Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition IV (RAPID IV)

The Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition IV (RAPID IV) is a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center multiple-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract designed to provide a rapid and flexible means for acquiring spacecraft, related components, equipment, and services. The contract enables NASA and other federal agencies to procure spacecraft through Government-placed Delivery Orders (DO), with the flexibility to tailor spacecraft designs and services to meet unique mission requirements. With a total contract ceiling of $6 billion over a ten-year period (5-year base with one 5-year option), the RAPID IV vehicle supports spacecraft development from initial concept through development, launch, on-orbit checkout, and mission operations.

Task orders under RAPID IV demonstrate a diverse range of spacecraft studies and development activities, typically valued between $500 and $50.8 million, with performance periods ranging from a few months to several years. Frequent prime contractors include Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems, Southwest Research Institute, Thales Alenia Space, and Ball Aerospace. The delivery orders consistently cover spacecraft accommodation studies, technology demonstrations, and mission-specific development efforts, predominantly supporting Earth observation and scientific research missions. No set-aside designations were used in the analyzed task orders, and performance locations span multiple U.S. states and international locations including Canada, Italy, and France. The contract vehicle supports NASA's objectives of rapidly acquiring specialized spacecraft for scientific and technological missions across various payload and mission requirements.