Automated Universal Test System

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) seeks a commercially available Automated Universal Test System capable of tensile, flexural, and compression testing of rigid plastic specimens up to 100 kN (minimum) within a compact footprint suitable for installation in a hot‑cell laboratory (Building 4475). The system must include automated specimen handling, dimensional measurement, strain measurement, data acquisition, identification/tracking, and unattended batch testing. NASA intends to award the contract sole‑source to Instron (Illinois Tool Works) because it is the only vendor meeting the combined force, automation, and space‑constraint requirements. Interested parties may submit capability statements by 5:00 PM CDT, 4 Sept 2026; these will be used to determine whether a competitive acquisition is feasible. • Minimum 100 kN (up to 300 kN) capacity on a single platform • Automated tensile, compression, and flexural testing • Integrated specimen handling, measurement, and traceability • Compact footprint (~5 ft × 7 ft) for hot‑cell installation • Data acquisition and unattended batch‑run capability • Sole‑source award to Instron (Illinois Tool Works) under FAR 6.103‑1 • Submission of capabilities/qualifications due 04 Sept 2026 (5 PM CDT) via email