Quantel Laser SHG/THG Unit Purchase

NASA's Shared Services Center has issued a sole source special notice for the procurement of a Quantel Laser SHG/THG (Second Harmonic Generation/Third Harmonic Generation) Unit from Lumibird Inc. of Bozeman, Montana. This procurement is intended to support NASA Langley Research Center's requirement for specialized laser system upgrades to enable ultraviolet measurement techniques. The acquisition falls under NAICS code 541715 for Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, and will be conducted using FAR Part 12 and Part 13 procedures. The notice represents NASA's intent to award a sole source contract based on the determination that Lumibird is the only provider capable of supplying the required specialized laser unit. The procurement includes specific optical components such as an optical bench and multiple optical crystals designed for precise wavelength generation ranging from 212nm to 568nm.

The primary purpose of this special notice is to inform potential contractors of NASA's intent to proceed with sole source procurement while providing an opportunity for other qualified organizations to demonstrate their capabilities. Interested organizations must submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing to the primary point of contact, Shanna Patterson, no later than 7:00 a.m. Central Standard Time on June 20, 2025. Oral communications are not acceptable, and all submissions will be evaluated solely to determine whether the procurement should be conducted on a competitive basis rather than sole source. The government retains full discretion in making the final determination regarding procurement method. The technical requirements include full software integration with an existing Q-Scan Dye Laser system, with delivery expected within 30 days after receipt of order. NASA has justified the sole source approach by stating that no other company has developed a compatible SHG/THG unit that can directly integrate with the existing Lumibird laser system without substantially reducing system utility or performance.