Vacuum-jacketed hard lines for helium refrigeration system.

This Request for Quotation (RFQ), issued by the NASA Shared Services Center at Stennis Space Center, solicits bids for brand name or equal vacuum-jacketed hard lines for a helium refrigeration system. Identified under solicitation number 80NSSC26942430Q, this procurement is 100% set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 332996. Quotes are due by September 15, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CT, and must be submitted electronically to Laura Quave. All technical and contractual questions must be submitted in writing by September 11, 2026. Submissions must include the vendor's Cage Code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and estimated lead time, with pricing structured on a firm-fixed-price, FOB Destination basis. The contract will be awarded to the responsible offeror who submits the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) bid. The solicitation incorporates standard Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) provisions, including requirements for SAM registration, place of manufacture reporting, compliance with U.S. export control laws (ITAR/EAR), and duty-free entry procedures for eligible foreign supplies.

This technical specification outlines the requirements for procuring vacuum-jacketed helium piping for the Testbed for High Energy cRyogenic Materials And Superconductors (THERMAS) at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Part of the Cryogenic High-power Integrated Low Loss Motor Demonstration (CHILL) project, this hardware will connect an outdoor helium refrigeration system to indoor test equipment in Building 191 to support superconducting aircraft powertrain research. The procurement consists of two line assemblies (divided into four total pipe spools), two male bayonet plugs, and one vacuum operator. Specifically, the contractor must supply approximately 35 feet of supply line and 36 feet of return line made of 1-inch by 2-1/2-inch vacuum-jacketed piping. The inner process lines must be fabricated from 304L stainless steel, while the outer jackets and bayonet plugs must utilize 300-series stainless steel. Designed to transport gaseous helium at temperatures ranging from 4 K to 300 K with a design pressure of 150 psig, all materials and fabrication must comply with the ASME B31.3 Process Piping Standard. The selected vendor is required to submit CAD or fabrication drawings prior to manufacturing and deliver the completed system to NASA GRC in Cleveland, Ohio.

This NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) Statement of Work (SOW) details procurement requirements for vacuum-jacketed helium lines supporting the Testbed for High Energy Cryogenic Materials and Superconductors (THERMAS) under the CHILL project. The contractor will supply two vacuum-jacketed piping assemblies (comprising four pipe spools and four male bayonet plugs), one compatible vacuum operator assembly, and a comprehensive Acceptance Data Package (ADP). The piping system must be designed, fabricated, tested, and inspected to ASME B31.3 Normal Fluid Service standards, operating at 150 psig from -452°F to 80°F. Core technical requirements include executing a flexibility analysis using CAESAR II, utilizing certified welders qualified to -452°F, performing 100% visual and 5% random radiographic weld examinations, and cold-shocking segments with liquid nitrogen. Additionally, components must undergo precision cleaning to level VC per KSC-C-123 and maintain strict material traceability. To ensure compliance with aerospace-grade standards, the contractor must adhere to AS9100-derived Quality Clauses. These mandate flowing down requirements to sub-tiers, providing raw material and special process certifications (for tube flaring, bending, and welding), delivering NDI/NDT certifications, and submitting objective evidence of dimensional inspections. A final Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) defines 22 electronic deliverables, including design calculations, weld qualifications, and test reports, which must be compiled into the ADP and approved by the NASA Contracting Officer prior to hardware acceptance.

This technical drawing document provides engineering specifications for the THERMAS Helium Supply and Return Lines, designed by A. Swanger at NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA-GRC) with a revision date of August 13, 2026. The document details two distinct piping systems: the Helium Supply Line and the Helium Return Line, both engineered to transport gaseous helium. Key specifications for both lines include: - Construction using 1" x 2-1/2" vacuum jacketed (VJ) piping and 1" x 2-1/2" bayonet connections configured as two separate spools. - Connection components consisting of a male bayonet with a rotating backing flange (Linde Part Number 80551137) and a 1" x 2-1/2" female bayonet with a plug. - Compliance with ASME B31.3 standards for normal fluid service. - Dimensional measurements defined in inches, including specific run lengths (such as 96.000, 156.00, 177.00, and 188.00 inches) detailed across scale ratios of .040 and .050. This technical data serves as a procurement or fabrication reference for vacuum-jacketed helium piping assemblies within federal aerospace or research applications.