Lidar Transmitter Laser

NASA/NSSC has issued a Special Notice for the procurement of a Lidar Transmitter Laser under a sole source contract arrangement. The agency intends to award this contract to Arete Associates, Inc., having determined that the company is the sole provider of this specific laser technology required for NASA's operations. The procurement falls under the Total Small Business set-aside category and is classified under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The laser system specifications include precise technical requirements such as a 1.06 micron wavelength, 70 mJ pulse energy, 6 nanosecond pulse width, and 20 Hz repetition rate. Performance of the contract will take place at NASA Langley Research Center, with the procurement being managed through NASA/NSSC.

The primary purpose of this Special Notice is to announce NASA's intent to proceed with a sole source acquisition while providing an opportunity for other qualified organizations to demonstrate their capabilities and potentially challenge the sole source determination. Interested contractors must submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing by 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on July 31, 2025, with oral communications explicitly not being acceptable. The government will evaluate these submissions solely to determine whether the procurement might be conducted competitively, though the final procurement decision remains at NASA's discretion. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and includes the NASA Clause 1852.215-84 regarding the Ombudsman. Only organizations with demonstrated capabilities in manufacturing the specific Lidar Transmitter Laser technology with the required technical specifications will be considered for potential competitive procurement.