Validation Recovery Event with Commercial Ship (VALENT)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space Center is seeking a commercial contractor to support the VALENT Mission Event Demonstration for Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Landing & Recovery operations. The solicitation requires a contractor to provide a ship, labor, and equipment to transport the Command Module Training Article (CMTA) to designated drop zones for open water simulation training. The contract opportunity is a solicitation for a comprehensive maritime support service that will facilitate critical space exploration training activities. The procurement is structured as a total small business set-aside, indicating that only small businesses are eligible to compete for this contract. Interested contractors must submit their proposals by April 30, 2025, with the solicitation originally posted on April 15, 2025.

The contract is specifically categorized under Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation (NAICS 483113) and Transportation/Travel/Relocation Vessel Freight (PSC V115). The place of performance is located in Florida, specifically in the 32899 zip code area. While specific award values are not disclosed in the solicitation, the contract appears to be focused on providing specialized maritime transportation and logistical support for NASA's training operations. The procurement is designed to support critical simulation exercises for space exploration mission preparation, suggesting a specialized and potentially high-value contract. The total small business set-aside indicates an opportunity for smaller maritime transportation and logistics companies to compete for this NASA contract, potentially providing a significant opportunity for qualified small business contractors in the maritime and transportation sector.