Cryogen-free Dilution Refrigerator System

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

No. 80GSFC21001RFI

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) would like to survey the market for a Model BF-LD250S cryogen-free dilution refrigerator system.  The principal purpose of this requirement is to provide, install, and commission the LD250S dilution refrigerator for NASA/GSFC.  NASA is developing a cryogenic detectors, which will require a sub-Kelvin cryogenic systems for testing. This is in support of the development of millimeter, sub-millimeter, and IR detectors.

The purpose of this RFI is to survey vendor capabilities to meet the NASA’s strategic research and development mission requirements. This request is for information and planning purposes and feasibility of the requirements.

The requirements for the base LD250S system are provided by the following specifications:

• Base temperature < 30 mK
• Cooling power > 250 uW at 100 mK
• Cooling power > 360 uW at 120 mK
• System configured for 115V 60Hz main voltage
• System comes with Cryomech PT415-RM pulse tube
• Pulse tube voltage 200/230V 3Ph 60Hz
• Temperature controller provided with 8-channel resistive temperature measurement
• Four temperature control heaters

Additional included options:

• 4K heater kit
• Vacuum can and radiation shields to have removable bottoms and side access port
• 6 SCuNi-CuNi coaxial cables from room temperature to the mixing chamber
• 1 DC wire set, Cu, 35AWG wire, 12 twisted pairs, room temperature to 4K
• 1 DC wire set, Cu, 35AWG wire, 12 twisted pairs, room temperature to 4K with intermediate breakout at 50K flange.
• 1 DC wire set, PhBr, 35AWG wire, 12 twisted pairs, room temperature to mixing chamber
• 1 DC wire set, PhBr, 35AWG wire, 12 twisted pairs, room temperature to mixing chamber with intermediate breakout at still flange.
• 2 optical fibers, single-mode 1550nm FC/PC-FC/PC installation set from room temperature to mixing chamber.

This is not a Request for Proposal, nor a Request for Quotation, nor an Invitation to Bid. Therefore, this RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract nor will the Government pay for information provided in response to this RFI.

To consolidate our planning, responses from industry are requested by January 27, 2021, in the form of written and illustrated concepts, estimates for development costs and schedule, assumptions used for cost and schedule estimates design assumptions, and descriptions of capabilities. Responses can be submitted via email. The email text must give a point-of-contact and provide his/her name, address, telephone/fax numbers, and email address. The information is requested for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled "Solicitation for Information for Planning Purposes."

It is not NASA's intent to publicly disclose vendor proprietary information obtained during this solicitation. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary or Confidential" will be kept confidential.

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in https://beta.sam.gov/.  It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

Technical or procurement questions should be directed to the contact below.

Interested offeror’s shall address the requirements of this RFI in written format as described in the previous paragraphs by electronic mail to the contacts below no later than January 27, 2021.

In addition, please let the contact below know if you are interested in responding to this RFI prior to the deadline.  Notification of interest will allow us to provide updated/revised information to the requirements below.

Point of Contact

    Name:   Odessia Becks

    Title:     Contract Specialist

    Phone:   301-286-8386

    Email:    Odessia.H.Becks@nasa.gov