MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- Acting as a contracting agent for the Department of Defense's Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office, NASA has selected five companies to receive a contract for Modular Space Vehicles (MSV).

NASA selected ATK Space Systems Inc. in Beltsville, Md.; Miltec Corp. in Huntsville, Ala.; Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Redondo Beach, Calif.; PnP Innovations Inc. in Albuquerque, N.M.; and Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, Nev., to help develop multi-mission modular space vehicles.

This is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, cost-plus fixed-fee multi-award contract that begins Wednesday. The contract consists of a five-year period of performance.

Under the terms of the contract, the companies will provide support for the ORS Office located at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. In partnership with the Department of Defense, NASA will help facilitate planning, acquisition, and operations for the ORS. All five companies will be awarded the innovation, standards and architecture task order. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. will be awarded the multi-mission modular bus development task order. Sierra Nevada Corp. will be awarded the multi-mission modular payload development task order.

NASA released a Request for Proposals to industry on Feb. 1, to solicit two individual requirements, including the Modular Space Vehicles contract and a Rapid Response Space Works (RRSW) contract, which was awarded earlier this year. The RRSW and MSV contracts share a maximum value of $500 million.

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