Cold Chambers

The Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio is seeking a contractor to provide access to and logistical support for an extreme cold environmental chamber facility to test the performance of medical equipment and disposables under severe temperature conditions of -40°C, -20°C, and 0°C. The contractor must modify existing equipment to create functional test platforms and ensure full operational readiness to support a multi-week non-human subject research study within a 12-month contract period. The facility must meet Department of War compliance standards for Controlled Unclassified Information and provide secure, dedicated access for government personnel and their testing protocols. The performance location is Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and the contractor is responsible for all personnel, tools, materials, supervision, and facility maintenance required to execute the research under stringent environmental controls. Payment will be processed electronically via Wide Area WorkFlow using Defense Finance and Accounting Service electronic funds transfer, with invoicing strictly prohibited through any other method. The solicitation, issued under N0018926QB012 with a response deadline of May 5, 2026, is a firm fixed-price contract awarded on a best-value trade-off basis, not lowest price technically acceptable. Offerors must maintain active System for Award Management registration and comply with all applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement clauses, including those governing employment eligibility, paid sick leave, service labor standards, cybersecurity (NIST SP 800-171), safeguarding covered defense information, and subcontracting. Special provisions require strict adherence to security protocols for unclassified IT systems and prohibitions against foreign government-supplied technical data. While pricing details are not disclosed, the government may trade off price against past performance to secure the best overall value. The point of contact for all inquiries is Esteffani Varela of the Naval Supply Systems Command in Norfolk, Virginia, and the contract incorporates clauses requiring compliance with environmental, accessibility, and administrative standards without explicitly citing external industry or military specifications beyond the stated performance requirements.