Safety and Mission Assurance Upgrades for the production of MERINO TPS

NASA's Shared Services Center is preparing to procure Safety and Mission Assurance Upgrades for MERINO Thermal Protection System production and intends to award this work as a sole-source contract to American Felt and Filter Co. under FAR 12.102(a) commercial item authority, with a capability-statement response deadline of June 3, 2026. The procurement is set aside for total small business.

Work is performed at NASA Ames Research Center, Building 234 Room 211, Moffett Field, California. The statement of work encompasses four contract line items: Quality and Mission Assurance Facility Improvements (due August 5, 2026); Inspection System and Cutting Table Improvements (due July 23, 2026); Safety and Security Improvements to MERINO Facility (due July 23, 2026); and Technological Modernization & Upgrades to MERINO Facility (due September 30, 2026). Period of performance runs June 2026 through September 30, 2026.

Vendors must demonstrate prior experience fabricating flight-quality TPS and maintain ISO 9001 certification or better. The vendor provides all labor, materials, facilities, equipment, analysis, and management; no government-furnished property or travel costs are anticipated. Compliance with AS9011/Aerospace standards for commercial production is required.

Interested organizations submit capability statements only (not price offers) by 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 3, 2026, referencing ID 80NSSC934785Q. The Government will evaluate submissions to determine whether to conduct the procurement competitively, retaining sole discretion to proceed with sole-source award or open competition. NASA FAR Supplement Clause 1852.215-84 (Ombudsman) applies.