Spacecraft Structures, from Concept to Launch | Live/in-person instructor-led training

NASA/NSSC is initiating a sole source procurement under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) to acquire a 24-hour, in-person instructor-led training course titled “Spacecraft Structures, from Concept to Launch” from INSTAR ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING, INC., identified as the sole provider of this specialized program. The training will be delivered at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and is designed to enhance the engineering capabilities of NASA personnel through comprehensive instruction on spacecraft structural development, including launch environments, Finite Element Analysis, Loads-Cycle and Coupled Loads Analysis, design verification, and risk assessment. The course must be taught by a subject matter expert with at least 30 years of aerospace structural engineering experience and prior NASA consulting background, and must cover eight specific modules aligned with NASA-STD-5001, NASA-STD-5020, and industry best practices, including the Ten Principles for Effective Engineering in the Space Industry. The contractor is required to provide the latest revision of the SCS Course Book (September 2025) to all participants and collect participant feedback to validate knowledge transfer and training effectiveness. Performance is governed by strict attendance and module completion criteria, with acceptance determined by NASA based on verified outcomes. The solicitation number is 80NSSC26931662Q, released on May 1, 2026, with responses due by 12 p.m. Central Standard Time on May 5, 2026; only written submissions are accepted, and oral communications are prohibited. The acquisition will follow FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13 procedures for commercial items, with no competitive bidding anticipated. The NAICS code is 611430 for Educational Support Services. The contract will be administered by NASA Shared Services Center, with the contracting office located at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, though all training performance occurs at Marshall Space Flight Center. No contract value is specified, as this is a sources-sought notice, and critical administrative details such as payment instructions, COR/COTR identification, invoicing mechanisms, and contractor certifications including UEI or CAGE codes are not provided. NASA Clause 1852.215-84 on the Ombudsman applies, with resources available through the designated NASA ombudsman portal.