local vendor to host the 2026 NASA TFAWS

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, operating through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center, is seeking a local vendor to host the 2026 NASA Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop (TFAWS) scheduled for August 30 through September 4, 2026. The procurement requires comprehensive conference hosting services including meeting space, hotel accommodations, registration facilities, and parking. Key requirements include providing seven meeting rooms with varying capacities ranging from 30 to 300 attendees, equipped with media capabilities such as microphones and projector screens, all available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily from August 30 through September 3. The government anticipates up to 400 participants from government agencies, academia, and private corporations. Organizations interested in challenging the sole source determination or proposing a competitive procurement must submit written capability statements by 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on April 30, 2026, to ensure visibility and proper evaluation. The procurement is classified under NAICS Code 721110 (Hotels and Motels) and PSC Category X1AB (Lease/Rental of Conference Space and Facilities), and all correspondence must reference ID 80NSSC26931526Q.

This procurement carries no set-aside designations and represents a sole source contract award currently intended for Embassy Suites by Hilton Huntsville, pending challenge submissions. The vendor must secure a block of 150 hotel rooms per night for August 30 through September 2 and 100 rooms for September 3, with rates not exceeding the government per diem rate for August/September 2026. Additional requirements include a registration area with at least 20 tables continuously available and complimentary parking for all day attendees and hotel guests. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice, though the scope of services accommodating 400 attendees across a six-day event suggests a substantial contract. The government will utilize commercial acquisition procedures under FAR Part 12 and will evaluate submissions solely to determine whether competition is warranted, with the final decision remaining at the government's discretion.