Astromaterials Glovebox Systems - Design & Fabrication (A-BOX)

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

This is Amendment 1 to Notice 80JSC026A-BOX, posted July 15, 2026, is issued by NASA/JSC to provide the A-BOX Technical Library Request Form information.

The A-BOX electronic Technical Library, containing technical requirements documents regarding this posting, is available at the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) website at www.SAM.gov. To gain access to the Technical Library you must complete the 2-step verification process as instructed in www.SAM.gov. To request access to the Technical Library, individuals must provide a completed “A-BOX Technical Library Request Form” to the Points of Contact listed in this notice. When responding, reference “80JSC026A-BOX Technical Library Access” in the subject line.

Individuals requesting access to the Controlled Technical Library must provide the following information to the Contracting Officer, Victoria Miller at Victoria.n.miller@nasa.gov, and Contract Specialist, Ealena Telson at Ealena.telson@nasa.gov. The submitting individual shall verify that the information provided to NASA is correct, complete, and accurate. Vendors are responsible for ensuring their compliance with all U.S. export regulations per the A-BOX Technical Library Request Form. Please note that once the request form is submitted, you must have a login for www.SAM.gov and once logged-in you must click the request access button in the attachments/links section of the announcement. If approved, you will be granted access to all A-BOX Technical Library documents.

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

This notice is issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/ Johnson Space Center (JSC) to post a draft Statement of Work (SOW)(Attachment I) and Capabilities Questions and Responses (Attachment II) to solicit responses from interested parties. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. 

This SOW establishes the overarching technical and performance requirements for the design, fabrication, testing, delivery, and installation of single-unit, multi-unit, or modular controlled-atmosphere glovebox systems (GS) to be acquired for the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Curation facility at NASA/JSC. ARES GSs support astromaterials sample processing, storage, and curation. Future and existing lunar and planetary sample returns — including but not limited to Artemis‑related missions, as reflected in Section 10.0, Delivery Timelines and Milestones, in the SOW — will require custom GSs. Manufacturing and fabrication guidelines for the gloveboxes and operational systems shall follow the American Glovebox Society Guidelines for Gloveboxes document number AGS-G001-2007 3rd Edition, where required and applicable (further standard details in Section 2.0, Applicable Documents and Standards, of the SOW (Attachment I).

NASA/JSC is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for the design, fabrication, testing, delivery, and installation of single-unit, multi-unit, or modular controlled-atmosphere GS to be acquired for the ARES Curation facility at NASA/JSC.

1. Small Business Utilization Considerations:

NASA/JSC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses (SB) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for Astromaterials Glovebox System — Design & Fabrication (A-BOX). Vendors are encouraged to demonstrate capabilities as a prime, subcontractor and/or teaming partner. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), HUBZone, Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set-aside based on responses received.

Respondents are requested to provide informed input on realistic and appropriate SB subcontracting and/or participation goals for the specific requirement.  This type of feedback supports NASA’s market research and helps ensure the acquisition strategy is aligned with actual industry capability. Industry feedback is requested for:

1. SB Subcontracting goals;
2. Barriers that may limit SB participation, such as certifications, unique technical requirements, security needs, specialized tools, or high-risk performance areas and/or
3. Strategies to increase SB participation, including:
   1. Breaking requirements into smaller components
   2. Identifying areas appropriate for subcontracting
   3. Considering teaming or mentor protégé approaches

Respondents are requested to provide informed responses to the document titled, “Capability Questions and Responses” (Attachment II).

2. Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) Considerations:

The nature of the work anticipated under the A-BOX may create the potential for OCI(s) as currently described in FAR Subpart 9.5, Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest. Each interested party should review FAR Subpart 9.5 considering NASA’s anticipation of OCI issues and carefully consider the extent to which an OCI may arise before making the decision to compete for the A-BOX.

Respondents are requested to provide informed responses to the document titled, “Capability Question and Responses” (Attachment II).

NASA will review any responses received regarding potential OCI and each offeror’s proposed OCI mitigation strategy. NASA will respond to each company who submits a mitigation strategy. NASA’s response is not intended to serve as confirmation that, in fact, all potential OCI have been identified, an OCI will ultimately exist, or that an interested party is capable of successfully eliminating or mitigating an identified OCI.

NASA’s response is also not intended to encourage or discourage any interested party from responding to an RFP issued for A-BOX in the future. Furthermore, NASA’s response in no way alters or interprets FAR 9.5 as it applies to a final SOW or a final proposal submission, should an interest party elect to submit a proposal to an RFP for A-BOX. Subsequent initial OCI submission and NASA’s response, NASA will not consider further information as it relates to this RFI.

3. Capability Considerations:

Respondents are requested to provide informed responses to the document titled, “Capability Questions and Responses” (Attachment II).

4. Business Considerations:

Respondents are requested to provide informed responses to the document titled, “Capability Questions and Responses” (Attachment II).

The documents on the NASA A-BOX acquisition website are for information and planning purposes, to allow industry the opportunity to comment, and to promote competition only. NASA will not affirmatively release any information received in response to this RFI to the public, but may use information received in developing the best approach for a contract strategy, and therefore such information may be recognizable to the interested party who submitted it. Any information submitted in response to this RFI that is marked as “Confidential Commercial or Financial Information” will be considered as voluntarily submitted in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act

This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government will use the information to finalize the RFP as necessary.

All comments or questions must be submitted electronically via email to Victoria N. Miller, Contracting Officer (Victoria.n.miller@nasa.gov) and Ealena Telson, Contract Specialist (Ealena.telson@nasa.gov), no later than July 29, 2026, at 4PM Central Time (CT)). When responding reference 80JSC026A-BOX– Request for Information (RFI) “Astromaterials Glovebox System — Design & Fabrication (A-BOX)”.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf

If a solicitation is released, then it and any additional documents will be available on Sam.gov. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any.

NASA intends to publicize a listing of respondents to facilitate teaming arrangements. Should your firm desire not to be included in this listing, clearly indicate this desire in your response.