Recovered Hypersonic Sled Test (RHST) Program: Industry Day to Establish Project Consortium(s)

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Test Center has issued a Sources Sought Notice for the Recovered Hypersonic Sled Test (RHST) Program at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. This Special Notice seeks to identify potential vendors interested in establishing a project consortium to develop ground test infrastructure systems capable of conducting hypersonic testing on weapon systems. The program will support both recoverable and non-recoverable assets as part of the Air Force's hypersonic weapon system testing capabilities. The notice targets vendors registered under specific NAICS codes including commercial and institutional building construction, highway and bridge construction, site preparation, and engineering services. The Air Force Test Center will use this market research to determine whether to establish one or multiple consortiums under prototype project authority.

The primary objective of the RHST program is to create an integrated test infrastructure with Initial Operating Capability involving design, equipment, explosive storage, and test facilities, followed by Future Operating Capability demonstrating a recoverable hypersonic sled test. Key requirements for participating contractors include current NIST SP 800-171 certification and registration in the Joint Certification Program, with foreign participation explicitly prohibited. The government has scheduled a Virtual Industry Day Kick-Off for July 21, 2025, followed by an on-site Industry Day at Holloman Air Force Base from July 30-31, 2025. Interested vendors have until July 20, 2025, to respond to this sources sought notice. The government will utilize 10 U.S.C. 4022 prototype project authority to establish the consortium structure based on industry responses and capabilities demonstrated during the industry engagement events.