Aerospace Systems Technical Research and Operations Support

1. REQUIREMENT BACKGROUND & TRACKING: This Industry Day Notice (RFI #3) is a continuation of the market research initiated under RFI #1 (Notice ID: [FA930027R6000]), which is currently closed/inactive, and RFI #2 ((Notice ID: [FA930027R6000-RFI02]), which is open with responses due by June 25, 2026.  Industry Day is planned for 23 July 2027 at Edwards AFB.  Details are included in the attachments. The Government welcomes any advance question submissions via Attachment 3 - ASTROS II Industry Q&A Matrix, by 8 July 2026 to the POCs listed in this RFI. For the purposes of this Request for Information (RFI), this requirement is temporarily designated as ' ASTROS II .' The Government advises all interested parties to track this requirement via the designated SAM.gov Notice ID, as the official program name is subject to change prior to the issuance of a formal solicitation. 2. MISSION OVERVIEW: The Air Force Research Laboratory, Detachment 7 (AFRL Det 7/SST) is conducting market research to identify qualified industry partners capable of providing follow-on support for its advanced rocket propulsion testing mission. The core capability requires the contractor to evaluate, engineer, reconfigure, and modify experimental research test equipment, test stands [Property, Plant, & Equipment (PP&E)], and associated systems. Furthermore, the contractor will be required to perform research and development test operations, provide test operation support, and maintain special test equipment and critical support infrastructure. 3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & SCOPE: The tasks associated with this requirement (detailed in paragraph 4 of the attached Draft Performance Work Statement) demand specialized, highly technical knowledge across all aspects of rocket propulsion testing. Scale of Testing: The required scale of operations ranges from small bench-scale liquid engine components and tactical motors to launch booster-class engines and strategic rocket motors. Practical expertise in intermediate devices—including combined cycle designs, spacecraft propulsion, and space and missile propulsion system component testing—is also required. Systems Integration & Expertise: These tasks require a holistic working knowledge of complex testing systems to ensure the successful design, integration, execution, and data collection for integrated advanced propulsion systems and their associated PP&E. Key systems include, but are not limited to: Steam and mechanical-driven altitude test systems Thrust measurement systems Advanced instrumentation and control systems Equipment deluge and fire retardation systems Special test equipment and associated support infrastructure Propellant Handling & Engineering: The contractor shall engineer, integrate, modify, activate, operate, and deactivate fuel and oxidizer propellant systems handling a wide range of hazardous materials. This includes toxic, storable, hypergolic, cryogenic, high-pressure, explosive, and hydrocarbon propellants. Additionally, the contractor is responsible for the safe handling, transport, and storage of these propellants and explosives. Incidental Alterations to Real Property: Incidental alterations to Real Property (e.g., utility tie-ins, pad penetrations, structural mounting) are authorized  only  when inextricably linked to, and strictly necessary for, the primary engineering modification of the PP&E test stands. All such ancillary Real Property alterations will require formal approval by the Contracting Officer and Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) Civil Engineering.