TA Instruments TMA 450

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center (NASA/NSSC) has issued a Special Notice for the sole source procurement of a TA Instruments TMA 450 thermomechanical analyzer for NASA Johnson Space Center. The agency intends to award a contract to TA Instruments - Waters L.L.C. in Historic New Castle, Delaware, under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) after determining they are the sole provider of this specialized scientific instrument. The procurement is classified under NAICS Code 334516 for analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing and will be conducted as a commercial acquisition under FAR Parts 12 and 13. The contract will cover the acquisition, installation, and training for the high-performance thermomechanical analyzer, which features a temperature range of -150 to 1000°C and includes an optional mechanical cooling accessory. Performance will take place at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, specifically in Building 7, Room 2023.

The primary purpose of this Special Notice is to provide other potential contractors an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and qualifications before NASA proceeds with the sole source award. Interested organizations must submit written capabilities statements and qualifications by 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 26, 2025, to the primary point of contact, Cara Craft at Cara.s.craft@nasa.gov. Submissions will be evaluated solely to determine whether the procurement should be conducted competitively rather than as a sole source acquisition. The government retains full discretion over the final competitive approach and explicitly states that oral communications are not acceptable for this process. The contract includes a 30-day period of performance after receipt of order and encompasses professional installation services performed according to ISO 9000 procedures by experienced Service Engineers, along with calibration using traceable standards and basic operational training.