Tekna Plasma Gun Modernization Components

This contract is a sole-source acquisition under FAR 12.102(a) for OEM-compatible plasma gun components required to modernize NASA’s existing Tekna vacuum plasma spray system at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The procurement is exclusively awarded to Tekna Plasma Systems Inc. due to the proprietary nature of the components, including custom ceramic and quartz tubes, sheathed probes, supersonic nozzles, brass anti-arc rings, EMI shield rings, and O-rings, all of which must meet Tekna’s exacting internal specifications to ensure seamless integration and operational reliability with NASA’s installed systems. No competitive solicitation is conducted, as the components are non-substitutable and only available from the original equipment manufacturer, making competition impractical. The estimated delivery and performance period ends on July 31, 2026, with delivery and final acceptance occurring at the Langley Research Center. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price arrangement, though the total monetary value remains undetermined and undisclosed. Components must be accompanied by certification documents and material specifications verifying compliance with Tekna’s engineering standards and compatibility with NASA’s plasma spray infrastructure, and pre-shipment inspections are required before final government acceptance. Packaging, preservation, and marking requirements are not explicitly defined beyond adherence to Tekna OEM specifications, with no reference to military or federal standards such as MIL-STD-129 or MIL-STD-2073. The contracting office, located at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, is managed by the NASA Shared Services Center, with Shanna L. Patterson serving as the primary point of contact for submissions, which must be provided via email by 7:00 a.m. Central Time on July 23, 2026. No formal evaluation factors, weights, or risk ratings apply due to the non-competitive nature, and no contracting officer, COR, or COTR is formally designated in the provided documents. The acquisition is justified solely on technical exclusivity and system integration necessity, with no socioeconomic set-asides or small business considerations involved.