ES-MCAT Mirror Shipping Crate
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
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) has published a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) for the ES-MCAT Mirror Shipping Crate. This notice details the intent to award a sole-source contract to Viavi, Inc. for the recoating of the 1.3-m ES-MCAT telescope mirror and the construction of a new, robust shipping container. The estimated cost for these services is $390,356.00. This is an informational notice, not a solicitation for bids.
Purpose & Background
The Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) at NASA JSC operates the 1.3-m ES-MCAT telescope at Ascension Island, critical for observing orbital debris. The primary mirror's coating has degraded due to environmental effects and a previously applied inferior coating, necessitating urgent recoating. The original shipping container is no longer usable, requiring a new one capable of withstanding up to 30g's of force for safe transport back to Ascension Island.
Sole Source Justification
NASA has determined that Viavi, Inc. is the only known source capable of meeting this requirement. The justification is based on:
- Unique Expertise: Viavi possesses the requisite knowledge, experience, staff, tooling, and capacity for both recoating to prescribed specifications and building the specialized shipping container.
- Mirror Possession & Cleanroom Environment: Viavi already has the mirror in its possession. Introducing another company would risk contamination of the cleanroom environment and the mirror surface after recoating, jeopardizing the coating's integrity. Viavi must maintain control of the mirror throughout the recoating and transfer into the new container to guarantee a perfect coating.
- Market Research: A notice posted on SAM.gov on January 7, 2026, received no viable responses, further supporting the sole-source determination.
Scope of Work
The contract encompasses:
- Recoating the primary mirror of the ES-MCAT telescope.
- Designing and building a new shipping container capable of withstanding up to 30g's of force.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Sole-Source (Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition)
- Authority: 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1
- Estimated Cost: $390,356.00
- Set-Aside: None specified (Not applicable for sole-source)
- Product Service Code: 6650 (Optical Instruments, Test Equipment, Components And Accessories)
- Place of Performance: California (Viavi Solutions' location)
Timeline
The final mirror product is expected to be delivered approximately nine months after the order is placed, with recoating and container transfer completed within 4 weeks after receipt of tooling and qualification approval.
Contact Information
- Primary: Stephen Noethen (stephen.d.noethen@nasa.gov, 346-528-7684)
- Secondary: Kyle Thacker (david.k.thacker@nasa.gov)