Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) Launch Services

NASA Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) Launch Services 2026 On-Ramp

The NASA Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) Launch Services Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on May 27, 2021 and remains open for a period of five years from the effective date through the use of an innovative on-ramp provision found in Section 2.11, Clause 2.11.1. The VADR contract’s ordering period remains valid through five years from date of contract award. Currently, there are 13 eligible providers as part of the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ). These providers are Arrow Science and Technology, LLC, Astra Space, Inc., Blue Origin, LLC, Firefly Aerospace, Inc., Impulse Space, Inc., L2 Solutions, LLC, Momentus Space, LLC, Northrup Grumman System Corp., Phantom Space Corp., Relativity Space, Inc., Rocket Lab USA, Inc., Space Exploration Technologies, Corp., and United Launch Services, LLC. During the life of the solicitation and at the time established via synopsis, the Government will accept proposals from launch service providers for new IDIQ contracts.

At a minimum, launch services proposed under VADR require the below:

1. Launch site agreements for at least one launch site to be used in support of task orders awarded under
this contract.
2. Evidence of at least one of the following:

• Launch attempt (intentional ignition) of common launch vehicle configuration being proposed including, but not limited to, the outcome of the launch attempt
• Successful launch reaching an altitude of 100km or greater (can include any launch vehicle in the Offeror’s fleet)
• Development tests demonstrating at least 50% of the flight thrust at the complete full-scale single engine assembly level for all core stage engines of the common launch vehicle configuration being proposed.

3. If Offeror is proposing to use a launch vehicle provided by another company e.g., broker services,
transfer vehicle, agreements will be required for each proposed vehicle.

Original RFP link: https://sam.gov/opp/587b4fae322942b292baccda3098ae13/view (copy and paste into browser)

The anticipated RFP will be restricted to domestic sources as described below:

DOMESTIC SOURCE CRITERIA

In addition to the certification regarding United States commercial provider of space transportation services (Public Law 105‐303, Title II, Section 201), the Contractor shall continue to comply with domestic source criteria established below and with United States National Space Transportation Policy, dated November 21, 2013. Failure to comply with the criteria may be grounds for “Termination for Cause” in accordance with FAR 52.212‐4(m).

Participation in this procurement is restricted to prime Contractors from the United States launch vehicle/services industry. “United States industry” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, or other entity which is organized or existing under the laws of the United States or any State, and whose controlling interest is held by United States citizens. “Launch services” means all services required in the performance of this contract, excluding those necessary to produce or manufacture launch vehicles, its components and other equipment and facilities required in the performance of the contract. “Controlling interest” means ownership of an amount of equity in such entity sufficient to direct management or to void transactions entered into by management. Ownership of at least fifty‐one (51) percent of the equity creates a rebuttable presumption that such interest is controlling; however, the ultimate determination as to whether the interest is controlling resides with NASA.

The Contractor shall provide in the performance of this contract launch vehicles that are domestic end products. The launch vehicle shall be a domestic end product only if the cost of its components, mined, produced or manufactured in the United States exceeds 50 percent of the cost of all its components. The cost of each component includes transportation costs to the place of incorporation into the launch vehicle and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty‐free entry certificate is issued). “Components,” as used in this contract clause, means those materials and supplies directly incorporated into the end product.

The Contractor shall provide, in the performance of this contract, domestic launch services. Launch services shall be considered to be domestic if the cost for launch services performed by United States industry sources exceeds 50 percent of the cost of the total required launch services.

It is requested that any interested party notify NASA of intent to submit a proposal during this on-ramp period as well as a description of the launch vehicle configuration(s) you intend to propose and current flight manifest. If no viable responses are received, NASA will not conduct a 2026 VADR On-Ramp. An ombudsman has been appointed in accordance with NFS 1852.215-84.