Purchase of DLC CTL Laser for NASA Ames COSMIC Lab

This solicitation, identified as 80NSSC26932509Q, is a firm-fixed-price procurement issued by the NASA Shared Services Center on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the purchase of a DLC CTL Laser to be deployed in the NASA Ames COSMIC Lab. The procurement is structured as a total small business set-aside under FAR 19.5, with the NAICS code 334516, restricting eligibility to small businesses registered in SAM.gov. The technical requirements specify a laser with a tuning range of 1010–1100 nm without mode-hops, output power exceeding 12 mW, isolation greater than 45 dB, a maximum scan speed of 10 nm/s, absolute wavelength accuracy under 110 pm, and relative repeatability under 10 pm. Additional critical specs include a typical instantaneous linewidth under 0.5 kHz, a motor micro step size of 0.4 pm, piezo scan capability up to 45 GHz, TEM00 beam output, and power consumption of approximately 50 W. The contract calls for delivery as soon as possible, with an estimated lead time of 6–8 months, under FOB Destination terms, meaning risk and responsibility transfer to the government upon arrival at the destination. Acceptance is contingent upon full compliance with the stated technical parameters, evaluated under a lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) approach, where failure to meet any requirement automatically disqualifies the offer. The solicitation incorporates numerous standard and customized contract clauses, including FAR 52.212-4 for commercial items, 52.204-9 for personal identity verification, 52.223-23 for sustainable products, and 52.247-34 for FOB Destination delivery. Unique NASA-specific deviations include clauses on whistleblower rights, release of sensitive information, government property listing, and denial of facility access, which contractors must fully comply with. Export control obligations are strictly enforced, requiring adherence to ITAR and EAR regulations, mandatory export licensing for hardware, technical data, software, or foreign personnel involvement, and full recordkeeping. Packaging must clearly mark all shipments with “UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT” and include the contracting agency name, with shipping documents containing the contract number, carrier identification, delivery address, gross weight, estimated value, and a specific duty-free entry notation. Offers must