Special Test Equipment (STE) Vacuum Chambers, Thermal Shroud, and Thermal Conditioning Units (TCU)
NASA Glenn Research Center is issuing a Request for Information on Special Test Equipment—vacuum chambers, thermal shrouds, and Thermal Conditioning Units—with responses due by May 6, 2026. This is a market-research RFI, not a formal procurement vehicle; respondents are invited to comment on feasibility, provide rough-order-of-magnitude costs and lead times, and indicate interest in collaboration. Entities need not be able to supply all components to respond.
NASA seeks two large vacuum chambers (10 feet tall × 11 feet wide × 20 feet long interior) and three smaller chambers (9 feet tall × 9 feet wide × 18 feet long interior). All must achieve vacuum levels of 5×10⁻⁸ Torr with leak rates of 5×10⁻⁹ STD ATM CC/SEC or better, feature fully welded non-sectional construction with internal fusion vacuum welds, and handle temperatures from 77 Kelvin to 340–425 Kelvin depending on chamber type. The large chambers require three 60-inch flange-mounted ports and recessed pit installation with specialized door solutions for test article loading without cranes or forklifts. Smaller chambers require two 42-inch flange ports and swinging doors. All must accommodate lunar simulant soil testing (JSC-1/1A) and comply with ASME BPVC Section VIII fabrication standards by manufacturers with ASME Code Stamps or equivalent quality assurance.
Thermal shrouds must reject 100 kilowatts of heat load (large chambers) or 1–10 kilowatts (smaller chambers) using fully flooded liquid nitrogen systems with Multi-Layer Insulation and high-emissivity interior paint. Thermal Conditioning Units for smaller chambers must provide precise temperature control from 90 Kelvin to 425 Kelvin with minimum 10 kilowatts refrigeration and heating capacity using N₂ working fluid.
Submissions are limited to 50 pages in PDF format and must be sent to paige.e.foreman@nasa.gov by April 27, 2026, 3:00 PM EST, referencing solicitation number 80GRC026RFI01.
80GRC026RFI01 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Glenn Research Center
4/2/26, 2:11 PM Amendment 1 to Solicitation 80GRC026R0011 Special Test Equipment (STE) Vacuum Chamber 3 (Chamber Shell, Thermal Shroud, and Thermal Conditioning Unit (TCU)
NASA's Glenn Research Center seeks one custom rectangular thermal vacuum chamber, one thermal shroud, and one thermal conditioning unit (TCU) for its Aerospace Power Systems Laboratory facility in Cleveland, Ohio, with proposals due August 7, 2026. This is full and open competition under NAICS 332420 (Metal Tank Heavy Gauge Manufacturing); no set-aside applies.
The chamber must achieve 5×10⁻⁷ Torr vacuum capability with a leak rate of 5×10⁻⁸ STD ATM CC/SEC or better, operate across 77 Kelvin to 425 Kelvin, and feature modular 304 stainless steel construction with internal full-fusion welds and #4 machine-polished surfaces. The thermal shroud must deliver 10 kW minimum heat rejection using liquid nitrogen and maintain 2K thermal uniformity. The TCU must be commercial off-the-shelf, controllable from 100K to 425K with minimum 15 kW refrigeration and 10 kW heating capacity using nitrogen as the working fluid, and include MODBUS TCP/IP control. All components must comply with NASA Standard 8719.17 Revision D and ASME codes. Place of performance is Cleveland, Ohio.
Total contract duration is 1,380 calendar days from award, with onsite installation anticipated by January 2, 2030. Onsite installation and acceptance testing must collectively represent a minimum of 35 percent of total contract value. The contract is firm-fixed-price with performance-based milestone payments; 100 percent performance and payment bonds are required. Technical questions are due July 24, 2026, at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Evaluation uses Highest Technically Rated with Fair and Reasonable Price methodology: past performance as a pass/fail gate, followed by technical evaluation across four subfactors scored as Excellent (91–100), Very Good (71–90), Good (51–70), Fair (31–50), or Poor (0–30), then price evaluation of the highest-ranked technical proposal. The technical proposal is limited to 40 pages and must include past performance examples from the past ten years, technical approach, design approach with compliance matrix, fabrication and quality control methods, and project management and schedule. Volume II requires completed SF-1449 form, line-item pricing for all contract line items and milestone payments, and a price narrative. Proposals are submitted via email or NASA Box; no extensions are granted, and late offers are not considered.
80GRC026R0011 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Glenn Research Center
7/10/26, 5:19 PM