Sources Sought Notice for a Model Support Replacement of the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center (ARC)’s Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) has a requirement for a replacement model support system of the UPWT. The existing design works well but has worn out. Complete replacement is planned for two model supports, copying the original design. The piece parts will be purchased as part of this requirement.  The parts require complicated machining and exacting tolerances.  The largest and most complex parts (up to 99" long, 15.5" diameter, 1400 lbs) are to be made from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A668 forgings.  Some parts require precision grinding of bearing race lands to .0005” to .001” roundness and cylindricity.  Contractor will be responsible for procuring forgings, material certifications, machining, grinding, heat treating, inspection reports, and shipping to NASA ARC. Final assembly will be done at NASA ARC by the tunnel mechanics, but interim fit checks of the mating parts could be done by the contractor as the work progresses.  Each complete model support system requires over 122 parts.  See ATTACHMENT 1, Draft Statement of Work (SOW) for more details.  See attached drawings for the five items listed in Section 2.4.2 of the Draft SOW.  Note that drawings A327-1826-M-31-1 and A237-1826-M31-2 are combined in the attached drawing A237-1826-M31.

The Government intends to acquire this requirement as a firm-fixed price (FFP), single award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.  The period of performance shall be five years (60 months) from contract award date.  Specific tasks will be defined and funded through integration of FFP Task/Delivery Orders.  

Interested companies may submit their capabilities and qualifications to include the following information:

1. GENERAL INFORMATION: Briefly describe your company and the types of services performed. Please also include: the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers for any points of contacts (POCs), the company’s address, CAGE Code/DUNS number, and the type of business demographic that applies (i.e., small business, large business, women-owned).

2. PAST PERFORMANCE: Provide contract information on similar contracts over the past three (3) years. This information shall include: the name of customer/agency, types of services provided, type of contract, total contract value, and whether the contractor was a prime or subcontractor. If subcontractor, please provide details regarding the prime contract and your company’s role in supporting the prime contractor. In addition, please provide examples about your company’s capabilities to quickly and efficiently adapt to rapidly changing requirements.

3. CAPABILITIES: Provide information describing your company’s capabilities to perform all aspects of the effort as stated above and ATTACHMENT 1, Draft SOW.

All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to the Contracting Officers, Wilma.L.Estrada@nasa.gov and Uyen.K.Tu@nasa.gov by 10 August, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.  Please reference 80ARC026SS0728 and your firm/company name in any response.  Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf.  

This posting, in addition to any attached documents, will be available on www.sam.gov. It is the interested organization’s responsibility to monitor this website for any additional information or answers to questions.  The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 332710, Machine Shops. The size standard is 500 employees.  This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited.  Respondents will not be notified of the results of this Sources Sought Notice. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized at www.sam.gov.  It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or amendments. All potential offerors responding to any released solicitations are required to be registered in www.sam.gov.  The Government intends to review all responses submitted by industry. This data will not be shared outside the Government and may be used to further refine requirements. Please do not submit proprietary information.