Solid-state power controller for arc fault bench

NASA's Shared Services Center has issued a Special Notice for the procurement of a solid-state power controller designed for an arc fault bench to be used at NASA's Glenn Research Center. The agency intends to award this contract as a sole source to Leach International Corp, located in Buena Park, California, based on a determination that this company is the sole provider of the required equipment. The procurement falls under NAICS Code 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing) and will utilize FAR Part 12 and Part 13 procedures for commercial items and services. This Special Notice was posted on March 12, 2026, inviting interested organizations to submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing by March 17, 2026.

The solid-state power controller will support the System-Agnostic Arc Fault Implementor (SAFDI) testbench, which is part of the Subsonic Vehicle Technologies and Tools (SVTT) project aimed at developing DC arc fault detectors for hybrid-electric aircraft systems, spacecraft power systems, and microgrids. The equipment must meet rigorous technical specifications, including a continuous voltage rating of 1 kVDC or greater, 200A continuous current capacity at 85°C with 600A interrupting capability, and operation across a temperature range of -40°C to +85°C, among other requirements. Interested contractors must submit written capabilities and qualifications to Procurement Specialist Kacey Hickman by 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on March 17, 2026; oral communications are not acceptable. The government will evaluate these submissions solely to determine whether to conduct the procurement on a competitive basis, with the final decision remaining at the government's discretion. There are no stated set-aside restrictions, and the contractor's sole task is to provide the off-the-shelf equipment with no additional meetings or reviews required.