Tab 04 SOW.pdf

NASA STUDENT LAUNCH

1.0 BACKGROUND

The NASA Student Launch (SL) is a research-based, competitive, and experiential exploration project that provides relevant and cost-effective research and development. Additionally, NASA Student Launch connects learners, educators, and communities in NASA-unique opportunities that align with STEM

Challenges under the NASA Education Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Engagement line of business. NASA’s missions, discoveries, and assets provide opportunities for individuals that do not exist elsewhere. The project reaches a broad audience of middle and high schools, colleges and universities across the nation in a nine-month commitment to design, build, and fly high-power rockets and scientific or engineering payloads that align with various NASA missions. The rockets and payloads fly to an altitude determined by the Range Safety Officer and the team. Supported by the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD), NASA Office of STEM Engagement’s Next Gen

STEM (NGS) Program, and commercial industry, SL is a unique, NASA-specific opportunity to provide resources and experiences built around a real-world mission. There are two different challenges.

1) Student Launch Initiative (SLI): For middle and high schools only. Build and launch a rocket fly between 3,500 and 5,500 ft above ground level; develop a payload of the team’s design

(requires approval from NASA).

2) University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) – Launch Division: For colleges and universities only.

Build and launch a rocket to fly between 4,000 and 6,000 ft above ground level; and develop a payload to accomplish the tasks outlined in the annual Payload Challenge (requires approval from NASA).

After approval in a competitive proposal selection process, teams participate in a series of design reviews submitted to NASA. The reviews mirror the NASA engineering design lifecycle, providing a

NASA-unique experience that prepares individuals for the SOMD workforce. Teams must complete: 1)

Preliminary Design Review (PDR); 2) Critical Design Review (CDR); 3) Flight Readiness Review (FRR); 4)

Launch Readiness Review (LRR) that includes safety briefings; and 5) an analysis of vehicle systems, payload, and flight data. Each team must pass a review to move to a subsequent review. Teams will present their PDR, CDR, and FRR to a review panel of scientists, engineers, technicians, and educators via video teleconference. Review panel members will score each USLI team according to a standard scoring rubric. SLI teams are not scored.

The handbook for the 2025-2026 project year will be released on August 8, 2025. The 2025-2026 handbook can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-student-launch/.

GENERAL TIMELINE FOR PROJECT YEAR

August Request For Proposals (RFP) distributed to teams

September Proposals Due

October Awarded proposals announced

PDR due

November PDR Presentations

December CDR Q&A

January CDR Due

CDR Presentations

March FRR due

FRR Presentations

April 22nd Teams travel to Huntsville for Launch Week

May PLAR due

June Winners Announced

3.0 OBJECTIVE

NASA Student Launch aligns with the 2020-2023 NASA Strategy for STEM Engagement and the NASA

Office of STEM Engagement’s Vision, Mission, Strategic Goals, and Strategic Objectives. NASA Student

Launch relates specifically to the following NASA Office of STEM Engagement Strategic Objectives:

1.2: Create structured and widely accessible, experiential learning opportunities for students to engage with NASA’s experts and help solve problems that are critical to NASA’s mission.

2.1: Develop and deploy a continuum of STEM experiences through authentic learning and research opportunities with NASA’s people and work to cultivate student interest in pursuing STEM careers and foster interest in aerospace fields.

3.2: Foster student exposure to STEM careers through direct and virtual experiences with NASA’s people and work.

4.0 SCOPE

NASA aims to give individuals from around the United States an opportunity to research and investigate through design, build, and launch of a rocket and related payload. Teams will use commercially available high power rocket motors that are certified by the National Association of

Rocketry (NAR), Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) or Canadian Rocketry Association (CRA).

For the scope of this effort, the vendor will: 1) provide personnel to work with teams throughout the project lifecycle and 2) provide range operations at the final launch located at Bragg Farms or alternate launch field in Alabama. The vendor shall be knowledgeable of the team requirements and expectations

(reference the NASA Student Launch handbook at: https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-student-launch/.

5.0 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

At a minimum, vendor will:

1. Provide a Range Safety Officer (RSO) who holds a current certification for Level 3 High Power

Rocketry, issued by NAR or TRA. The RSO shall serve with the NASA Chief RSO to conduct a safe and efficient launch. The RSO, or his representative(s), shall participate in PDRs, CDRs, FRRs and the initial and final LRRs.

2. Provide a Launch Control Officer (LCO) to conduct a safe and efficient launch of the Student

Launch rockets at the Launch Site.

3. Provide check-in and launch pad specialists (LPS), at least 1 LPS for every 5 student teams attending the launch based on a team count provided by NASA, who hold at least a Level 2 certification in high-power rocketry.

4. Provide and transport rocket launching equipment to support a minimum of fifteen (15) active launch pads with 8- foot rails (with ability to extend a minimum of 1 rail to 12 –foot) in standard and large sizes that are appropriate for student rockets up to and including L class motors.

Rocket launch equipment includes any materials needed to safely launch high-power rockets

(i.e. fire suppressant materials, ladders, other safety equipment, etc.)

5. Provide the electronic capacity (channels) to support a minimum of fifteen (15) launch pads.

Setup and remove rocket launch equipment at the Launch Site.

6. Conduct the initial LRR of every Student Launch rocket. The initial LRR shall be conducted 2-3 days prior to the scheduled launch day, or as adjusted if NASA conducts an abbreviated event

(see draft schedule that follows.). The NASA Chief RSO, in consultation with RSO, shall have the authority to make the final decision on whether a rocket will be allowed to launch, the final authority on modifications or repairs required, and any issue which occurs during the final LRR.

