NASA’s acquisition page still shows the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination Contract at the draft-RFP stage, with the final RFP planned for August 2026. NASA says proposals will be due about 60 days after final release, with award planned for spring 2027.

Why it matters: CLDC is positioned to shape the next phase of NASA’s commercial low Earth orbit strategy, with supplier relevance across structures, avionics, power, thermal systems, life support, manufacturing, testing, integration, crew and cargo systems, and related services.

Supplier takeaway: This remains a preparation window rather than an open final-RFP competition. Potential primes and suppliers should be aligning teams, confirming capability gaps, and monitoring NASA and SAM.gov for the final release.

Source: NASA JSC CLDC acquisition page / SAM.gov Notice 80JSC026R0021DRFP

Awarded by: U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command
Recipients: 15 companies
Value: $981 million ceiling

What was awarded: Space Systems Command awarded a multiple-award IDIQ for space- and ground-based engineering supporting test, evaluation, and training. The IDIQ covers two five-year periods. No funds were obligated at the time of award.

Supplier takeaway: The initial award pool is set, but an Aug. 5 SAM.gov notice directs industry to keep monitoring NITE-STAR for future onboarding opportunities. Suppliers should also watch task-order activity and teaming opportunities across the 15 awardees.

Source: Space Systems Command / SAM.gov — NITE-STAR Capability Development MA IDIQ

Awarded by: U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command
Recipient: All Points Logistics
Value: $250 million

What was awarded: All Points received the third NSSL Space Vehicle Processing Commercial Solutions Opening award to expand commercially operated spacecraft-processing capacity at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The planned capability includes spacecraft processing, integration, fueling, encapsulation, hazardous operations, secure mission areas, storage, and parallel mission flows, with additional capacity targeted by 2029.

Supplier takeaway: The multi-year buildout is relevant to suppliers of facility systems, ground-support equipment, specialty construction, hazardous-processing systems, logistics, integration support, and related launch-site services. A separate Aug. 17 NASA SPOC on-ramp award added All Points as a spacecraft-processing provider, reinforcing its current activity in this market.

Source: Space Systems Command / All Points Logistics / SAM.gov — NASA SPOC on-ramp award notice

Buyer: NASA Johnson Space Center
Opportunity: Astromaterials Glovebox Systems — Design & Fabrication (A-BOX)
Current status: Market research / pre-solicitation planning; Sources Sought responses closed July 29
Industry Day: Planned for September 3, 2026
Draft RFP: Planned for October 28, 2026
Final RFP: Planned for December 10, 2026
Award: Planned for May 17, 2027

Who should care: Specialty fabricators, controlled-atmosphere and clean-system integrators, controls suppliers, materials companies, testing firms, and small businesses seeking prime, subcontract, or teaming roles.

What to know: NASA plans to procure the design, fabrication, testing, delivery, and installation of controlled-atmosphere glovebox systems for its astromaterials curation facility supporting current and future lunar and planetary sample returns.

Supplier takeaway: This is not an open RFP. The planned Sept. 3 Industry Day is the near-term opportunity for suppliers to understand the requirement, identify teaming partners, and position for the later solicitation.

Source: NASA JSC A-BOX acquisition page / SAM.gov Notice 80JSC026A-BOX

Buyer: NASA SBIR/STTR Program
Opportunity: 2026 Phase II Sequential Call for White Papers
Current status: White-paper stage
Deadline: September 11, 2026
Eligibility: Qualifying NASA Phase II small-business awardees aligned with announced Technical Need Areas
Potential Sequential Phase II award: $2.5 million–$4 million over 24 months

Who should care: Eligible NASA SBIR Phase II companies seeking to move proven technologies toward specific agency mission needs.

What to know: NASA opened the call Aug. 12. Companies submit a white paper first, and NASA may invite a subset to submit full proposals. The white-paper stage is not a formal funding competition; any later awards depend on available funding.

Supplier takeaway: Eligible firms should match existing Phase II technologies to NASA’s stated Technical Need Areas and meet the Sept. 11 white-paper deadline.

Source: NASA SBIR/STTR — Phase II Sequential

What happened: Applied Aerospace & Defense reported Q2 Space and Launch Systems revenue of $38.8 million, up 58.5% year over year, driven by higher volumes on launch-vehicle and satellite-production programs. Total company revenue was $167.3 million, up 47.4%, and contract backlog stood at $1.13 billion as of June 30.

Why suppliers should care: The results are a current demand signal from a U.S. manufacturer serving launch and satellite programs. Applied operates 11 purpose-built facilities across six states with more than 1.5 million square feet of production capacity and says it is adding qualified capacity where customers need it. Important context: about $178.5 million of the first-half backlog increase came from the CBI acquisition, so the backlog increase is not purely organic.

Source: Applied Aerospace & Defense Q2 2026 earnings release / Form 10-Q

What happened: Blackwave says it manufactures flight-qualified composite overwrapped pressure vessels for launch vehicles and satellites and now has manufacturing operations in Germany and Texas. The company is relocating its Texas operation from Lockhart to the Port San Antonio aerospace hub while recruiting for production, testing, supply-chain, quality, and production-engineering roles in San Antonio.

Why suppliers should care: The move represents an active expansion of U.S. capacity for specialized spaceflight hardware. Current hiring across production, testing, supply chain, quality, and production engineering reinforces that the Texas buildout is active.

Source: Blackwave Texas careers site and current San Antonio job postings

Provider: SpaceX
Vehicle: Falcon Heavy
Launch site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Time: 7:26 a.m. EDT (6:26 a.m. CT)
Status: NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Aug. 30; the Aug. 21 Flight Readiness Review cleared the mission for final launch preparations.
Supplier relevance: A near-term milestone for spacecraft integration, payload processing, launch services, ground support, and mission operations.

Source: NASA — Roman Launch Countdown / Flight Readiness Review / NASA Launch Schedule

Provider: SpaceX
Vehicle: Falcon 9 / Dragon
Launch site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Status: NASA lists no earlier than Sept. 12, refining the earlier mid-September window.
Supplier relevance: NASA’s next commercial crew rotation, with relevance across human-spaceflight launch, spacecraft integration, ground operations, and supporting suppliers.

Source: NASA — Crew-13 mission page / NASA Launch Schedule

Organization: NASA Office of Small Business Programs
Location: Space Center Houston, 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, Texas
Time: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. CT

What it is: An in-person NASA supplier-engagement event connecting small businesses, prime contractors, and procurement officials around supply-chain gaps, subcontracting opportunities, and domestic supplier capacity.

Why it matters: The event is directly aligned with SSI’s supplier audience and leaves enough lead time to register, plan travel, and prepare for conversations with NASA and industry participants.

Status: Registration open.

Source: NASA OSBP — L.I.F.T. 2026 / Outreach Events

Space Systems Command — NITE-STAR Capability Development award release

SAM.gov — NITE-STAR award / onboarding notice

Space Systems Command — All Points NSSL Space Vehicle Processing award release

All Points Logistics — NSSL Space Vehicle Processing award release

NASA / SAM.gov — SPOC on-ramp award notice

NASA — Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination Contract acquisition page

SAM.gov — CLDC Notice 80JSC026R0021DRFP

NASA JSC — A-BOX acquisition page

SAM.gov — A-BOX Notice 80JSC026A-BOX

NASA SBIR/STTR — Phase II Sequential

Applied Aerospace & Defense — Q2 2026 earnings release and Form 10-Q

Blackwave — Texas careers site and current San Antonio job postings

NASA — Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch information

NASA — SpaceX Crew-13 mission information

NASA Office of Small Business Programs — L.I.F.T. 2026