Custome textile protype

NASA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center has issued a Special Notice for a custom textile prototype contract under a sole source procurement authority. The notice, posted on December 5, 2025, represents NASA's intention to exclusively negotiate with Bally Ribbon Mills for advanced textile development supporting the Artemis Suit Materials (ASM) Project. This procurement is designated as sole source under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), indicating that NASA has determined only one vendor possesses the requisite capabilities to fulfill the requirement. The contract will support NASA Johnson Space Center operations and falls under NAICS Code 313240 for knit fabric mills. Interested organizations may challenge this sole source determination by submitting capability statements to demonstrate alternative qualifications.

The primary objective is to secure advanced woven fabric design, development, and limited testing for next-generation lunar Environmental Protection Garment (EPG) fabrics critical to the Artemis 3 mission. The three-phase project requires the contractor to weave uncoated and coated fabric blankets using Kevlar and Vectran yarns, with an estimated performance period of 6 months from Authorization to Proceed. The deadline for interested parties to submit written capability statements and qualifications is December 9, 2025, at 8 a.m. Central Standard Time, addressed to Stephanie Graham at Stephanie.n.Graham@nasa.gov. Only written submissions will be accepted; oral communications are prohibited. To participate, contractors must demonstrate specialized capabilities including narrow-fabric looms, proprietary process controls, expertise in aerospace fiber handling, and ability to meet the compressed schedule required by the Artemis mission timeline. Payment terms are NET 30, invoiced per phase, and the government will evaluate all submissions to determine whether competitive procurement is warranted.