Support of NASA Student Launch Initiative
ID: 80NSSC26918333QType: Special Notice
Overview

Buyer

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONNATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONNASA SHARED SERVICES CENTERSTENNIS SPACE CENTER, MS, 39529, USA

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

PSC

EDUCATION/TRAINING- OTHER (U099)

Set Aside

No Set aside used (NONE)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/852c3862d1fe4f64bea0db2bf7fd3efc/view
Timeline
    Description

    NASA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking support services for the 2025-2026 NASA Student Launch Initiative, a program designed to engage middle school, high school, and university students in the design, construction, and launch of high-power rockets and scientific payloads. The selected vendor will provide essential launch support services, including Range Safety Officers, Launch Control Officers, and management of FAA waivers, while also coordinating a student fair and ensuring liability insurance coverage. This initiative is crucial for fostering STEM education and aligns with NASA's goals of engaging students in engineering and scientific challenges. Interested organizations must submit their capabilities by December 5, 2025, to determine if the procurement will be competitive, and all inquiries should reference Notice ID 80NSSC26918333Q. For further information, contact Lindsey McLellan at lindsey.m.mclellan@nasa.gov.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Lindsey McLellan
    lindsey.m.mclellan@nasa.gov
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    Tab 04 SOW.pdf
    The NASA Student Launch (SL) is a competitive, research-based project for middle school, high school, and university students to design, build, and launch high-power rockets and scientific payloads. It aligns with NASA's STEM engagement goals, offering unique experiences that mirror the agency's engineering design lifecycle. The project includes two challenges: the Student Launch Initiative (SLI) for younger students and the University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) for higher education. Teams undergo a series of critical design reviews, including PDR, CDR, FRR, and LRR, with USLI teams being scored. The 2025-2026 handbook will be released on August 8, 2025. This RFP seeks a vendor to provide launch support services, including Range Safety Officers, Launch Control Officers, launch pad specialists, rocket launching equipment, FAA waiver management, and liability insurance. The vendor is also responsible for coordinating a student fair and compensating the launch site. NASA will manage the project, select teams, provide a Chief RSO, and offer team support. The period of performance extends from the award date until May 31, 2026.
    Tab 07 Capability Statement SAM.pdf
    NASA/NSSC intends to award a sole-source contract to The National Association of Rocketry for 2025-2026 NASA Student Launch Initiative support services, citing their status as the sole provider under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i). The procurement will be handled by NASA/NSSC, with performance at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), under NAICS Code 611710. Interested organizations may submit capabilities by 12:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on December 5, 2025, to allow NASA to evaluate if the procurement should be competitive. The decision to not use full and open competition rests solely with the government. Oral communications are not accepted. FAR 52.213-4 and NASA Clause 1852.215-84 (Ombudsman) are applicable.
    Lifecycle
    Title
    Type
    Support of NASA Student Launch Initiative
    Currently viewing
    Special Notice
    Similar Opportunities
    RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN SPACE AND EARTH SCIENCES (ROSES) 2025
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to release its annual Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2025 solicitation around July 10, 2025. This comprehensive announcement will encompass various program elements, each with distinct due dates and topics, aimed at supporting a wide range of basic and applied research in space and Earth sciences. Proposals may be submitted by a diverse array of organizations, including domestic and foreign entities, with awards typically ranging from under $100K to over $1M per year, depending on the scope of the proposed work. Interested parties should register with NSPIRES and Grants.gov, and are encouraged to submit notices of intent by August 11, 2025, with full proposals due no earlier than September 8, 2025. For further inquiries, contact Max Bernstein at sara@nasa.gov or call 202-358-0879.
    KSC Launch Support Services
    Buyer not available
    NASA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration is seeking qualified contractors to provide launch support services at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), specifically focusing on traffic management and access control during crewed launch activities. The contractor will be responsible for implementing comprehensive traffic control measures, ensuring the safe and efficient management of vehicle traffic, and maintaining security protocols at designated long gate locations during an estimated 15-20 launches over a five-year period. This contract is critical for safeguarding personnel and assets while enabling uninterrupted mission operations in compliance with federal and agency requirements. Interested parties can contact Steven R. Wood at steven.r.wood@nasa.gov or Kimberly Thomas at kimberly.d.thomas@nasa.gov for further details.
    SOURCES SOUGHT SPECIAL NOTICE 2025
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center is issuing a Sources Sought Special Notice for potential partners interested in developing competitive proposals for various NASA Announcements of Opportunity (AOs) and Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs). The primary objective is to identify partners capable of conducting scientific investigations, research activities, and technology demonstrations that align with NASA's goals, as well as providing necessary flight hardware for these missions. This initiative is crucial for advancing NASA's exploration and research capabilities, particularly in areas such as planetary exploration and space science. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their responses, including relevant capabilities and partnership interests, to the designated contact at ARC-Sources-Sought@mail.nasa.gov, with responses accepted at any time and maintained for three years after receipt.
