NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

66 -- AIRES ECHELLE GRATING RULING SOL RFQ2-36702-SLC DUE 081999 POC Patricia B. Hudson, Contract Specialist, Phone (650) 604-3001, Fax (650) 604-4646, Email phudson@mail.arc.nasa.gov -- Patricia B. Hudson, Contract Specialist, Phone (650) 604-3001, Fax (650) 604-4646, Email phudson@mail.arc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/ARC/date.html#RFQ2-36702-SLC. E-MAIL: Patricia B. Hudson, phudson@mail.arc.nasa.gov. NASA Ames Research Center plans to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the ruling of a large, coarse diffraction-limited echelle grating for the AIRES (Airborne Infrared Echelle Spectrometer) instrument to be used at cryogenic temperatures (4.2 K) for infrared wavelengths (greater than 17 microns). The grating blank -- a light-weight, honeycombed structure made out of 6061-T651 aluminum "Type 200 Tooling Plate" -- will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). The grating blank is 10.5 inches wide, 42 inches long, and 4 inches thick. The entire active face (10.5 x 42 inches) must be ruled with little or no chamfer at the edge. The groove spacing shall be 980.2 +/- 0.4 microns (at 20 degrees C), the blaze angle shall be 76 +/- 0.25 degrees, and the apex angle shall be 90 +/- 0.25 degrees. The completed grating shall have a wavefront error less than 0.08 waves RMS at 10.6 microns. The principal deliverable items are: 1) The ruled diffraction grating with attached pivot beam; 2) Afull aperture interferogram at 10.6 microns with conversion to wavefront error; and 3) Absolute efficiency measurements in echelle order 182 for incident angles between 62 degrees and 79 degrees (wavelengths between 9.5 and 10.6 microns) in both S- and P-polarization. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedure (SAP), FAR Subpart 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items. NASA/ARC intends to purchase the item from Hyperfine, Inc. 4946 N. 63rd Street, Boulder, CO 80301, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(2). Extensive market research has demonstrated that Hyperfine, Inc. is the only company able to rule a 42-inch echelle grating with the large-scale shape, surface finish, and precision required for the Government's application. The Government intends to acquire commercial items using FAR Part 12. Interested firms have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Responses received after the 15 days or without the required information will be considered nonresponsive to the synopsis and will not be considered. A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An ombudsman has been appointed. See Internet Note "B". Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html. Posted 08/05/99 (D-SN364137). (0217)

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