X-ray Diffractometer Maintenance for Empyrean Diffractometer

NASA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center has issued a Special Notice for X-ray Diffractometer Maintenance services for an Empyrean Diffractometer unit located at Marshall Space Flight Center. The agency intends to award a sole source contract to Malvern Panalytical Inc., a company identified as the exclusive provider of maintenance services for this specialized equipment. The procurement is being conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) authority, which allows for sole source acquisitions when a single source is deemed necessary. NASA/NSSC will serve as the procuring center for this effort, with performance taking place at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center facility. The contract will be treated as a commercial item acquisition using FAR Parts 12 and 13 procedures. The NAICS code assigned to this procurement is 811210, which covers electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance services.

The primary objective of this Special Notice is to announce NASA's intention to award a sole source maintenance contract while providing an opportunity for interested organizations to demonstrate alternative capabilities and qualifications that might justify competitive procurement. Any organizations wishing to challenge the sole source determination must submit written capabilities and qualifications documentation to the point of contact no later than March 12, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time; oral communications will not be accepted. The contract period runs from April 9, 2026 through April 8, 2027 and requires the contractor to provide comprehensive maintenance services including a maximum 48-hour response time for service calls, at least one preventive maintenance visit annually, a minimum of five corrective maintenance visits throughout the contract year, and unlimited emergency phone support during business hours. The Government retains sole discretion to decide whether to proceed with sole source procurement or conduct full and open competition based on the responses received to this notice.