Prototype textile and coating development
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's Shared Services Center (NSSC) has issued a Special Notice for Prototype textile and coating development for the Artemis Suit Materials Project. The primary objective is to create an advanced coating system for custom-woven, Vectran-based fabrics used in lunar spacesuit Environmental Protection Garments (EPGs), as no existing commercial solution meets the stringent requirements. The government intends to award a sole source contract to WARWICK MILLS INC., but interested organizations are invited to submit capabilities and qualifications.
Scope of Work
The effort involves collaborating with NASA to develop and optimize a bespoke coating system. This includes refining base fabric construction and finishing processes, such as calendaring and high-performance resin coating. Key performance areas to address are fabric hand, flame resistance, electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance, interlaminar peel strength, and abrasion resistance, all tailored for the lunar environment. Technical goals include maximizing interlaminar peel strength for cryogenic flex cycling, creating a lunar dust-impermeable coating, enhancing flame resistance, UV durability, color stability, and ESD using inorganic additives, and maintaining low stiffness at extreme temperatures.
Contract & Timeline
- Opportunity Type: Special Notice (Intent to Sole Source)
- Anticipated Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price (FFP)
- NAICS Code: 313210
- Set-Aside: Sole Source (intended for WARWICK MILLS INC.)
- Period of Performance: Four (4) months following Approved to Proceed (ATP).
- Place of Performance: NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, TX.
- Key Deliverables: Kickoff presentation, updated test plan, interim coated fabric samples, scale-up assessment report, and fifteen (15) 18" x 12" sheets of final coated fabric. Monthly technical status updates are also required.
- Response Due: February 4, 2026, at 1:00 PM Central Standard Time.
- Published: January 30, 2026.
Submission & Evaluation
Interested organizations may submit written capabilities and qualifications. The purpose of this submission is for the government to determine whether to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. The decision to compete is at the government's discretion. Oral communications are not acceptable.
Contact Information
Primary Point of Contact: Cara Craft (cara.s.craft@nasa.gov)