ISS Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS2) 2017-2030

[yg1968]

I don't understand the point of only alerting one out of the 3 potential bidders?

He explained in a subsequent tweet that he has information from one company but that doesn't mean the other companies will not receive a call. In any event, it's now official. The anouncement is today at 4 pm (see post above mine).

[Chris Bergin]

Set up a main thread for the announcement.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39317.0

[abaddon]

It's about damn time.  Really curious what the end result will be.  (Before the inevitable protest from one or more of the losers, of course  ).

So, the static re-fire today SpaceX is conducting today, the haste with which it was set up, moving it to SLC-40 from LC-39a... anyone care to bet that SpaceX was notified a few days ago and sensed an opportunity to tout their successfully re-fired first stage in combination with a CRS-2 contract award?

[cscott]

Nah.  CRS-2 is about Dragon, the static fire is about F9R.  Not really related at all, and SpaceX has plenty of "cool things" coming up to talk about, they don't need to scramble to manufacture more.

Heck, if they were desperate for cool points, just replay the landing video on a loop during the CRS2 press conference.  The static fire isn't going to be nearly as impressive as that.

[abaddon]

Nah.  CRS-2 is about Dragon, the static fire is about F9R.

Ah, silly me, I must have missed that SpaceX was launching Dragon by itself, without a rocket...

With less snark, CRS-2 is about delivery of cargo to the space station, which involves a rocket (F9R) and capsule (Dragon).  If, for example, SpaceX bid lower for CRS-2 because they are confident they will be able to reuse F9R first stages, and they announced these things together, I think that could make a lot of sense.

[AnalogMan]

Not sure if there is a better thread for this, but NASA posted an intention to extend CRS2 contracts today:

Cargo Resupply Service-2 Contract 2030 Extension
Notice ID 80JSC023CRS2
March 02, 2023

https://sam.gov/opp/15513c38d2054b218493c648078259f5/view

Description

NASA Johnson Space Center has a requirement to extend the International Space Station (ISS) Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS2) contracts. The CRS2 contracts are FAR Part 12 commercial service, firm-fixed-price, multiple award, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts.

NASA Johnson Space Center intends to issue sole source contract extensions to acquire the ISS delivery of pressurized and unpressurized cargo, return and disposal of pressurized cargo, disposal of unpressurized cargo, special tasks and studies, and ground support services for the end-to-end cargo resupply services. The supplies to be delivered by terms of the contract include air, water, food, clothing, medicine, spare parts, and scientific experiments for use in the U.S. and International Partner experimental modules.

Today NASA has CRS2 contracts with Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Contract NNJ16GU21B, Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) Contract NNJ16GX07B, and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Contract NNJ16GX08B to fulfill these requirements, and have been performing these contracts in support of the ISS since January 2016.

NASA is contemplating a sole source extension to continue to acquire these services from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2030.

[zubenelgenubi: Thread title edited.]

[Kiwi53]

Not sure if there is a better thread for this, but NASA posted an intention to extend CRS2 contracts today:

Cargo Resupply Service-2 Contract 2030 Extension

{snippage}

NASA is contemplating a sole source extension to continue to acquire these services from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2030.

Does that mean that NASA is intending to issue only one contract for this CRS-2 extension, to only one supplier, or could they issue multiple contracts up to one for each of the incumbents?

[Asteroza]

Not sure if there is a better thread for this, but NASA posted an intention to extend CRS2 contracts today:

Cargo Resupply Service-2 Contract 2030 Extension

{snippage}

NASA is contemplating a sole source extension to continue to acquire these services from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2030.

Does that mean that NASA is intending to issue only one contract for this CRS-2 extension, to only one supplier, or could they issue multiple contracts up to one for each of the incumbents?

Good question, as SNC is flying a new vehicle, so the odds of them getting to a point to acquire more cargo launch chances within 7 years to justify a contract extension is low. Antares will be flying on a new rocket with an existing capsule, so effectively they are in the same boat.

[AnalogMan]

Not sure if there is a better thread for this, but NASA posted an intention to extend CRS2 contracts today:

Cargo Resupply Service-2 Contract 2030 Extension

{snippage}

NASA is contemplating a sole source extension to continue to acquire these services from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2030.

Does that mean that NASA is intending to issue only one contract for this CRS-2 extension, to only one supplier, or could they issue multiple contracts up to one for each of the incumbents?

Each supplier is likely to have their existing contracts extended following satisfactory one-to-one negotiations on work content and price.  "Sole Source" means that the services sought will not be opened up for competitive bids.

[yg1968]

NASA proposes final extension of ISS cargo contracts:
https://spacenews.com/nasa-proposes-final-extension-of-iss-cargo-contracts/