Secondary Payload Avionics Unit (SPAU)
Awarded Limited / Sole Source Justification Posted
- Solicitation number
- MSFC_26-142
- Agency
-
Marshall Space Flight Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Contract number
- 80MSFC27Q0002
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- PSC
- AR14 Space R&D Services; Space Flight, Research And Supporting Activities; R&D Administrative Expenses
- Place of performance
- Chatsworth, California 91311, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight Center intends to award a sole-source contract for Secondary Payload Avionics Units and engineering support for the Space Launch System Secondary Payload Deployment System, including a spare unit, under a limited sources justification, with award dated November 18, 2026. The attached justification identifies Space Vector LLC as the intended contractor, and the notice carries no set-aside (No Set-Aside Used).
The justification cites unusual and compelling urgency under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(2) and FAR 6.103-2 and states that Space Vector is the only responsible source. Space Vector designed, developed, and qualified the flight-ready units that flew on Artemis I and II, and the Artemis III unit is fully developed and qualified. The justification states that any other contractor would add five months of delay, consisting of at least three months of development and qualification testing and two months of required software certification, against an early 2028 Artemis IV launch target. An RFI issued in July 2022 drew two responses, from Space Vector and Southwest Research Institute, and the justification concludes that only Space Vector has the required integration compatibility and flight heritage. The contracting officer determined the cost fair and reasonable pending proposal evaluation and negotiation before contract execution.
The avionics units control deployment of secondary payloads from the Orion Stage Adaptor during Artemis missions, with each unit comprising a sequencer and a battery. The notice is classified under NAICS 541715 and PSC AR14.
Notice text
Secondary Payload Avionics Units (AUs) and engineering support for Artemis missions including a spare unit, as part of the SLS Secondary Payload Deployment System to control the deployment of secondary payloads from the Orion Stage Adaptor during these missions. Each AU is comprised of a sequencer, capable of storing and executing multiple deployment scenarios, and a battery to supply power to the deployment system for the duration of the mission objectives.
Awarded contract 80MSFC27Q0002 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2026-11-18.
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