WASHINGTON - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is requesting industry feedback on a planned multiple-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to support the transportation of flown space vehicles, spacecraft capsules, and other aerospace hardware requiring specialized handling and logistics.
The draft request for proposals (DRFP) outlines an enterprise-level contract vehicle for engineering, planning, and execution of multimodal transportation operations involving large aerospace vehicles and smaller spacecraft artifacts. NASA says the effort is intended to establish a long-term capability to manage complex transportation missions across air, land, and sea.
Under the proposed contract, companies would provide services including engineering analysis, route planning, preservation and environmental protection, specialized rigging, infrastructure coordination, regulatory compliance, and execution of transportation operations. The work could involve moving large systems comparable to a Space Shuttle orbiter or solid rocket booster, as well as smaller spacecraft such as crew capsules.
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Orbiter-sized and smaller
NASA included two example task orders in the draft solicitation to illustrate the range of expected work. One scenario focuses on relocating a large aerospace vehicle with complexity similar to a shuttle orbiter, while another addresses the transport of a smaller spacecraft capsule. The agency is asking contractors to describe how they would approach engineering validation, cradle design, route analysis, program management, and execution.
The agency is also seeking insight into the cost structures and drivers of these operations, including feasibility analyses, transportation planning, schedule considerations, and program risks. NASA says this information will help shape how future task orders are structured, including the authorization of engineering and execution phases.
The contract is expected to be competed as a full and open acquisition under North American Industry Classification System code 541330. If issued, it would be a multiple-award IDIQ with firm-fixed-price task orders, a five-year base period, and potential option periods. NASA anticipates a contract award in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026.
Task orders would be competed among IDIQ awardees, with performance taking place at NASA facilities or other locations, depending on mission requirements.
Responses to the draft solicitation are due 9 April 2026 at 6 p.m. Eastern. NASA plans to hold a pre-solicitation conference in late April 2026 and may conduct additional industry exchanges before issuing a final request for proposals. The agency named Jason Phillips as the primary point of contact for this DRFP. They can be reached via email at [email protected]. More information is available at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/57ca8b9cc3934dfcac19e1a8d87d3778/view.
