Aerospace Testing and Facilities Operations and Maintenance (ATOM-6)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
NASA Ames Research Center is conducting market research for the Aerospace Testing and Facilities Operations and Maintenance (ATOM-6) requirement, a follow-on to the ATOM 5 contract. This Sources Sought notice seeks capability statements from interested parties for the operation, maintenance, and testing of various aerospace facilities. The RFI aims to gather industry input on acquisition strategy, contract structure, and potential set-aside considerations. RFI responses were due January 20, 2026. Additionally, virtual one-on-one meetings are available from February 23 to March 19, 2026, for further industry engagement.
Purpose of RFI
The RFI serves two main purposes: to gather industry feedback on contracting approaches, structure, incentives, and scalability, and to assess technical capabilities, staffing capacity, and past performance to inform the appropriate acquisition strategy and potential small business subcontracting goals for the future ATOM-6 solicitation.
Scope of Work
The ATOM-6 requirement involves comprehensive services for the testing, operations, and maintenance of NASA ARC's Wind Tunnel, Arc Jets, High Energy Facilities, and associated support facilities. This includes, but is not limited to, the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnels (UPWT), Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (FML), Arc Jet Complex, Ballistic Range Complex, Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) Facility, Sensor and Thermal Protection System Advanced Research Lab (STAR Lab), and Planetary Aeolian Laboratory (PAL). Services encompass planning, preparation, and execution of tests; implementation of development projects; and the operation, maintenance, and repair of facilities, along with administrative support. The work will be performed primarily at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.
Requested Information
Interested offerors were requested to submit a capability statement (max 50 pages) addressing:
- Company Information: Including business size for NAICS 561210.
- Technical Capability: Describing ability to perform requirements from Draft PWS sections 3.1 and 3.3 for specific facilities (Wind Tunnel, Arc Jet, FML, etc.).
- Workshare Estimates: Percentage of work as prime vs. subcontractor for each technical area.
- Past Performance: Examples from the past 5 years relevant to ATOM-6 scope.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with NASA NPRs, ITAR/EAR, CUI, safety, and environmental regulations.
- Infrastructure/Staffing: Experience in recruiting and retaining specialized staff in the Silicon Valley region.
Industry Engagement Questions
NASA is seeking feedback on:
- Contract Type and Risk Allocation: Most appropriate contract type, effective incentives, and hybrid model justifications.
- Contract Duration: Sufficiency of a five-year period vs. longer terms (6-10 years).
- Technical Information and Requirements Clarity: Additional helpful information for proposals.
- Contract Content and Structure: Recommendations for PWS restructuring or simplification.
- Socio-Economic Participation: Realistic subcontracting percentages for various small business categories and areas where small firms add value.
- Additional Considerations: Transition period, impact of contract structure on staffing, potential barriers, major risks and mitigations, and other engagement activities.
One-on-One Meetings
Virtual one-on-one meetings (30 minutes each) are offered via Microsoft Teams from February 23 to March 19, 2026, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. PT. These sessions are for industry to present capabilities and feedback. Requests should be emailed to Suhail Haji (suhail.haji@nasa.gov) and Patrick Yamamoto (patrick.e.yamamoto@nasa.gov) with the subject "ATOM-6 Meeting Request - [Company Name]", providing three preferred dates/times.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI)
- Set-Aside: None specified (market research for potential Small, 8(a), WOSB, SD-VOSB, EDWOSB, HUBZone set-asides)
- NAICS: 561210 (Facilities Support Services)
- RFI Response Due: January 20, 2026, 9:00 am PST (Note: This date precedes the notice's published date of January 29, 2026)
- Published: January 29, 2026
- One-on-One Meetings: February 23 - March 19, 2026
Additional Notes
This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment by the Government. Respondents will not be notified of assessment results. A formal Pre-Solicitation Conference is anticipated after the Draft RFP release. Monitor Sam.gov for future solicitations.