Special Studies/Analysis- Aeronautical/Space

PSC Category B539 encompasses special studies and analysis focused on aeronautical and space domains, primarily involving advanced research, mission concept studies, and technical evaluations for space exploration and Earth observation programs. These studies typically involve sophisticated scientific and engineering analyses, mission design assessments, and technological feasibility evaluations across various aerospace disciplines, including satellite systems, environmental monitoring, and space mission development.

The federal contract awards under this PSC category demonstrate a strong focus on NASA-funded research, with multiple contracts issued to academic and research institutions for Earth System Explorers Program (ESEP) mission concept studies. Contracts range from approximately $227,000 to $1.6 million, predominantly awarded to universities like University of California San Diego, California Institute of Technology, and University of Washington. The awards consistently feature firm fixed-price definitive contracts with performance periods spanning approximately 1-2 years, primarily originating from NASA's Goddard Space Center. Most contracts are not set aside for specific business types, indicating open competition among research institutions and technical service providers.

The sole federal contract opportunity posted under this category is a NASA Shared Services Center special notice for Artemis Logistic Testing. This opportunity seeks commercial services to support the NASA Extreme Environments Missions Operations (NEEMO) program, specifically to test logistics off-loading techniques and transfer methods using seafloor mockups. The opportunity is structured as an 8(a) sole source procurement targeting the University of Southern California, with a performance period from August 22 to October 5, 2024, and actual mission dates scheduled for September 17-29, 2024.