Advanced mechanical testing at cryogenics temperatures for fabrics and plastic

NASA's Shared Services Center issued this Special Notice on April 15, 2026, for advanced mechanical testing of fabrics and plastics at cryogenic temperatures. The agency intends to award a sole source contract to Precision Measurements and Instruments Corporation, located in Corvallis, Oregon, but is soliciting written capabilities and qualifications from interested organizations to determine whether to conduct the procurement competitively. The procurement will be executed under FAR 12.102(a) authority, treating the requirement as commercial items or services under FAR Part 12 procedures. Performance will be located at NASA Johnson Space Center. Interested organizations must submit written submissions by 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on April 20, 2026, to Cara Craft, Procurement Specialist II, at cara.s.craft@nasa.gov, with the final decision to compete or proceed as sole source remaining at the Government's discretion.

The objective of this procurement is to support mechanical characterization testing of spacesuit materials under cryogenic conditions for NASA's Mars GTU 2020 Project, establishing baseline mechanical properties for future material selection. The vendor will conduct puncture, tear, and tensile testing on 166 pre-cut fabric and polymer specimens at temperatures of -143°C using a United Testing System STN-100KN system, performing work in compliance with specified ASTM standards. The contract is structured on a Firm Fixed Price basis with a Period of Performance extending up to 12 months following Approved to Proceed. Key deliverables include specimen inspection documentation, temperature conditioning records, test data with computed force and elongation values, stress versus strain curves, photographs and videos of testing, and a comprehensive final report. There are no specific eligibility restrictions mentioned, and no travel is required for contract performance.