Rocket Propulsion and Sonic Boom Acoustic Propagation Model

This is a sole source, combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 12, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. A quote is being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

Solicitation No. 6913G626Q300036 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This solicitation is being conducted under FAR Part 12, Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01, effective 03/13/2026. The NAICS Code is 541715 (exception 3); the Small Business size standard is 1,250 employees.

This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses; full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at http://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul.

The U.S. Department of Transportation/John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) intends to solicit and award on a sole source basis to The National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA) at the University of Mississippi, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b). The Volpe Center is collaborating with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) and the Department of War (DoW) in increasing the launch cadence of rocket propelled air and spacecraft. Increased exposure to rocket propulsion noise and sonic booms is an impediment to increasing this cadence. Providing new noise modeling software to the planners' toolset will enable increased launch cadence while minimizing noise exposure increases. All services required for this work shall be in accordance with the attached Statement of Work and terms and conditions.