SAM #80AFRC26SS020

Sole Source Review Services for Stratolaunch Talon-A NextGen Hypersonic Flight Test Vehicle

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) is announcing a sole source procurement for advanced hypersonic flight test vehicle review services. - Agency: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) - Sole source contract to Stratolaunch, LLC - Services required: - System Requirements Review (SRR) - Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) - Focus: Stratolaunch Talon-A NextGen hypersonic flight test vehicle - Only operational, reusable vehicle capable of sustained Mach 5+ and Mach 6+ flight for extended durations (10+ minutes) - Contract modification to existing agreement (80AFRC25P001) under the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics (MACH) program - Procurement will use FAR Part 12 commercial procedures - No other vendors or products mentioned; Stratolaunch is uniquely qualified - Commercial opportunity for advanced hypersonic flight test services

Description

NASA/AFRC has a requirement to develop a comprehensive System Requirements Review (SRR) and Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) activity for the Stratolaunch Talon-A NextGen hypersonic flight test vehicle as a modification to the current contract 80AFRC25P001, Flight Test Vehicle Development Examination for Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics (MACH).

NASA/AFRC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire the services from Stratolaunch, LLC. During the current contract performance, Stratolaunch, LLC has developed and is flight testing the Talon-A high-speed vehicle that can currently reach Mach 5 conditions for approximately 10 seconds.  The Talon-A vehicle is currently the only reusable flight test vehicle in the United States that can reach hypersonic flight conditions (Mach 5+).  This unique flight test capability is currently being used by United States government and industry to verify/advance critical technologies for future hypersonic vehicle applications.  There is an increasing demand to test critical technologies at sustained flight conditions of Mach 6+ and longer flight conditions (10+ minutes).  Stratolaunch is currently the only contractor with an operational and reusable flight test vehicle that can be modified to meet the more demanding flight test conditions.

The Government intends to acquire a commercial product or service using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Melissa Newell at melissa.newell@nasa.gov not later than 4:00pm Pacific on August 21, 2026. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A decision by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at : https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf

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