Space Power and Reactor Capabilities (SPARC) - Sources Sought Notice

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for the Space Power and Reactor Capabilities (SPARC) Contract. 

NASA is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses (SB) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)/Minority Institutions (MIs) for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for the SPARC Contract and the Lunar Reactor 1 (LR-1) Phase 1 Task Order(s) which are expected to be awarded concurrently. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received.

Respondents are requested to provide informed input on realistic and appropriate SB subcontracting and/or participation goals for the specific requirement. This type of feedback supports NASA’s market research and helps ensure the acquisition strategy is aligned with actual industry capability. Industry feedback is requested for:

1. SB Subcontracting goals;

2. Barriers that may limit SB participation, such as certifications, unique technical requirements, security needs, specialized tools, or high-risk performance areas and/or

3. Strategies to increase SB participation, including:

• Identifying areas appropriate for subcontracting
• Considering teaming or mentor protégé approaches

NASA intends to pursue the solicitation of a Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (MAIDIQ) contract to develop nuclear systems for use in space and on the lunar surface. This contract may include the delivery of technology development hardware and software, space flight hardware and software, ground support equipment, spares, operational support and research data. NASA is specifically seeking companies capable of functioning as a developer and prime integrator of space-nuclear systems. As such, the contractor(s) may be responsible for the definition, design, development, analysis, fabrication, assembly, test, verification, delivery, and/or operation of space systems, associated support systems and equipment, and related ground development activities, that include research and technology developments, supporting NASA missions. A copy of the Draft Statement of Work (SOW) is attached. 

Within the MAIDIQ solicitation, NASA currently intends to include acquisition materials and evaluation criteria sufficient to award the Lunar Reactor 1 (LR-1) Phase 1 Task Order(s) at the same time as the overarching MAIDIQ contract. LR-1 Phase 1 tentatively includes research and development from current state to Preliminary Design Review (PDR) level maturity. The Task Order may also require non-nuclear developmental hardware demonstrations of LR-1 subsystems. NASA currently intends to award LR-1 Phase 1 Orders to two or more contractors. A draft copy of the LR-1 Phase 1 Statement of Work is attached for reference.

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov. Interested firms are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of any presolicitation or solicitation notice.

Interested firms having the required capabilities necessary to meet the above requirements described herein should submit a capability statement of no more than ten (10) pages indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort.

Capability Statements should include the following information related to the anticipated, overarching MAIDIQ solicitation:

1. Describe your company’s capability and experience in managing large-scale, complex research and development contracts.
2. Describe your company’s spaceflight certification experience or identify how your company intends to comply with spaceflight qualification, including ground safety, such as partnering with a company that has commercial or government spaceflight qualification.
3. Describe your company's experience in navigating nuclear regulatory compliance and/or nuclear launch authorization in collaboration with the Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and/or others. 
4. What barriers or obstacles do you foresee to potentially proposing to this contract?
5. Describe the size of your company, whether the firm is a Large Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), SDVOSB, and/or HBCU/MI.
6. What commercial products, related to the scope of the draft SPARC SOW, does your company have that are in development or currently available?

Capability Statements should also include the following information related to the anticipated LR-1 Phase 1 Task Order:

1. Describe the capabilities that your company could provide to meet the expected flight hardware requirements in the Draft LR-1 Phase 1 SOW.
2. Describe your company’s ability to provide the expected deliverables within one year of LR-1 Phase 1 Task Order award.
3. NASA is interested in vendors with existing nuclear system technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or greater with the goal to reach TRL 5/6 by Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Please describe your company’s relevant technology at these levels. For more information on TRLs see https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/458490main_trl_definitions.pdf .
4. If the lander payload is restricted to 8 metric tons, what design or technical challenges would this impose on a 20 kWe reactor power system? Please describe any modifications or considerations required.
5. What are the most important aspects of the specified PDR work scope that assure a successful, future flight system? Have any aspects been overlooked in the LR-1 Phase 1 Task Order SOW? 
6. What specific radiation testing is needed before PDR to assure a successful, future flight system? Are there any concerns about post-irradiation hardware disposition? 
7. Are there Government resources (facilities, equipment, subject matter experts, etc.) that your company would require to augment your capabilities?

All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Noah Garrison at noah.s.garrison@nasa.gov no later than 5:00PM EDT on Monday, August 17, 2026. Please reference “SPARC Sources Sought” or “Sources Sought 80GRC026SPARC” in any response. 

This Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

NASA intends to publicize a listing of respondents to facilitate teaming arrangements. Should your firm desire not to be included in this listing, clearly indicate this desire in your response.