Special Test Equipment (STE) Vacuum Chambers, Thermal Shroud, and Thermal Conditioning Units (TCU)

NASA Glenn Research Center has issued a Request for Information (RFI 80GRC026RFI01) to gather industry input on the feasibility, design, and rough-order-of-magnitude costing for Special Test Equipment including vacuum chambers, thermal shrouds, and Thermal Conditioning Units (TCUs) capable of simulating lunar environmental conditions. The equipment must achieve a vacuum pressure of at least 5×10⁻⁸ Torr with a helium leak rate no higher than 5×10⁻⁹ std atm cc/sec, operate across a thermal range of 77K to 475K, and support test articles up to 4,500 kg. Vacuum chambers require #4 machine-polished interiors, full fusion welding, and crane-free loading via roll-in platforms, while thermal shrouds must handle heat loads of up to 100 kW, use liquid nitrogen cooling, incorporate multi-layer insulation and high-emissivity coatings, and be removable for cleaning. TCU systems must precisely control temperatures between 90K and 425K with a minimum 10 kW heating and cooling capacity using nitrogen as the working fluid. All components must comply with ASME BPVC Sections V, VIII, and IX for pressure vessel construction, non-destructive examination, and welding qualifications, with materials not covered by ASME standards requiring NASA Glenn’s Pressure Systems Manager approval. Fabrication must be performed by ASME “U” or NBIC “R” stamped organizations with approved quality assurance programs. Responses are due by May 6, 2026, and must be submitted as a single 50-page PDF to Paige Foreman at NASA GRC, with proprietary information clearly marked; no reimbursement will be provided for submissions. The RFI is strictly for market research and planning purposes, with no obligation to proceed with a future contract. NASA may use submitted information in subsequent solicitations and explicitly reserves the right to publicly release responses unless confidentiality is formally requested. Place of performance is the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and no contractual terms, evaluation factors, payment details, or mandatory certifications are included at this stage.