NASA starts second on-ramp for $6B space systems contract
By
Ross Wilkers
While no awards are guaranteed, NASA is starting a new on-ramp for companies to try again at joining a $6 billion contract for acquiring space systems in an agile manner.
NASA has started a second on-ramp process for industry to take another chance at joining a potential $6 billion contract vehicle to supply space systems and services in a more fast and agile approach.
Proposals to become part of the Rapid Space Acquisition IV program are due by 3 p.m. Eastern time on June 1, NASA said in a contracting notice Thursday.
One word of caution however: there is no guarantee that NASA will make any awards through this process. The agency conducted an initial on-ramp in the second half of 2020 and made no additions to the current roster of five prime contractors, who were first chosen in July 2020. The winners were Ball Aerospace, Maxar Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Southwest Research Institute and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems.
NASA uses the RSA contract to purchase spacecraft systems, related components and other services on an acquisition timeline of between six and eight months. Performance periods for awarded delivery orders average between two and three years.
Companies already on the vehicle can use the on-ramp as an opportunity to update their existing catalog of offerings or propose new spacecraft designs.