RFP GMU-KS0903-26 RIDM LANDHOLT Spacecraft Platform

George Mason University is soliciting proposals under RFP GMU-KS0903-26 to establish a Firm Fixed Price contract for the RIDM Landolt Spacecraft Platform. The project supports a one-year astrophysics mission in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) funded by a NASA PIONEERS Program grant valued between 19.5 and 20 million dollars. The selected contractor will provide a flight-qualified spacecraft bus with TRL9 classification and proven GEO flight heritage, along with payload integration and verification services, early hardware-in-the-loop testbed infrastructure, and integrated routine and orbital operations. Key responsibilities include mission review and documentation for phases B through E, spacecraft and payload assembly, integration, and testing, and coordination with launch providers. Proposals must be submitted exclusively via the Bonfire portal by September 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET. All offerors are required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan identifying the use of DSBSD-certified small, women-owned, minority-owned, or service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Award selection is based on the best proposal, evaluated through initial scoring, potential oral presentations, and negotiations, where price is a factor but not the sole determinant. The contract is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and requires compliance with various federal and state regulations, including export controls for dual-use items and strict contamination control standards for payload delivery. Payment terms are Net 30 upon receipt of valid invoices referencing a George Mason Purchase Order.