NASA has selected six contractors for its Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition (Rapid II) programme, intended to reduce the time required to procure satellites for science and technology missions.
"Indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity" contracts covering 14 different types of core spacecraft bus have been awarded to Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Orbital Sciences, Spectrum Astro, TRW and the UK's Surrey Satellite Technology. The work has a maximum value of $1.5 billion over the next five years.
The contracts, administered by Goddard Space Flight Center, will allow NASA and other US Government agencies to procure spacecraft with an order-to-delivery cycle of 18-36 months. As the US space agency identifies missions, contract holders will be given a chance to compete to provide the spacecraft.
The Rapid II programme is a follow-on to contracts awarded in 1997. It is described as "an incredible success" by Goddard director Al Diaz.
"In the two years since we put the rapid spacecraft procurement process in place, we have procured five spacecraft with a value of $175 million. Rapid I cut the spacecraft procurement process from months to days. We have ordered, built and launched a spacecraft in less than one year," Diaz adds.
Source: Flight International
