8 thigh cuffs

This Special Notice from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center announces the procurement of 8 specialized thigh cuffs for spaceflight research. NASA intends to issue a sole source contract to Clemson University for these veno-constrictive thigh cuffs, which will be used to study vision changes associated with spaceflight. The procurement includes 2 pairs of extra small cuffs and 6 pairs of small cuffs, with performance to occur at NASA Johnson Space Center. The contract will be awarded under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), with NASA having determined that Clemson University is the sole provider capable of meeting the technical requirements. The opportunity is classified under NAICS code 611310 for Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools.

The primary purpose of this procurement is to acquire highly specialized medical equipment for NASA's ongoing research into spaceflight-induced vision changes, with cuffs designed to accommodate specific thigh circumferences and achieve precise skin contact pressure up to 60 mmHg. Interested organizations may submit capability statements and qualifications in writing to the contracting officer Cara Craft at Cara.s.craft@nasa.gov by 1 p.m. Central Standard Time on August 8, 2025. Only written submissions will be accepted, as oral communications are not permitted for this procurement. NASA will evaluate all submissions to determine whether the procurement should be conducted competitively, though the government retains sole discretion over the final competition approach. The technical specifications require cuffs with precise engineering characteristics, including specific fabric compositions, aluminum buckles, and micro-adjustment capabilities, all validated through previous NASA human spaceflight and ground analog projects.