This Sources Sought opportunity from Department Of Defense was posted on June 15, 2026. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.
Additively Manufactured Solid Propulsion System for a Supersonic Aerial Target
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The Naval Air Systems Command, through Program Management Office PMA-208, is conducting market research via a Request for Information to identify industry capabilities in designing, developing, qualifying, and manufacturing a solid-propellant propulsion system for a supersonic aerial target. This effort seeks form, fit, and function replacements for a legacy ducted rocket motor using advanced manufacturing techniques, particularly Additive Manufacturing, with the goal of enhancing the industrial base, reducing costs, and improving supply chain resilience. The system must sustain Mach 2.5 or greater at sea-skimming altitudes for over 60 seconds, have a cylindrical form factor of approximately 15 inches in diameter and 120 inches in length, weigh no more than 600 pounds, and be qualified for naval carrier and shore-based environments with standard military connectors and bolt interfaces. Respondents are expected to provide a capabilities statement detailing corporate experience with solid and hybrid propulsion systems, Additive Manufacturing of high-temperature nickel and titanium alloys, flight qualification programs, and GFE integration, along with technical approaches, Rough Order of Magnitude cost and schedule estimates for non-recurring and recurring production at 20 to 40 units annually, and identification of top technical, programmatic, and industrial risks with mitigation strategies. All submissions must be unclassified and marked as Controlled Technical Information and Export Controlled under Department of the Navy and NAVAIRSYSCOM PEO (U&W) PMA-208 oversight, with distribution limited to Department of Defense contractors and government entities. This RFI is strictly for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation, nor is there any obligation for the government to award a contract. Responses are voluntary and will not be compensated. The government intends to use the gathered data to evaluate potential candidates for an Other Transaction Authority agreement under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, potentially awarded through the Naval Air Systems Consortium, to develop a prototype. The ultimate goal is to establish a Government-owned Technical Data Package for the propulsion system, which would then be provided as Government Furnished Equipment to a prime integrator. The response deadline has been extended to June 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET, and submissions must be under 20 pages, in Word or PDF format, with minimum font size of 10-point Times New Roman, one-inch margins, and include company name, address, CAGE code, and Unique Entity Identifier. Information received may be
General Info
Place of Performance
St James, MD, 20670, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Submission Closed
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT MAY USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO INFORM A POTENTIAL PROTOTYPE PROJECT UNDER OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY (OTA), PURSUANT TO 10 U.S.C. § 4022. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI IS VOLUNTARY AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT COMPENSATE ANY RESPONDENT FOR ANY COST INCURRED IN DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; YET IS A MARKET RESEARCH TOOL TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SUPPLIES DESCRIBED HEREIN PRIOR TO AN ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL SOURCES AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY KIND. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR NON-FAR BASED AGREEMENT (E.G. OTHER TRANSACTION) AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. FAILURE TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE WILL NOT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE COMPETITION RELATED TO PMA208’S ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED SOLID PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR A SUPERSONIC AERIAL TARGET. INFORMATION PROVIDED SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED MAY BE REVIEWED AND USED ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO (U&W)), Aerial Targets Program Management Office, (PMA-208) at Patuxent River, MD is conducting market research to determine the amount of responsible sources that have the capability, experience, facilities, and potential solutions for the capability gap described herein. PMA-208 is seeking information on industry's capability to design, develop, qualify, and manufacture a solid-propellant propulsion system for a supersonic aerial target. The Government's objective is to leverage advanced manufacturing techniques, including but not limited to Additive Manufacturing (AM), to enhance the propulsion industrial base, improve system affordability, and increase supply chain resilience. The Government is exploring a strategy wherein the propulsion system would be developed to a Government-owned Technical Data Package (TDP) and subsequently provided to a prime air vehicle integrator as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). This RFI seeks to understand the feasibility, risks, and ROM cost/schedule associated with developing a form, fit, and function replacement for a legacy ducted rocket motor.
NAVAIR is considering awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects,” for solid-propellant propulsion system for a supersonic aerial target.
The Government reserves the right to pursue production of a successful prototype(s).
Update (29 May 2026): The Government is considering utilizing the Naval Air Systems Consortium to potentially award one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects”. This effort will be briefed by the Government at the NASC Membership Meeting on 25 June 2026. This forum is limited to the members of the NASC. For more information about membership as well as the Additively Manufactured Solid Propulsion System for a Supersonic Aerial Target briefing, please visit nascsolutions.org.
Update (12 June 2026): The deadline for response submission has been extended to 22 June 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Please see updated instructions attached.
Update (15 June 2026): Please see Attachment 1 Frequently Asked Questions. Respondents may submit revised submissions prior to 22 June 2026 deadline at 5:00 PM ET.
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