    Draft RFP and Pre-solicitation Synopsis: Engineering Services and Science Capability Augmentation (ESSCA) II
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center is seeking industry participation for the Engineering Services and Science Capability Augmentation (ESSCA) II contract, which aims to provide engineering and scientific skills augmentation primarily for NASA's missions. This contract will encompass a range of services including technical oversight, engineering products for flight and science missions, and support for research and development activities, with a maximum potential value of $3.248 billion over a performance period extending from October 1, 2026, to July 31, 2035. Interested parties are encouraged to attend a virtual industry day on December 10, 2025, and submit comments on the Draft Request for Proposals (DRFP) by October 20, 2025, to the designated contact, Sadie Moulton, at sadie.m.moulton@nasa.gov.
    FY26 Wave6 Renewal
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to award a sole source contract for the FY26 Wave6 Renewal to DS Government Solutions Corp, identified as the sole provider for this requirement. This procurement, managed by the NASA Shared Services Center, will be conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and will take place at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The services sought are categorized under Other Computer Related Services, specifically focusing on IT and telecom business application development software as a service. Interested organizations are invited to submit their capabilities and qualifications by 1 p.m. Central Standard Time on December 1, 2025, to Cara Craft at cara.s.craft@nasa.gov, which may influence the decision on whether to conduct a competitive procurement process.
    Safety and Mission Assurance Services (SMAS)
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking to modify the existing Safety and Mission Assurance Services (SMAS) contract (80MSFC18C0005) through a Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition. This modification aims to continue essential safety and mission assurance services critical to NASA's operations, ensuring compliance with safety standards and mission success. The services provided under this contract are vital for the overall safety and effectiveness of NASA's projects and missions. For further inquiries, interested parties can contact Belinda Triplett at belinda.f.triplett@nasa.gov or by phone at 256-544-3203.
    Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships -3 (NextSTEP-3) Omnibus
    Buyer not available
    NASA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration is initiating the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 (NextSTEP-3) Omnibus, aimed at fostering partnerships to advance technologies for human space exploration, particularly for lunar and Mars missions. This initiative invites proposals for studies, research, and technology development that align with NASA's Moon to Mars exploration strategy, with a focus on enabling long-term human presence throughout the solar system. The Omnibus is effective from September 27, 2024, to September 26, 2029, and will issue specific solicitations through BAA Appendices detailing research opportunities, eligibility criteria, and funding ranges, with awards potentially starting below $100K and exceeding several million dollars based on project scope. Interested parties can reach out to the NASA ESDMD Moon to Mars Program Office at HQ-NextSTEP-BAA@mail.nasa.gov for further information.
    Notice of Partnering Opportunity - Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (“PRISM”)
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking partners for its Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) initiative, aimed at developing and flying science-driven instruments and technology demonstration payloads for lunar missions. The opportunity invites non-Government entities to collaborate with NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in preparing proposals that align with the scientific goals of various NASA directorates, including Planetary Science, Earth Science, and Astrophysics, among others. This initiative is crucial for advancing lunar exploration and commercial development, with payloads to be delivered via Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) landers to specified lunar locations. Interested parties must submit their responses, limited to two pages, detailing their capabilities and relevant experience by December 5, 2025, to Hunter Butkovic at hunter.c.butkovic@nasa.gov, with questions due by December 3, 2025.
    SNA Software LLC. Limited Source Justification
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is issuing a Limited Source Justification for data analysis support services through GSA contractor SNA Software LLC. This procurement aims to secure specialized IT and telecom service delivery support, specifically focusing on operations center and project management services. The services are critical for the effective analysis and management of EPFD data, which plays a vital role in NASA's research and operational activities. Interested parties can reach out to primary contact Melissa Newell at melissa.newell@nasa.gov or secondary contact Nikki Terranova at nikki.terranova@nasa.gov for further information regarding this opportunity.
    Research Opportunities for International Space Station (ISS) Utilization
    Buyer not available
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking proposals for research opportunities related to the utilization of the International Space Station (ISS). This initiative aims to enhance exploration technology demonstrations and National Lab utilization, as outlined in NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNJ13ZBG001N, which remains open for submissions. The awarded contracts may vary in type, including commercial contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, depending on the proposal's scope. Interested parties should contact Colleen Corbett or Audrey Montgomery for further information and are encouraged to monitor the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) for updates on submission deadlines and additional documents.