Purchase of UHV Components for ICEE facility

The NASA Shared Services Center is soliciting ultra-high vacuum (UHV) components for integration into the ICEE facility’s experimental chamber to support planetary ice research under low-temperature, low-vibration, and UHV conditions. This procurement, identified by solicitation number 80NSSC26938491Q and posted on July 27, 2026, is a competitive small business set-aside under NAICS code 334516, exclusively open to certified small businesses. The required deliverables include a RNN Series differentially pumped rotary seal capable of achieving a 10⁻¹¹ Torr base pressure and tolerating 150°C bakeout, an EDT Series UHV linear translator with 0.001 inch resolution and 12 inches of Z-axis travel, and a valve manifold system for staged pumping. Performance specifications are strictly defined, and all components must be delivered by December 20, 2026, to Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, under FOB Destination terms, meaning the contractor bears risk and responsibility until physical delivery. The contract is awarded on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis, where technical acceptability is a pass/fail threshold and award goes to the lowest-priced compliant offer. Contractors must comply with stringent export controls under ITAR and EAR, particularly regarding access to technical data by foreign persons, and are required to obtain necessary licenses. All shipments must be marked with “UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT” and the contracting agency’s title, include the contract number and delivery address, and note duty-free entry eligibility under FAR 52.225-8, with import values over $20,000 triggering mandatory notification to the contracting officer. Packaging and preservation standards are not explicitly defined beyond the requirement that packaging costs be included in the quote, and no MIL-STDs or bar-coding specifications are referenced. Contractors must be registered in SAM.gov, maintain a valid Unique Entity ID and CAGE code, and adhere to personal identity verification requirements for personnel accessing NASA facilities. Compliance with whistleblower protections, prohibition on contracting with inverted domestic corporations, and representation of no discrimination under DEI policies are also mandatory. Proposals are due by July 29, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and must be submitted via email to Kacey Hickman; no physical submissions are accepted. No estimated contract value is provided,