Optical fiber processing workstaton

Added: Mar 10, 2017 4:31 pm NASA Glenn Research Center has a requirement that is in support of NASA's mission:
1. An automated glass processing workstation is required for optical fiber processing to build custom fiber optic based assemblies for use in cognitive state and other medical monitoring devices. The functionality required includes fiber cleaving, fusion splicing, fiber tapering, fiber termination, combiner, splitter and coupler development and fiber recoating. The system must be capable of automated alignment of polarization-maintaining optical fiber in the form of PM Panda, elliptical and Bow Tie fibers. The glass processing station must be capable of handling up to and including 1.7 mm cladding diameter optical fibers. An automated all-in-one (non-modular) system is required for this work due to laboratory space and resource limitations.

2. The Vytran model GPX3850 is an automated fiber processing workstation that handles all of the specifications and functionality required. The two main U.S. fiber optic glass processing companies are 3SAE Systems and Vytran (Recently acquired by Thorlabs). The main difference between the two systems are as follows. The 3SAE system uses plasma discharge technology to heat the glass to form fusion splices. The Vytran system uses cylindrical shaped hot filament technology to form fusion splices. Side-by side fusion splices are possible with the Vytran filament system and therefore fiber combiners, splitters and couplers are possible to be developed using the Vytran system but these are not possible with the 3SAE system. The 3SAE system is also modular and requires more physical space than the Vytran system since the fiber cleaver and preparation station is not integrated. The 3SAE system is semi-automated while the Vytran system has a much higher degree of automation and is more suitable to our needs. Based on quotes obtained in November 2016, pricing for the Vytran system is also lower.
Market research has been conducted by the NASA Shared Service Center (NSSC) Procurement Specialist and it was determined that the requirement can only be met via Sole Source. The following Market research steps were taken:
The requirement was search on Google, GSA, and SEWP. Neither one of these sites produced an additional vendor or reseller that carries the optical fiber processing workstation.
Confirmed with Vytran, a Division of ThorLabs that there are no authorized small business resellers capable of providing the requirement. The Recommendation and Determination to Solicit from Sole Source (RDSS) provides further details as to why this acquisition is a sole source requirement.