Every reason behind the verdict rather than the headline one — which of your certifications match, how much runway is left, whether the work is your size, and what we would need to know to sharpen it.
Written against this notice and what you have told us about your company. Anything we do not know is marked [NEEDS INPUT] in the draft rather than guessed at — read it before you send it.
Start a free trial to draft these. Nothing is sent to an agency on your behalf, ever — you get a document to review, edit and submit yourself.
Sources Sought response
A complete draft response — capability statement, relevant past performance, business size and socioeconomic status, and answers to the agency's specific questions.
Questions to submit
Genuine ambiguities and requirements that disadvantage a smaller bidder, drafted as questions you can submit before the Q&A deadline.
Past performance write-ups
Which of your prior awards best match this requirement, and draft write-ups in the format the agency asked for.
Solicitation details
Solicitation number
S-167610
Notice type
Special Notice
NAICS
325998
Product service code
9330
Set-aside
No Set aside used
Posted
2026-05-13
Response deadline
Dec 2, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC
Place of performance
Los Alamos, NM
Contracting contact
licensing@lanl.gov
Market intelligence
Account requiredWho wins this work, and what it pays
Comparable awards under NAICS 325998 at this agency — the incumbent, what they were paid, when their period of performance ends, and the real pricing distribution rather than the headline number. From public federal award records.
ELF (Extremely Light Foam) is a new way to make structural foam that is both much lighter and much stronger than today’s alternatives. The process, developed by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, uses common epoxy materials mixed with tiny hollow particles and a temporary liquid that later evaporates. As the material cures, this liquid naturally leaves behind a well-organized network of empty space, creating a foam that is mostly air but still highly resistant to crushing and pressure. The result is a material that can be up to twice as strong at the same weight as conventional foams, while remaining easy to pour, mold, and manufacture at scale using safe, commercially available ingredients. Because it combines low weight, high strength, simple processing, and design flexibility, ELF is well suited for commercial applications in marine systems, aerospace and transportation, lightweight structural panels, insulation, and impact-absorbing components. How it Works: The technology works by intentionally using a temporary liquid during the curing of a polymer foam to shape its internal structure. When the liquid-filled mixture hardens, the liquid naturally separates from the solid material and later evaporates, leaving behind a network of tiny, well-distributed voids between microscopic hollow particles embedded in the polymer. By carefully controlling the type of liquid used and the curing conditions, these voids form in a predictable and repeatable way rather than randomly. This controlled internal architecture is what gives the material its unusual combination of low weight and high resistance to crushing, while still allowing the material to be poured, molded, and manufactured using standard industrial processes and readily available materials Key Advantages: Exceptionally low weight while maintaining high structural integrity, achieving densities well below conventional structural foams High resistance to crushing and compression, even under extreme pressures Simple, low-cost manufacturing process using standard equipment and commercially available materials Easy to cast and mold into complex shapes and large parts without specialized tooling Safe and non-hazardous materials, supporting easier handling and regulatory acceptance Multifunctional performance, offering structural support, thermal insulation, and impact energy absorption in a single material Market Applications: Marine & Offshore (lightweight buoyancy materials, pressure-tolerant structures) Aerospace (weight-saving structural cores, multifunctional insulation materials) Defense & Security (lightweight structural components, energy-absorbing materials) Transportation & Mobility (mass reduction materials, impact and vibration mitigation) Advanced Composites & Manufacturing (core materials for sandwich structures, moldable lightweight fillers) Energy & Industrial Systems (lightweight structural insulation, protective housings) Thermal & Acoustic Solutions (lightweight insulation panels, noise-damping materials) Development Status: TRL 3 US Patent pending LA-UR-26-21224 LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products. LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact licensing@lanl.gov. Note: This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology. https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology m.lanl.gov/tech-search
Contact
Point of contact
Satya Srinivasan
Role
not stated on this notice — SAM publishes a role for only about 5% of them, so this may be a contract specialist rather than the contracting officer
Email
licensing@lanl.gov
Secondary
licensing@lanl.gov
Submit questions
Ambiguities and requirements worth clarifying, written as questions you can send before the deadline.
Opens in your own mail client, addressed and with a subject line — you write the message. GovSprint never sends anything on your behalf.
Emails open in your mail client and are sent from your address, so the reply comes back to you and the exchange stays yours. Confirm the correct channel and any question deadline on the notice before sending — many solicitations require questions in a specific way.
