RFP 26. 130300-003-023 Island Flyback Pad 30% Design Services

The Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (VCSFA) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 30% conceptual design services for a new Island Flyback Pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) located on Wallops Island, Accomack County, Virginia. The procurement seeks comprehensive design deliverables including preliminary site plans depicting pad layout, safety zones, and approach/departure paths; facility footprints for landing pads and staging areas; infrastructure requirements summaries addressing utilities and loadbearing needs; operational requirements documentation; and a detailed 30% design report package with drawings, narratives, and recommendations for subsequent design phases to support launch vehicle return-to-Earth and flyback operations for both standard and heavy-class reusable launch vehicles. Proposals must be submitted electronically to solicitations@vaspace.org by April 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with questions due by April 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time; a non-mandatory site visit is scheduled for April 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A draft 30% design submittal is due by August 31, 2026, with the final submittal due by December 1, 2026, though the final deliverable date is negotiable with the selected contractor. Award will be made to the offeror providing the best overall value based on evaluation criteria emphasizing understanding of scope and approach, cost reasonableness, qualifications and experience, and completion schedule feasibility. Pricing proposals must include detailed labor categories, hours, total estimated costs, and all expenses necessary for completion including labor, materials, and travel.

The RFP does not identify any set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on organization types eligible to respond. No incumbent contractor or current vendor has been identified for this opportunity. All work product, inventions, and intellectual property developed under the contract, including drawings and design materials, become the exclusive property of VCSFA. The contractor will be classified as an independent contractor responsible for all employment-related taxes and insurance and must maintain appropriate insurance coverage, comply with federal and state laws regarding information security and data privacy, and ensure all personnel are authorized to work in the United States with valid government-issued photo identification and ability to meet facility access requirements as U.S. Citizens. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses apply, including requirements related to small business utilization, equal employment opportunity, labor standards, export controls, and whistleblower protections. The RFP does not specify an award value or budget range for this procurement.