Background
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) is seeking information from potential sources to provide engineering support services for Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C), system engineering, and Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Capture (RPOC) activities.
This solicitation aims to gather capability statements from interested parties, including small businesses and minority institutions, to assess competition levels and subcontracting goals for RPOC.
Work Details
The contractor will provide engineering support services that include research, analysis, design, development, integration, verification, testing, evaluation, and operations support for GN&C and RPOC activities. Key tasks include:
- Supporting human spaceflight initiatives and technology development.
- Defining program architecture and conducting analysis throughout the spacecraft development process.
- Developing analysis tools for modeling space vehicles and subsystems in high-fidelity simulations.
- Supporting flight readiness certification for International Space Station (ISS) Visiting Vehicles and Commercial LEO Destinations.
- Conducting simulations of vehicle operations including docking maneuvers.
- Developing software tools for mission design assessments and crew safety evaluations.
- Supporting NASA's Moon and Mars exploration projects through GN&C requirements development and technology assessments.
- Providing specialized support for technology development related to GN&C systems.
Place of Performance
Houston TX 77058 UNITED STATES
Bidder Requirements
Bidders must demonstrate specialized capabilities in engineering support services related to GN&C. They are encouraged to provide a capability statement that includes company information, relevant experience with past clients, business size, socioeconomic status, applicable GSA vehicles held, and a narrative of technical expertise. Specific qualifications may include security clearances or professional licenses relevant to the tasks outlined.
Disclaimer: This Sources Sought Synopsis is issued solely for market research, information, and planning purposes in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research. This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or Invitation for Bid (IFB), nor does it guarantee the issuance of a future solicitation. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting information provided in response to this notice. Responding to this notice is strictly voluntary, and failure to respond does not preclude any potential offeror/vendor from participating in any future formal solicitation. Responses are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents should clearly mark proprietary data.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for providing engineering support services (research, analysis, design, development, integration, verification, test, evaluation, and operations support) supporting Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C), system engineering, and Rendezvous Proximity Operations, and Capture (RPOC) activities.
A summary of the JSC requirements is attached to this notice.
NASA JSC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Business (SB) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for RPOC. Vendors are encouraged to demonstrate capabilities as a prime, subcontractor and/or teaming partner. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), HUBZone, Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) business set-aside based on responses received.
Respondents are requested to provide informed input on realistic and appropriate SB subcontracting and/or participation goals for the specific requirement. This type of feedback supports NASA's market research and helps ensure the acquisition strategy is aligned with actual industry capability. Industry feedback is requested for:
- SB Subcontracting goals;
- Barriers that may limit SB participation, such as certifications, unique technical requirements, security needs, specialized tools, or high-risk performance areas and/or
- Strategies to increase SB participation, including:
- Breaking requirements into smaller components
- Identifying areas appropriate for subcontracting
- Considering teaming or mentor prot g approaches
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541330, Engineering Services, with a size standard of $25.5M.
No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be posted on SAM.gov (the Government-wide Point of Entry) or, if issued under a General Services Administration (GSA) vehicle, through GSA eBuy (www.ebuy.gsa.gov). In accordance with Executive Order 14240, the Government intends to explore GSA options as part of its market research but remains under no obligation to use GSA vehicles if market findings determine they cannot fulfill agency needs.
Interested firms are responsible for monitoring these websites for the release of any presolicitation or solicitation notice.
Interested firms having the required specialized capabilities to meet the requirements attached should submit a capability statement of no more than 5 pages, standard 12-point font, in either Microsoft Word or PDF format, indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort described herein.
Responses must include the following:
- Company Name, Address, and Website
- Point of Contact (Name, Title, Email, Phone)
- Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and CAGE Code
- Business Size and Socioeconomic Status under NAICS 541330 (e.g., Large, Small, SDB, 8(a), WOSB, VOSB, SD-VOSB, HUBZone, HBCU/MI)
- Applicable relevant GSA vehicles and their contract numbers (if held)
- A brief narrative demonstrating the vendor's technical expertise and capacity to perform the tasks
- List up to 5 relevant customers covering the past 5 years (highlight relevant work performed, client/agency name, role (prime or subcontractor), period of performance, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement). The list will be excluded from the page count.
The response may also include suggestions for specific contract structures or types that would allow JSC to meet or exceed the attached requirements while reducing overall costs.
All responses must be submitted electronically via email to Jonathan Anzures, jonathan.anzures@nasa.gov, and Rasha Shreim, rasha.shreim@nasa.gov, no later than October 28, 2026 at 5:00pm CT. Please reference in the email subject line: Sources Sought Response 80JSC027RPOC6 [Company Name] , in any response.
Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Responses will be used to inform the acquisition strategy. A response to this notice is not a prerequisite for participation in any resulting solicitation. Interested vendors may be able to view other interested vendors on the Interested Vendors List in order to facilitate subcontracting and teaming arrangements.
