Large Scale Torus Strap Indentation Testing – Series 4

NASA's Shared Services Center has issued a special notice for a sole source procurement of Large Scale Torus Strap Indentation Testing – Series 4, supporting the Vulcan Engine Recovery (VERA) project's Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) technology development. The agency intends to award this contract exclusively to the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (UMaine ASCC) under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) as the sole qualified provider. This procurement falls under NAICS code 611310 for educational institutions and involves testing critical to NASA's development of a 10-meter diameter HIAD design for potential engine reuse applications. The contract includes a 100-calendar-day performance period and will be conducted at NASA Langley Research Center, building upon the successful 6-meter HIAD flight test from November 2022.

The testing objective focuses on determining the load-carrying capacity of structural webbing and resulting torus indentation for two V2.0 torus test articles, each containing 40 straps, with testing conducted at pressures up to 41 psi using different webbing widths. Interested organizations may submit capability statements and qualifications in writing to the primary contact by 7:00 AM Central Standard Time on October 13, 2025, though NASA reserves the right to make the final determination on competitive procurement at its sole discretion. The contractor must deliver comprehensive documentation including test plans, procedures, and data within 30 business days after test completion, following a Test Readiness Review. NASA has justified the sole source approach based on UMaine ASCC's fifteen-year history of HIAD technology research, unique testing capabilities, and specialized equipment that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere without significant schedule delays and increased costs. The procurement supports the broader VERA project being developed under a Space Act Agreement with United Launch Alliance for future robotic and human space missions.