Sounding Rocket Program 3

The Sounding Rocket Program 3 (SRP-3) Master Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, awarded by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Launch Systems Enterprise, supports suborbital and small orbital launch services for scientific, technological, and defense-related missions. The contract enables the procurement of launch vehicle concepts, motor assemblies, and specialized studies related to rocket propulsion and launch systems. Primarily focused on small payload deliveries (0-400 pounds) to low earth orbit, the contract facilitates research and development activities for various government agencies, including NASA, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and the United States Air Force.

Task orders under this IDIQ demonstrate a diverse range of projects with values spanning from approximately $50,000 to nearly $43 million, typically utilizing cost-plus fixed fee or cost-plus incentive pricing mechanisms. Notable task orders include NASA Orion Abort Test Booster studies, Peacekeeper and Minuteman Pathfinder investigations, propulsion application programs, and range analysis studies. The contract consistently employs a "no set-aside" designation, indicating open competition among potential contractors. While specific prime contractors are not explicitly named in the documentation, the task orders suggest involvement from aerospace and defense engineering firms capable of conducting complex rocket and launch system research. Performance locations appear centered around U.S. government research and testing facilities, with a strong presence at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.