National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA is one of the most technically demanding federal customers and one of the most prestigious. Its contracts often represent the frontier of aerospace and systems engineering, and a strong NASA past performance record is a powerful differentiator in aerospace and defense markets.

What is NASA?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent federal agency responsible for the civilian space program and aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA's major contracting centers include the Johnson Space Center (Houston), Kennedy Space Center (Florida), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (California, operated by Caltech), Goddard Space Flight Center (Maryland), and Marshall Space Flight Center (Alabama), each with its own contracting office and mission focus. NASA's acquisition is governed by the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS), which adds NASA-specific requirements covering safety, property management, and research program oversight. Major NASA acquisition programs include Artemis (lunar exploration), Commercial Crew, Commercial Cargo, Earth science satellite systems, and the next generation of aeronautics research platforms. NASA also administers GWACs including NASA SEWP (Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement), which is one of the most widely used IT purchasing vehicles across all federal agencies.

Why NASA matters for government contractors

NASA contracts in the aerospace and systems integration space carry exceptional past performance value. For IT contractors, NASA SEWP V is a high-value contract vehicle that opens access to virtually every federal civilian agency for IT hardware, software, and solutions.

Example

An aerospace engineering firm wins a five-year NASA support services contract at the Johnson Space Center, supporting human spaceflight operations analysis. The past performance record, including two Exceptional CPARS ratings, positions the firm favorably for subsequent DoD space program contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NASA SEWP?

The Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement (SEWP) is a GWAC managed by NASA that allows all federal agencies to purchase IT products and some services from pre-competed vendors. It is one of the largest-volume IT contract vehicles in the federal market.

Does NASA use competitive proposals for all contracts?

NASA uses a full range of acquisition methods including competitive proposals, sole-source awards, broad agency announcements (BAAs) for research, and simplified acquisitions depending on the requirement.

Is the NASA FAR Supplement significantly different from the FAR?

The NFS adds NASA-specific requirements but generally tracks the FAR structure. Key additions cover safety and mission assurance, research program property, and contractor employee protection from unsafe working conditions.

What NAICS codes are most common in NASA contracting?

NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, not including Biotechnology) and 541330 (Engineering Services) are among the most common.

Can small businesses compete for NASA contracts?

Yes. NASA has an active small business program and regularly sets aside contracts and awards sole-source contracts under 8(a) authority for small businesses with relevant technical capabilities.