Initial LRRs are scheduled for April 23 and April 24, 2026, with a follow-up inspection if deemed necessary by the NASA Chief RSO on April 24, 2026.

7. Conduct an LRR meeting with all personnel scheduled to support LRRs to ensure consistency among inspections.

8. Conduct a final preflight check of each Student Launch rocket on the day of launch before the rocket is loaded onto its assigned pad. The NASA Chief RSO, in consultation with the RSO, shall have the authority to make the final GO/NOGO decision on any issue that occurs during the final preflight checks.

9. Provide launch support on April 25, 2026, and/or on the rain date of Sunday, April 26, 2026.

10. Provide a coordinated staff of at least 3 spotters with warning horns placed strategically throughout the spectator area to identify and mitigate the hazards of recovering airframes in or near the spectator area.

11. Provide a coordinated staff of at least 2 spotters placed strategically on the edge of the field to help track recovery of airframes near or beyond the launch field property line.

12. Establish the FAA waiver for the Student Launch dates and launch site and activate the FAA waiver for those launch dates.

Launch site:

Bragg Farms – Jeannie Harvey

1180 Grimwood Road

Toney, AL 35773 braggfarms@gmail.com

256.828.3611

13. Provide liability insurance against bodily injury and property damage and an insurance certificate listing the landowner as additionally insured regarding launch activities on their site.

Provide additional insurance for $5 million for the launch weekend.

14. Provide lease compensation of launch site to Bragg Farms, Inc. in the amount of $20,000.00. If lease is awarded for this initiative, the total amount should be provided to Bragg Farms no later than March 1, 2026. (Bragg Farms contact: Jeannie Harvey @ BraggFarms@gmail.com or (256)

828-3611).

15. Provide a detailed list of lessons learned upon completion of launch week.

16. Provide NASA the opportunity to approve all publications concerning or referring to the NASA

Student Launch prior to release, to include publications released before and up to 1 year after the period of performance.

17. Provide the list of launch supporters to NASA. NOTE: A mentor cannot receive dual compensation from NASA for travel in support of a team and for launch support awarded through this competitive proposal.

18. Provide a strategy and mechanism for teams to ship motors in advance of launch week.

19. Research, plan, and implement a student fair featuring representatives from across the aerospace industry to be held either Thursday or Friday of Launch Week.

20. Request permission from NASA before scheduling, arranging, or permitting any non-Student

Launch rocket flight, display, or activity at the NASA Student Launch Event.

NASA will:

1. Conduct and coordinate the project management of the NASA Student Launch. This management function includes issuing the RFP and selecting the participating teams, identifying the launch site, coordinating and conducting the milestone technical reviews, and coordinating the logistical services for the LRRs.

2. Assure that all rocketry aspects of the NASA Student Launch are conducted according to the

Launch Services vendor’s high-power rocketry standards and safety codes.

3. Provide a NASA Chief RSO who holds a current Level 3 High Power Rocketry Certification, issued by the NAR or TRA. The NASA Chief RSO will set the standards for the initial and final hardware inspections, with consultation with the Launch Services Vendor RSO. The NASA Chief RSO shall have the authority to make the final decision whether to launch each or any of the rockets based on the safety condition of each rocket and on the weather and launch site conditions at flight time.

4. Provide a list of team mentors to the Launch Services Vendor with proof of National Association of Rocketry or Tripoli Rocketry Association membership and certification level and provide a travel stipend to the team mentors listed.

5. Provide basic rocket and payload information, concerns from the review panel, and status of each team prior to FRR. Host the PDR, CDR, and FRR. Provide schedule and documentation for attendance at the PDR, CDR, and FRR.

MILESTONES & PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The planned major milestones for the activities defined in the “Description of Work” paragraph are as follows:

Milestone Date Payment Schedule

Team count provided by NASA to Vendor October, annually

Flight Readiness Review schedule and status of teams with concerns will be provided by NASA

NLT March 2026

Names of members who will support launch provided by Vendor to NASA.

March 9, 2026

50%

Flight Readiness Review (FRR), certification information provided by NASA.

March 9, 2026

Launch Readiness Reviews March/Early April

Launch event range operations April 23, 2026 (Rain date:

April 26, 2026)

Lessons learned list May 31, 2026 50%

Period of Performance: Award date until May 31, 2026.

6.0 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Vendors will provide the following at a minimum in the proposal:

- Address each requirement listed in the Description of Work.

- Detailed budget to include vendor cost of up to 35 teams.

Sample/Draft LRR Schedule (subject to change by NASA and based on the number of teams accepted.)

Wednesday, April 22:

Time Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 Table 7 Table 8

7:00pm-

8:00pm

8:00pm-

9:00pm

9:00pm-

10:00pm

2:15pm-

3:00pm

3:00pm-

4:00pm

Punch List Checks

Thursday, April 23:

Time Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 Table 7 Table 8

12:00pm-

1:00pm

1:00pm-

2:00pm

2:00pm-

3:00pm

3:00pm-

4:00pm

4:00pm-

5:00pm

5:00pm-

6:00pm

Friday, April 24:

Time Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 Table 7 Table 8

7:00am-

9:00am

1) Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) During Contract Performance (SEP 2025) which requires contractors to disclose the use of AI technologies at any time during the fulfillment of the contract. This requirement statement must be included in all contracts (including orders); and

2) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Acquisitions (SEP 2025) which provides additional contractor requirements when the contract is acquiring covered AI systems or services as defined by OMB memo M-25-22. This requirement statement must be included in all contracts (including orders) when acquiring covered AI systems or services. Covered AI systems or services and exceptions are listed below as defined OMB memo M-25-22).