Research and Technologies for Aerospace Propulsion Systems 2 (RTAPS2)

NASA Glenn Research Center established this Master IDIQ on August 24, 2015, with a shared ceiling of $260 million, but ordering closed on September 29, 2020, making this vehicle inactive for pursuit. The contract supports development and demonstration of advanced aerospace propulsion and communications technologies across five technology areas: aeronautics propulsion, structures and materials, power systems, space propulsion systems, and space communications.

Activity has ended. The vehicle is closed to new task orders and remains in execution phase only on awarded work. Between October 2015 and August 2020, NASA Glenn procured 27 delivery orders worth $73.7 million in combined potential value, with $60.6 million (82 percent) obligated to date. Ordering momentum front-loaded in 2016 (14 orders) and tapered sharply thereafter (1 order in 2017, 3 in 2018, 1 in 2019, 5 in 2020), reflecting concentrated activity in the vehicle's early years.

Work spans turbofan engine power extraction, ceramic matrix composite durability testing, electrified aircraft propulsion systems, hypersonic propulsion concepts, ice crystal icing effects research, communications system studies, and space network infrastructure analysis. Recent mega-orders include turbofan power extraction demonstration ($14.7 million obligated) and XLR-132 pump-fed storable engine redesign ($9.4 million obligated), both awarded in 2020. Task order duration ranges from under one year to three years, with pricing models split between cost-sharing, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and firm-fixed-price arrangements.

General Electric Company dominates by potential value, holding four orders totaling $35.8 million—approximately 49 percent of combined potential. Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE follows with three orders at $22 million. RTX Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, and Williams International hold smaller positions. MTI Systems leads by order count (6 orders) but at only $1.4 million combined. Eleven distinct primes competed on the vehicle; the top five control roughly 97 percent of combined potential value.

NASA Glenn procured 26 of 27 orders (96 percent of activity); Marshall Space Flight Center placed a single order. All 27 awards carried no set-aside. The vehicle served exclusively NASA's internal research mission, with no multi-agency funding.

This vehicle closed to new business nearly six years ago and does not represent a current pursuit opportunity. Existing awardees may continue executing outstanding task orders through their individual completion dates.

The RTAPS2 IDIQ supports key NASA challenges in the areas of communications, structures and materials, power, propulsion systems for aeronautics vehicles; and propulsion and communication systems for space missions and vehicles. The objective of this proposed effort is to develop, demonstrate, and verify advanced technologies as part of NASAs on-going, long-term aerospace research programs in these areas.