Rayon Felt for Fabrication of CPICA for Starfall Mission

NASA/NSSC is procuring Rayon Felt for the fabrication of CPICA under the Starfall Mission through a sole-source contract awarded to American Felt and Filter Company Inc. under FAR 12.102(a), leveraging commercial item acquisition procedures outlined in FAR Part 12. The procurement is classified as an 8(a) sole source set-aside, confirming the vendor’s status as a small business certified in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. The contract’s NAICS code is 313230, corresponding to textile mill products, and performance will occur at NASA’s Ames Research Center, though the contracting office is administered from Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. No competitive solicitation is planned, as the government has determined this vendor is the sole provider capable of fulfilling the requirement; however, interested parties may submit written capabilities and qualifications by 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on April 29, 2026, solely to inform a potential reconsideration of competition, with oral responses prohibited. The NASA FAR Supplement Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, applies to address contractor concerns, with contact information provided via a designated NASA procurement advocacy link. The primary point of contact is Procurement Specialist McKenzie Hanson at McKenzie.M.Hanson@nasa.gov, though no detailed contract value, delivery schedule, FOB terms, inspection criteria, or technical specifications for the Rayon Felt are provided. Packaging, invoicing, accounting, and payment details are not specified, and while the government intends to acquire commercial items, no material specifications, quality standards, or acceptance criteria are included. The procurement is in its pre-solicitation stage, with a formal contract award pending determination of sole-source justification and no competitive evaluation factors apply.