Develop and customize a sublimation/desorption model for lunar volatiles

NASA's Shared Services Center has issued a Special Notice for developing and customizing a sublimation/desorption model for lunar volatiles as part of the agency's lunar exploration research efforts. The notice announces NASA's intent to award a sole source contract to Space Science Institute located in Boulder, Colorado, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i). NASA has determined that Space Science Institute is the sole provider capable of performing this specialized work, which will support the Multifunctional Nanosensor Platform (MNP) project at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The procurement will utilize commercial item acquisition procedures under FAR Parts 12 and 13, with the NAICS code 541715 for research and development in physical and engineering sciences. Performance will occur at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, though the contractor will work from their Boulder facility.

The purpose of this Special Notice is to provide other organizations an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and qualifications to perform this work before NASA proceeds with the sole source award. Interested parties must submit written responses by 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 19, 2025, to the designated procurement contacts, with oral communications not being acceptable. The work involves developing models to understand volatile behavior in high-latitude lunar environments, specifically focusing on plasma, dust, volatile, and electrical characteristics near polar landing sites. The contract spans 36 months from July 15, 2025, to July 14, 2028, structured as a base year with two option years, and includes key milestones such as customizing sublimation/desorption models for lunar mission applications and participating in regular project consultations. NASA will evaluate submitted capabilities solely to determine whether to conduct this procurement competitively, though the final decision remains at the government's discretion.