Specialized Optical System Development

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has a requirement for specialized and significant experience and knowledge to support the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Project in the areas of grazing incidence optical system development, manufacturing, and test. MSFC intends to award this effort to the Small Business Administration (SBA) HUBZone-certified business LINC Research. Only LINC Research has the required familiarity with the IXPE basis of estimate and plans for optics production to enable IXPE to immediately begin work on optical shell production, and to ensure any replicated optics work already in process is successfully cleared. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested SBA HUBZone-certified sources may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing, via e-mail, to the identified point of contact not later than 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time on February 13, 2017. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive bases. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition bases, based upon responses to this notice, is solely with the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.Html.