Chamber Pilot Studies Plan
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
NASA Johnson Space Center has issued a Sources Sought notice titled "Chamber Pilot Studies Plan" to identify and validate external facilities capable of conducting human subject testing for decompression sickness (DCS) research. This effort supports NASA's development of the Aerospace Estimation Tool for Hypobaric Exposure Risk (AETHER). Responses are due by June 30, 2026.
Opportunity Details
NASA seeks to validate external chamber facilities and test teams to supplement its own resources, which are limited by operational tasks. The objective is to increase the tempo of data collection for a comprehensive DCS risk model. The budget for this work is firm fixed price, with payments potentially tied to interim milestone completion.
Scope of Work
Facilities are requested to perform three test days, collecting and recording data for each. The protocol includes:
- Subject Recruitment: Provide at least 3 subjects and up to one test operator per day. Subjects must pass a medical exam, complete a VO2pk test (>27.5 ml/kg/min), and include females.
- Familiarization: Subjects will undergo familiarization with the protocol, safety procedures, mask breathing, and EVA simulation workstations.
- Standardized Test Day: Implement a 6.5-hour 100% O2 prebreathe, followed by a 6-hour EVA simulation at 5.2 psia. Sessions include mask operations and safety procedures.
- Medical Monitoring: Provide medical support for pre-chamber exams, during the protocol, treatment, post-protocol clearance, and follow-up. This includes monitoring 2-D ultrasound and Doppler, and subject self-reports of DCS symptoms.
- EVA Simulation: Subjects rotate through eight stations (e.g., ambulation, technical tasks, load carrying, arm ergometry) every 5 minutes, with 15 minutes of exercise followed by 5 minutes of monitoring/rest.
- Standardized Measures: Record symptoms (using NASA DCS severity criteria), administer questionnaires (RPE, pain), perform cardiac 2-D ultrasound (scored by 3 independent reviewers), and optionally monitor pulse oximetry and heart rate.
- Data Validation: Deliver electronic records to NASA, including subject metadata, logs, chamber pressure/environmental data, questionnaires, medical logs, and ultrasound recordings.
- NASA Support: NASA will provide training, loan equipment (ultrasound, masks), and monitor at least one chamber run. Work must be completed within 5 months of IRB approval.
Optional Work
Vendors may provide costs for optional efforts, which must be completed before calendar year 2028. Each vendor is anticipated to be awarded only one option:
- Option 1: N=24 subjects with three different average metabolic rate profiles for 6-hour simulated EVA.
- Option 2: N=24 subjects with three different pharmaceutical countermeasures for DCS.
- Option 3: N=24 subjects with three different temperatures as proposed countermeasures.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Response Due: June 30, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
- Published: June 12, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT
Contact Information
- Primary Contact: Tracy L. Quintanilla, Tracy.L.Quintanilla@nasa.gov
- Secondary Contact: Katelyn Jaime, katelyn.r.jaime@nasa.gov