RF Cables

NASA's Shared Services Center is procuring high-performance RF cable assemblies for the Lunar Communications Relay and Navigation Service (LCRNS) Interoperability and Performance Testbed to support Interoperability Check-Hardware tests. This is a brand name requirement specifically for W. L. Gore & Associates' PHASEFLEX cables, justified by their exceptional phase and amplitude stability, high-power handling capability, and proven reliability in flight projects. The procurement includes multiple cable types with varying outer diameters (0.305-inch and 0.240-inch), different connector configurations (SMA, TNCA, 2.92 mm/K), and lengths ranging from 12 to 120 inches with frequency capabilities spanning 18 GHz and 40 GHz. The contractor must provide Gore-standard test reports including insertion loss and VSWR measurements for each cable assembly. Quotes are due by September 8, 2025, and will be evaluated using lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) methodology, with vendors required to reference tracking number 80NSSC25908907Q in their email subject line.

This procurement is set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 334419 (Other Electronic Component Manufacturing) with no incumbent contractor identified in the documentation. While the total contract value is redacted from the available documents, the procurement involves a substantial quantity of specialized cable assemblies including 6 units of 120-inch cables, 19 units of 12-inch cables, 12 units of 60-inch cables, and 2 units of 120-inch cables with different specifications. The performance period is 8 weeks from purchase order acceptance, with manufacturing required at the manufacturer's facility. Work will be performed in Greenbelt, Maryland, and successful vendors must be registered in SAM.gov and provide specific certifications related to telecommunications equipment and video surveillance services. The Gore cables' eight-week lead time aligns with the project's timeline requirements for this high-precision lunar communications test infrastructure.