Instrumented Bump Duct for GRC Distorted Duct Flow Rig

NASA's Shared Services Center issued a sole-source Special Notice on July 21, 2026, for an Instrumented Bump Duct for the Glenn Research Center Distorted Duct Flow Rig, with a capability-statement deadline of July 23, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. Central Time. The procurement will proceed as a sole-source award to CUBRC Inc. under FAR 12.102(a) unless competing organizations submit written evidence that the work should be conducted competitively.

The Instrumented Bump Duct comprises a 6061-T6 aluminum test section manufactured to specification drawing SK40004_RevA, featuring six wall shear stress sensors (three contoured to the test section's inner mold line and three flanged for removable installation) and all required external electronics, cabling, and connectors for voltage-based measurement. Delivery is expected within 18 weeks after receipt of order to Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

The sole-source justification rests on CUBRC's subsidiary, Ahmic Aerospace L.L.C., holding a patent on a direct-strain sensor design capable of being contoured to non-planar flow surfaces. NASA determined that any alternative vendor would introduce flow disturbance misaligned with the test section's complex internal contours, corrupting flowfield data and rendering test results unusable. The procurement will use commercial item procedures under FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit written capabilities and qualifications to Shanna L. Patterson, Procurement Specialist, at Shanna.L.Patterson@nasa.gov by July 23, 2026. Oral communications are not acceptable. NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing); PSC 6695.