NASA/MSFC has a requirement for a high-altitude balloon borne instrument that measures the tissue equivalent energy deposition from charged particles from an exposure platform provided by the Deep Space Test Bed (DSTB) facility. The instrument must operate in the high altitude balloon environment at >120,000 ft. It must derive its power and communicate with the DSTB facility. The instrument must measure data on long duration balloon flights. The instrument must be calibrated. Services to be provided include those necessary to design, fabricate, test, calibrate and document the final instrument. Technical support is to be provided to demonstrate the operation of the instrument, provide scientific evaluation of its performance, and integrate the instrument on to the DSTB platform or suitable Ground Support Equipment (GSE) setup. Deliverables includes: Instrument Design;Instrument Hardware including detector, support electronics, and operational software; support integration onto the DSTB, or suitable GSE, including mechanical, power and communication bus; shielding design specifications; and data analysis from laboratory testing, calibrations and results of instrument performance including energy response and detection efficiency. The quantity is two each. Period of performance is 6 months. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase the items from Prairie View A&M University, P.O. Box 667, Prairie View, Texas, 77446-0667. The authority for other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1. Competition is impractical for the following reason: The Center of Applied Radiation Research (CARR) at Prairie View A&M University has the necessary scientific and technical experience conducting scientific investigations with Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counters (TEPC) instruments to assure the instruments delivered to NASA will operate in the specialized environment of high altitude balloon flights and perform to levels suitable for scientific research. They have conducted scientific measurements for NASA with TEPC on Space Transportation System (STS), high-altitude aircraft and at particle accelerators. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. See note 22. 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 NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.

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