NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The CEV is the spacecraft that will carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and to the moon by 2020.<\/p>\n
The nation’s Vision for Space Exploration set a goal of developing a new CEV by 2014. The CEV represents one building block in a future exploration architecture that can send astronauts to the moon and form the basis for exploration missions to other destinations.<\/p>\n
The contract to build the CEV is a full and open competition. The anticipated period of performance is September, 2005 through December, 2008. The CEV acquisition will use a phased approach that anticipates a maximum of two contractors.<\/p>\n
The two contracts will be Cost-Plus-Award-Fee. As part of the Phase 1 contract, the contractors will conduct a demonstration flight that provides risk reduction for the human-rated CEV to be delivered in 2014. The Phase 1 portion of the contract will end with a planned down select to a single prime contractor in late 2008.<\/p>\n
The CEV proposals are due no later than 2 p.m. EST, May 2, 2005. A selection will be made in September, 2005.<\/p>\n