Cryogen-free, He-3 precooled Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a requirement for a full cryogenic platform.    

NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire this effort from High Precision Devices, Incorporated (HPD) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” 

HPD shall provide for the construction and test of a full cryogenic platform. The Athena mission will use a He-3 precooled Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator for the X-IFU instrument.  NASA/GSFC requires a testing system with identical thermal interfaces to develop x-ray detector technology for the X-IFU. The construction of a full cryogenic platform requires technologies to mimic interfaces for the X-IFU instrument including a cryogen-free helium precooled single stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator that operates with more than 85 mJ of cooling capacity at 50 mK with less than 40nW of parasitic heat load. In addition, the system is required to have more than 15J of cooling capacity at 300 mK, and more than 0.9 W of cooling power at 4K.

The rationale supporting the use of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) is justified because HPD is the only organization qualified to perform the subject requirements based on the following:

HPD, Inc. is the only source of a full cryogenic platform. HPD has already fully developed and sold multiple copies of the required equipment, including two to NASA/GSFC. As such there will be no development cost incurred by the government. Further the required performance has already been demonstrated on fully delivered systems. Purchasing from HPD will allow NASA/GSFC to swap out parts between the new cryostat and the previous two provided by HPD very quickly, as is needed for our flight program.  The interfaces will be almost identical, meaning that the experimental set-ups can easily be installed and exchanged between platforms and will not require any redesign.  

The estimated period of performance for this firm fixed price (FFP) contract will be for one year from date of award.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Shanita Boykin at Shanita.L.Boykin@nasa.gov not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on November 12, 2021.  Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis.  A determination 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 http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html