Sources Sought Notice for Aircraft Painting and Wrap Application
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
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) has issued a Sources Sought Notice for aircraft painting and graphic wrap application services. This market research aims to identify qualified sources for painting and applying graphic wraps to one F/A-18B and one F-15D aircraft. Responses are due by June 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time.
Scope of Work
The requirement includes:
- Applying a white base coat (Part #17925, FSN-8010-00-181-8281) to both aircraft.
- Applying NASA livery paint to the vertical tails of each aircraft (F/A-18B tail #867 per Drawing SP18-D-025, F-15D tail #885 using the F/A-18 drawing as a guideline).
- Applying a graphic wrap to both aircraft, featuring an American Flag livery (as depicted in the attached image) and a "Freedom 250" emblem.
- Both aircraft must be delivered in an airworthy state to support the Independence Day celebratory flyover in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2026.
- The contractor must provide appropriate physical security and access controls to protect sensitive NASA aircraft, equipment, and data, including storing aircraft in locked hangars and preventing unauthorized access or observation.
Purpose & Set-Aside Considerations
This is a Sources Sought for market research purposes, not a Request for Proposal. NASA AFRC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including Small Businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and Minority Institutions (MI). The goal is to determine the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals.
The Government reserves the right to consider various small business set-asides (e.g., Small Business, SDB, HUBZone, VOSB, SDVOSB, WOSB) based on responses received. Industry feedback is specifically requested on:
- Small Business subcontracting goals.
- Barriers limiting Small Business participation (e.g., certifications, technical requirements, security, specialized tools).
- Strategies to increase Small Business participation (e.g., breaking down requirements, identifying subcontracting areas, teaming/mentor protégé approaches).
Submission Requirements
Interested firms should submit a capability statement including:
- Company name, address, primary point of contact, and telephone number.
- Company's SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
- Indication of interest as a prime contractor or subcontractor.
- Description of specific capabilities relevant to the requirements.
- Advice on whether the requirement is considered a commercial or commercial-type product.
Key Dates & Contact
- Response Due: June 1, 2026, by 11:00 AM Pacific Time.
- Published: May 26, 2026.
- Submit to: Jennifer Schnarr at jennifer.schnarr@nasa.gov.
- Reference: 80AFRC26SS017.
Additional Notes
This notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment by the Government. Respondents will not be notified of evaluation results.