Radiation Testing

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for engineering services and support to conduct ground-based accelerated radiation testing of microelectronic and photonic elements. NASA conducts evaluations of candidate electrical, electronic, and electromechanical (EEE) parts for use in spacecraft and spaceflight instruments. The specified analysis procedures sometimes require ground-based accelerated radiation testing, necessitating the use of particle accelerators to emulate the space environment. These ground-based tests use particle accelerators to provide ion beams that can be employed to evaluate single-event effects (SEE), total ionizing dose (TID), and displacement damage dose (DDD). Understanding these effects is critical for mission success. The period of performance is anticipated to be up to five (5) years from the date of award.

NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source blanket purchase agreement (BPA) and calls placed against the BPA in accordance with FAR Part 12.201-1(e)(3) to acquire these services from the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University (TAMU) under the statutory authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified acquisition procedures. TAMU is the only known facility that can provide the necessary tuned beam energies of 15, 25, and 40 MeV/u, uniform particle fluxes up to 1e5/(cm2.s), an in-air testing/positioning system, and the required ease of access.

The Government intends to acquire a commercial product or service using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Stephanie Stephens at stephanie.d.stephens@nasa.gov and Jason Lou at jason.d.lou@nasa.gov not later than 6:00pm EST on September 25, 2026. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A decision by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf