US-FED-00000382545 - Chamber Pilot Studies Plan - Deadline June 30,2026

Purpose of this RFI:The objective of the pilot chamber testing is to validate chamber facility and test team capabilities to support NASA decompression sickness (DCS) studies supporting NASA`s development of the Aerospace Estimation Tool for Hypobaric Exposure Risk (AETHER). Facilities are requested to perform 3 test days, collecting and recording data each day as they would for a research protocol. The first day of testing may be considered practice session with the recognition that some facilities and/or hardware integration issues may arise. The second day of testing should be scheduled after issues from the previous run have been resolved, and testing should be completed without interruption, unless otherwise indicated. The third day of testing should occur in the same work week as the second test day to demonstrate the facility`s capability to perform multiple runs in short order. This last capability is important because NASA`s main objectives in engaging other facilities include an increased tempo of data collection to develop a comprehensive model of DCS risk during spaceflight across a range of conditions that will inform requirements for future vehicles, habitats, suits, and mission planning. At the discretion of NASA, a fourth test day may be required if unresolved deficiencies in performance persist after the third test day.NASA`s own facilities will support this work in part but are shared with other operationally relevant tasks/programs, limiting NASA facilities` overall availability and impacting scheduling and completion of critical work. Identification and validation of non–NASA resources to support these DCS research objectives are important steps to facilitating safe and successful prebreathe procedures and extravehicular activity (EVA) in weightlessness and during exploration missions.Budget for this work is firm fixed price. Budget quotes can include payments for interim milestone completion. Dates for each interim milestone should be set by the supplier.SubjectsFacilities will recruit and screen applicants to provide at least 3 subjects and up to one test operator (tinder/ultrasound technician) per day to participate in at least 3 test days to fulfill the requirements described above. Each test day is anticipated to last approximately 12 hours. Each of the three single day runs will have unique subjects. Screening back–up subjects in case of subject availability issues, withdrawal, or disqualification is highly recommended.Facilities should screen subjects per their standard protocols, and the subject pool should include females to demonstrate their capabilities to recruit and test this important population. NASA will provide inclusion and exclusion criteria for a population demographic similar to the astronaut corps. As part of the screening process, subjects must pass a medical exam similar to a private–pilot flight physical and complete a peak (maximal) oxygen consumption (VO2pk) test using a cycle ergometer protocol with metabolic gas analysis. NASA will provide the VO2pk cycle ergometry test protocol. To qualify for participation, subjects must achieve VO2pk >27.5 ml/kg/min.Following the screening, subjects will participate in a familiarization session during which they will receive verbal and written description of the test protocol, be encouraged to ask questions, and will provide written informed consent before proceeding to participation. Thereafter, subjects will be familiarized with the chamber protocol and safety procedures, the appropriate mask size will be determined, and the subjects will practice mask breathing. Subjects also will be familiarized with the EVA simulation workstations, and metabolic rate will be measured while performing the arm ergometry and stepping exercises at several low work rates (submaximal exercise intensity) to verify the cadence or work rates required for the in–chamber exercise prescription.Standardized Test DayFacilities will implement a test plan that includes a 6.5–hour prebreathe followed by a simulation of EVA lasting 6 hours, or until signs and symptoms that require test termination (per NASA and facility standards), test termination by subject request, or facility or monitoring capabilities malfunctions. These sessions will include successful mask operations and demonstration of safety procedures. An additional 30 minutes should be allotted for repressurization and post–test monitoring.Medical MonitoringThe facility will provide the appropriate medical support to perform pre–chamber physical examination before ingress, during the protocol, for treatment and management of subjects as needed, clearance of subjects after the protocol is completed, and follow–up in the days after the chamber run, as required. Responsibilities of the medical personnel include monitoring and interpretation of 2–D ultrasound and Doppler as well as monitoring of the subject`s self–report and symptoms of DCS or intolerance.Prebreathe ConditionsFacil