prototype textile development

NASA's Shared Services Center has issued a Special Notice for a sole source contract for prototype textile development, specifically targeting Warwick Mills Inc. in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. The procurement is being conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and relates to advanced suit materials custom textile development for lunar spacesuit applications. The agency has determined that Warwick Mills is the sole provider capable of delivering the required prototype textile development services. The performance will be conducted at NASA Johnson Space Center with a performance period of 6 months following Authorization to Proceed. This procurement falls under NAICS code 541715 for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences.

The primary objective of this procurement is to develop, finish, and apply advanced coatings to custom-woven Vectran-based fabrics specifically designed for lunar surface spacesuit applications. The project includes four critical milestones: beam completion, plain weave trial, pattern weave trial, and a finishing trial involving calendaring and high-performance resin coating. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications in writing to Shanna Patterson at Shanna.l.Patterson@nasa.gov no later than 7:00 a.m. Central Standard Time on July 28, 2025. The government will evaluate submitted capabilities solely to determine whether to conduct the procurement on a competitive basis, though oral communications are not acceptable. NASA has justified the sole source approach based on Warwick Mills' unique capabilities in high-performance textile manufacturing, proprietary processing methods, vertical integration, and extensive experience with NASA-related textile development for demanding lunar environment performance requirements.