquisition, with Crane Electronics, Inc. identified as the exclusive source. Deliveries of 33 units each component are required to be made to NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, within a 10-week as-required lead time, and each shipment must include a Certificate of Conformance to verify compliance with the 883 screening standards for high-reliability space applications. Packaging and preservation practices are not explicitly detailed but are implied to follow industry norms consistent with MIL-STD-883, and while no formal FOB terms or pricing data are provided, the procurement is structured as a firm-fixed-price transaction under FAR Part 12. The contracting officer is Shanna L. Patterson, who also serves as the primary point of contact for submissions and inquiries, with proposals required to be submitted electronically by the June 26, 2026 deadline. Although no formal evaluation factors, cost breakdowns, or corporate certifications are included, the acquisition is underpinned by the necessity of technical compatibility, and NASA FAR Supplement Clause 1852.215-84 governing the ombudsman process applies. The lack of competition and absence of socioeconomic set-asides reflect the unique engineering constraints, with no alternatives considered viable due to integrated design dependencies and revalidation burdens.