This contract shall provide composite aircraft manufacturing technology assessment and commercial production modeling SME support to the HiCAM Project Leadership Team. This support includes, but is not limited to, representing NASA as a Task Lead or key co

NASA's Shared Services Center is conducting a sole source procurement for composite aircraft manufacturing technology assessment and commercial production modeling subject matter expert (SME) support to the HiCAM (Hi-rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing) Project Leadership Team. The contractor will provide expertise in composite aircraft structures, commercial manufacturing trade studies, and discrete event simulations, with primary responsibilities including briefing project leadership on technical progress, reviewing and updating manufacturing models, collaborating with Cooperative Research Teams, and assessing Key Performance Parameters and Technology Readiness Levels. The procurement utilizes FAR Part 12 commercial item procedures under NAICS Code 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences). The government will evaluate whether competitive procurement is warranted based on written responses from interested organizations demonstrating why the sole source designation should be reconsidered; however, NASA retains discretion to proceed with the sole source award regardless of responses received. The solicitation was posted on April 17, 2026, with a submission deadline of 7 a.m. Central Standard Time on April 21, 2026, and inquiries should be directed to Shanna Patterson, Procurement Specialist, at Shanna.L.Patterson@nasa.gov.

NASA has identified Grace Environmental and Consulting LLC of Galax, Virginia as the sole source contractor based on their unique qualifications as the previous technology assessment process technical lead during the project's Phase 0 and Phase 1 under The Boeing Company. No set-aside designation applies to this procurement. Performance will be conducted with a primary location at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, though remote work is permitted, with the contractor required to attend annual Spring and Fall Reviews in-person at Langley and one annual five-day technical exchange trip to an Advanced Composites Consortium member facility, assumed to be in Seattle, Washington. The contract period of performance is 12 months from award date, with the government providing a laptop and required software for the contractor's use. The HiCAM project has a finite duration with no anticipated support needed beyond fiscal year 2029, and a Spring Review is scheduled for May 5-8, 2026, making timely contractor engagement critical for adequate SME representation in technology assessment work.