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Update January 30, 2026 - Aircraft Lease to Support NASA’s Spaceflight Imaging Activities
Contact and place of performance
CJ Scott
Hampton, VA
USA
UPDATE JANUARY 30, 2026: NASA Langley Research Center greatly appreciates the input, advice, and recommendations submitted by industry regarding this potential acquisition. LaRC does not intend to issue a solicitation specifically for this requirement; however, will consider the input received in the future acquisition planning of aircraft resources and availability. This RFI is considered closed. I. INTR...
View moreII. OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND:
NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project provides high-fidelity, multispectral and infrared imagery of aerospace vehicles during critical flight phases such as hypersonic reentry, atmospheric ascent, and parachute deployment. These observations are essential for validating aerothermal models, assessing thermal protection systems, and supporting mission assurance for both NASA and commercial spaceflight programs.
To enable these capabilities, SCIFLI relies on airborne platforms that can position advanced imaging systems at precise vantage points under dynamic flight conditions. Aircraft support is critical to mission success, requiring high-altitude performance, payload integration flexibility, and global deployment readiness. NASA is seeking providers with the capability to support NASA’s requirements.
SCIFLI will deploy multiple platforms along the Artemis II Orion reentry trajectory with scientific camera systems to observe the Orion capsule during entry, descent, and landing in the Pacific Ocean. The total number of aircraft available within the Agency to support the mission is limited. Using a leased aircraft provides a path for enabling backup imaging platforms if NASA or Navy aircraft become unavailable due to maintenance or schedule issues. A dry lease option also has the potential to allow for more cost-effective flight support of future Artemis observations.
NASA contemplates an exclusive dry lease of up to two (2) aircraft. The aircraft will be temporarily structurally modified and operated by the Government in support of the SCIFLI team to perform airborne imaging missions in support of spaceflight activities. NASA will implement temporary structural modifications to the leased aircraft including, but not limited to, custom built EO/IR sensor systems and electronics integrated within the modified aircraft. NASA’s modifications will include aircraft configurations (i.e. single-pane optical windows & window frame assemblies) & hardware previously approved for Gulfstream III, IV, and V aircraft currently owned and operated by NASA that have received airworthiness certifications from the Western, Central, and Eastern Region Airworthiness Review Boards across the Agency.
III. SUMMARY OF NASA’S OBJECTIVES & REQUIREMENTS:
NASA anticipates it will be more cost effective and advantageous for the Government to contract for a short-term lease versus the longer-term cost of ownership (See FAR Subpart 7.4, Equipment Acquisition). NASA anticipates the Government could significantly reduce project costs if a lease strategy can be supported compared to the upfront procurement costs to buy and long-term cost of ownership of the aircraft. NASA is particularly interested in industry input, recommendations, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimates to lease, and examples of prior aircraft leases to the Government.
Type of Lease: The lease will be an exclusive dry lease in which the aircraft will be only subject to this lease and the contractor shall transfer custody and control for all flights during the term of the lease.
Anticipated Period of Performance: Anticipated award date of mid-January 2026. The lease start date (effective date) of February 10, 2026 (FOB origin inspection of aircraft at contractor’s facility) that will include a minimum guaranteed base period of two (2) months with the option for the Government to extend the lease on a monthly basis for up to a total continuous term of 6 months (2-month base period and four 1-month option periods).
Summary of Anticipated Contractor/Lessor Requirements and Responsibilities:
Provide, under an exclusive dry lease, up to two (2) aircraft that meet or exceed the following minimum requirements/specifications. Any platform offered must specify capability of meeting NASA requirements and the capabilities to meet or exceed the intended flight profiles of the SCIFLI team’s support of the Artemis mission (more details will be provided if a solicitation is issued):
Summary of Anticipated Government/Lessee Requirements and Responsibilities:
For the duration of the lease, NASA will have exclusive use and will be fully responsible for operational control over the aircraft and all related functions, in accordance with all regulatory requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
IV. INFORMATION REQUESTED - CAPABILITY STATEMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:
NASA LaRC is seeking capability statements and recommendations from all interested parties having demonstrated experience providing aircraft leasing that can meet the capabilities/objectives described herein, including all socioeconomic categories as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 19.201(a) and NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) 1819.201(a)(i). The Government reserves the right whether to set aside this acquisition based on responses received.
Interested firms having the required capabilities to meet the above requirements are requested to submit a capability statement of no more than 10 pages describing the firm’s ability to perform all aspects of the effort and responses/recommendations to information requested. A separate response may be submitted related to the ROM cost estimates.
Please submit responses via email to CJ Scott, Technical POC, at [email protected] and cc Rich Cannella, Contracting Officer, at [email protected]. Responses are requested by November 25th or sooner (ASAP) and will be considered on a rolling basis due to the short timeline to aircraft delivery. Please reference SCIFLI RFI on any response and include the company’s name, physical address, the company’s point of contact with current phone number and email address.
Since the Government is conducting market research and a requirement doesn’t currently exist, interested sources are invited to contact the technical POC directly to discuss capabilities, timelines, and alternatives. Interested sources are requested to follow-up by formally submitting capabilities statements and any additional information directly to the Contracting Officer. Ensure responses are properly marked to maintain confidentiality and protect proprietary information that you expect the Government to safeguard.
NASA contemplates a firm-fixed price contract due to the commercial nature of the aircraft lease (see FAR 2.101). Request industry input regarding contract type and please advise if the requirement is considered a commercial or commercial-type product. A commercial product and commercial service is defined in FAR 2.101, Definitions.
Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. This RFI is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, consider alternatives and recommendations from industry, and to promote competition. In addition, this RFI should not be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government will use the information to finalize its market research and consider if a solicitation is issued.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf
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 solicitation or synopsis. If a solicitation is released, then it and any additional documents will be available on Sam.gov. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, if any.
NASA will not affirmatively release any information received in response to this RFI to the public but may use information received in developing the best approach for an acquisition strategy, and therefore such information may be recognizable to the interested party who submitted it. Any information submitted in response to this RFI that is marked as “Confidential Commercial or Financial Information” will be considered as voluntarily submitted in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC) issued this sources sought notice to identify potential providers for the exclusive dry lease of up to two aircraft, specifically G-V or G-IV models. The aircraft are intended to support the Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) team in conducting airborne imaging missions for human spaceflight activities, including observations of the Artemis II Orion reentry trajectory. NASA intends to implement temporary structural modifications, such as integrating custom electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) sensor systems and single-pane optical windows, using hardware previously certified for Gulfstream III, IV, and V aircraft. While the government originally anticipated a performance period beginning February 10, 2026, with a two-month base and up to four monthly options, the agency updated the notice on January 30, 2026, to state it no longer intends to issue a specific solicitation for this requirement.
This market research initiative sought industry input on lease strategies, maintenance responsibilities, and insurance best practices to compare the cost-effectiveness of short-term leasing against long-term ownership. Under the contemplated dry lease, the contractor would provide fully operational aircraft free of pending maintenance, while NASA would maintain operational control, perform all flight functions, and de-modify the assets before returning them to the lessor's facility in Hampton, Virginia. The agency requested capability statements and rough order of magnitude (ROM) pricing to inform future acquisition planning for aircraft resources and availability.
This requirement is classified under NAICS code 532411, Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing, and PSC W015, Lease or Rental of Equipment- Aircraft and Airframe Structural Components. The solicitation number is SCIFLI2026, and although the RFI is now considered closed, the original response deadline was November 25, 2025. CJ Scott served as the primary technical point of contact for the notice, which contained no formal attachments at the time of publication.
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