SAM #FA930027R6000-RFI03

AFRL ASTROS II: Advanced Rocket Propulsion Test Support and Facility Outfitting

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Edwards Air Force Base is seeking industry partners for the ASTROS II contract, a 10-year effort focused on advanced rocket propulsion testing and support services. - Government Buyer: - U.S. Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Rocket Lab, Edwards AFB, CA - Aerospace Systems Support Branch, Edwards AFB, CA - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or vendors are named in the notice or attachments - Products/Services Requested: - Engineering, reconfiguration, modification, and maintenance of experimental rocket propulsion test equipment, test stands, and associated systems - Research and development test operations and support - Maintenance of special test equipment and critical support infrastructure - Propellant handling, including hazardous materials - Operation and maintenance of steam and mechanical-driven altitude test systems, thrust measurement systems, advanced instrumentation and control systems, equipment deluge and fire retardation systems - Incidental alterations to real property, only as required for primary engineering modifications and with formal approval - Security requirements: personnel vetting, Top Secret/SCI clearances, and CMMC compliance - Office and industrial furniture and equipment for base support, including a wide range of cabinets, desks, chairs, tables, and storage solutions (with detailed part numbers and quantities) - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Contractor must maintain comprehensive security programs and comply with safety, environmental, and quality control standards - All technical requirements and detailed tasks are outlined in the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) - Government will provide base support facilities and government-furnished property - Industry Day is planned for capability discussions and site familiarization

Description

1. REQUIREMENT BACKGROUND & TRACKING:

This Industry Day Notice (RFI #3) is a continuation of the market research initiated under RFI #1 (Notice ID: [FA930027R6000]), which is currently closed/inactive, and RFI #2 ((Notice ID: [FA930027R6000-RFI02]), which is open with responses due by June 25, 2026.  Industry Day is planned for 23 July 2027 at Edwards AFB.  Details are included in the attachments.

The Government welcomes any advance question submissions via Attachment 3 - ASTROS II Industry Q&A Matrix, by 8 July 2026 to the POCs listed in this RFI.

For the purposes of this Request for Information (RFI), this requirement is temporarily designated as 'ASTROS II.' The Government advises all interested parties to track this requirement via the designated SAM.gov Notice ID, as the official program name is subject to change prior to the issuance of a formal solicitation.

2. MISSION OVERVIEW:

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Detachment 7 (AFRL Det 7/SST) is conducting market research to identify qualified industry partners capable of providing follow-on support for its advanced rocket propulsion testing mission.

The core capability requires the contractor to evaluate, engineer, reconfigure, and modify experimental research test equipment, test stands [Property, Plant, & Equipment (PP&E)], and associated systems. Furthermore, the contractor will be required to perform research and development test operations, provide test operation support, and maintain special test equipment and critical support infrastructure.

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & SCOPE:

The tasks associated with this requirement (detailed in paragraph 4 of the attached Draft Performance Work Statement) demand specialized, highly technical knowledge across all aspects of rocket propulsion testing.

Scale of Testing: The required scale of operations ranges from small bench-scale liquid engine components and tactical motors to launch booster-class engines and strategic rocket motors. Practical expertise in intermediate devices—including combined cycle designs, spacecraft propulsion, and space and missile propulsion system component testing—is also required.

Systems Integration & Expertise: These tasks require a holistic working knowledge of complex testing systems to ensure the successful design, integration, execution, and data collection for integrated advanced propulsion systems and their associated PP&E. Key systems include, but are not limited to:

Steam and mechanical-driven altitude test systems Thrust measurement systems Advanced instrumentation and control systems Equipment deluge and fire retardation systems Special test equipment and associated support infrastructure

Propellant Handling & Engineering: The contractor shall engineer, integrate, modify, activate, operate, and deactivate fuel and oxidizer propellant systems handling a wide range of hazardous materials. This includes toxic, storable, hypergolic, cryogenic, high-pressure, explosive, and hydrocarbon propellants. Additionally, the contractor is responsible for the safe handling, transport, and storage of these propellants and explosives.

Incidental Alterations to Real Property: Incidental alterations to Real Property (e.g., utility tie-ins, pad penetrations, structural mounting) are authorized only when inextricably linked to, and strictly necessary for, the primary engineering modification of the PP&E test stands. All such ancillary Real Property alterations will require formal approval by the Contracting Officer and Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) Civil Engineering.

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