7 Bilds of Rayon TPS Billets

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has issued a Special Notice for the procurement of 7 Bilds of Rayon Thermal Protection System (TPS) Billets through the NASA/NSSC procurement process. The opportunity is set aside for small businesses and focuses on the fabrication of specialized materials for commercial and government missions. NASA intends to issue a sole source contract to American Felt and Filter Company Inc. under specific Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions. The procurement will be conducted using commercial item acquisition procedures and will be performed at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. The Special Notice falls under the NAICS category of Nonwoven Fabric Mills and is classified under the General Science and Technology R&D Services product service code.

Contractors interested in this opportunity must submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing by 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 3, 2025. The submission will be evaluated to determine whether the procurement should be competed, with NASA retaining full discretion in this decision. Eligible contractors must have previous experience with flight-quality Rayon TPS fabrication and be ISO 9001 certified. The specific technical requirements include producing whitegoods with a precise bulk density of 0.165 ± 0.005 g/cm3 using VISCOSE Staple Fiber 5.5X89-BL BRIGHT. The contract calls for fabricating and delivering 7 billets, each measuring 65" x 65" x 6" thick, with a delivery date in August 2025. The period of performance spans from May 2025 to August 2025, and oral communications are not acceptable. NASA Clause 1852.215-84 regarding the Ombudsman is applicable to this acquisition, providing additional guidance for potential contractors.