Operations and maintenance of equipment

NASA/NSSC intends to award a sole‑source, non‑commercial contract to the University of Hawaii (UHM) under FAR 12.102(a) for the operation, maintenance, testing, and evaluation of the Plant X biomanufacturing facility. The effort, performed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center with on‑site work in a housing community on eastern Oahu, spans eight months (August 2026 – March 2027). UHM will assist with site preparation, installation, and commissioning of Plant X, provide scheduled maintenance of solar panels, reactors, and growth systems, conduct water‑quality and product‑evaluation testing (including TSS, turbidity, COD, nutrients, PFAS, microbial safety, and product chemistry), monitor cotton crop growth, and support de‑commissioning or hand‑over of the plant. The budget includes 2–3 graduate or post‑doctoral students (2 FTE) for eight months, tuition and fringe, a professor summer stipend, chemicals, test kits, and university analytical equipment usage. Interested parties must submit written capabilities and qualifications to the point of contact, Kacey Hickman (kacey.l.hickman@nasa.gov), no later than 15:00 CST on 24 April 2026. Submissions will be evaluated to determine whether the requirement will remain a sole‑source award; oral responses are not accepted. The contract will be governed by FAR Part 13 for non‑commercial items and includes participation in weekly status calls and a final performance report covering data and lessons learned.

Notice ID

076a5750e2f841dfa1c9fc3b5aff15f4

Solicitation Number

80NSSC26930179Q

NAICS Code

611310

Classification Code

J068