Nd-YLF Laser System for Particle Image Velocimetry

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center has issued a Special Notice for a sole source procurement of a Nd-YLF Laser System for Particle Image Velocimetry. NASA intends to award a contract to LaVision, Inc. located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), having determined that the company is the sole provider of this specialized laser system. The procurement will be managed by NASA/NSSC with performance at NASA Langley Research Center, and the agency will use FAR Part 12 and Part 13 procedures for acquiring commercial items and services. The solicitation falls under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing and is classified as a sole source requirement.

The purpose of this procurement is to acquire a replacement high-repetition rate Nd:YLF laser system for NASA Langley Research Center's Flow Physics and Control Branch to support wind tunnel and laboratory experiments investigating complex flow phenomena. The system must meet precise technical specifications including a 527 nm beam output, pulse repetition rates up to 10 kHz, minimum 30 millijoules output energy per laser head, and compatibility with NASA's existing five-system PIV infrastructure. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing by 7 a.m. Central Standard Time on August 6, 2025, though NASA emphasizes that LaVision's unique compatibility with existing equipment justifies the sole source approach. The estimated performance period is 8-10 weeks after order receipt, and responses will be evaluated solely to determine whether competitive procurement might be feasible, with the final determination remaining at the government's discretion.