Full and Open Competition after exclusion of sources
Major Defense Program
Not listed
Pricing Type
Firm Fixed Price
Place of Performance
Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
Solicitation Procedures
Negotiated Proposal / Quote
Number Of Offers Received
500
Legislative Mandate
Not listed
National Interest Action
Not listed
Research Type
SBIR Program Phase I Action
Primary Consortia Member
Not listed
Howe Industries LLC was awarded a $122,565 firm-fixed-price purchase order from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to investigate, design, and demonstrate the fabrication of fuel elements for a safe, robust nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) concept known as the Scored Plate Reactor Innovative Nuclear Thermal Rocket (SPRINTR). The SPRINTR design utilizes a stack of thin, grooved fuel plates to enable a compact, high-performance NTR with clean exhaust, high specific impulse, and affordability. This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract supports the development of an innovative reactor design using low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, which could facilitate more affordable ground testing. The award is part of NASA's efforts to advance NTR technologies for future space exploration missions.