Shadow Chaser: infrared camera for stellar occultations

NASA Shared Services Center seeks quotations for a Shadow Chaser infrared camera for stellar occultations, with proposals due September 18, 2026 and questions due September 17. This is a brand name requirement for authorized resellers only; vendors must provide proof of pricing from the manufacturer and confirm authorization to resell the specified items.

Place of performance is Hampton, Virginia. The required equipment is a C-RED 2 camera from Andor/Oxford Instruments, specified to deliver high-speed imaging at 300–1,000 frames per second with noise below 1,000 electrons per second, operate in the near-infrared spectrum (0.9–1.5 microns), maintain cooling to -40°C, sustain overhead between exposures below 0.1% of exposure time, support external GPS triggering, and feature high-speed interface compatibility with control computers. Delivery is required by October 18, 2026, with a 12-week leadtime. The NAICS code is 334519 (Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing); PSC is 6695 (Combination and Miscellaneous Instruments).

Award will be made to the responsible offeror with the lowest-price technically acceptable offer. Quotes are firm fixed-price commercial items. Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov, include CAGE/UEI code, FOB destination, leadtime, and points of contact in their bids, include shipping costs, reference the tracking number 80NSSC26938932Q-1 in the email subject line, and accept that payment will not be made by credit card. The contract will incorporate FAR 52.212-4 terms and applicable NASA FAR clauses including export license compliance, whistleblower notification, and sustainable products and services considerations.