variable angle transmittance

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby soliciting information under this Request for Information (RFI) to determine whether or not there are interested and available vendor sources capable of meeting the identified requirements. This document is for information and planning purposes only and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. The Titan Haze Simulation (THS) experiment developed at the Ames COSmIC research laboratory facility is designed to study planetary analogs for the analysis of return data from space missions such as CASSINI. To achieve NASA SMD programmatic goals, we need to purchase variable angle transmittance and reflectance accessories along with polarizers and their holders, in order to characterize the scattering properties of planetary aerosol analogs produced in the THS experiment. These accessories allow the samples to be characterized over a wide incidence and emittance angle range in a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The variable angle transmittance and reflectance accessories (VATA and Seagull) will be mounted on an FTIR spectrometer to measure the angular light distribution of the THS samples in both transmission and reflection. These measurements will be used to extract accurate optical constants for use in the analysis of observational data from Cassini and future exoplanetary mission. Responses to this RFI should address the following: (1) Organization/Company Info: a. Name and address of firm, b. Cage Code and DUNS Number (if available), c. Points of contact name(s) with phone number(s) and email address(es), d. Website (if applicable), and name of parent organization (if applicable). e. Business size (Based on NAICS code) and/or Socioeconomic designation (i.e., large, small, SDB, WOSB, VOSB, SDVOSB), f. Average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees; g. List of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement) (2) Technical Functional Requirements - Ability to meet technical requirements identified in the following: - Seagull Variable Angle Reflection Accessory for FTIR spectrometers - Standard wire grid polarizer (KRS-5 substrate) for the Seagull - Special right-handed wire-grid polarizer (KRS-5 substrate) for the Seagull - Variable Angle Transmission Accessory (VATA) for FTIR spectrometers - Standard Slide Holder for FTIR spectrometers - Special Slide Holder for FTIR spectrometers - Custom-designed cylindrical tube to support coated window sample within the Seagull specular reflectance sample holder To infer the most accurate optical constants, the widest angle coverage is required. The VATA and Seagull offer the widest angle range available on the market Interested firms are requested to submit their response to this RFI via email only to Mia Blessing at email m.t.blessing@nasa.gov, no later than 4:00PM PST on October 10, 2016 the stated response date. Submissions shall be compatible with and accessible using Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat software applications. When responding, reference 4200600607- Variance Transmittance Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3, entitled "Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes," this information is being made available for market research, information, and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. This RFI is subject to review or cancellation at any time and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract. The Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this request and respondents will not be notified of the results. This announcement does not constitute a Request for Proposal. Please do not request for a copy of the solicitation, as no solicitation exists at this time. It is the responsibility of offerors and interested parties to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments, if any and will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the documents. 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. Information about major upcoming ARC procurement actions is available at http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eis/admin/admin.cgi?center=ARC.