Contract To Be Awarded Late August, Early September

Boeing submitted its final cost volume bid to NASA for production of the Ares I crew launch vehicle upper stage last Friday.

Bids are due April 13 for the estimated $900 million contract, scheduled for award late this summer, to produce the hardware based on NASA specifications.

The program represents Boeing's last chance for the next several years to win a major hardware-building role in the emerging US human space exploration program.

The competition pits Boeing's team, which includes Northrop Grumman, against one led by Alliant Techsystems, according to Florida Today.

As reported by ANN, Boeing's proposal is designed to meet or exceed NASA requirements by leveraging best-of-industry suppliers, including several with advanced technology development contracts on critical Ares I systems.

"We offer unique capability to NASA's Ares I team," said Jim Chilton, Boeing vice president of Exploration Launch Systems, "bringing value based on our experience in commercial, defense and space programs, along with innovation and new advocacy and outreach efforts."

"We are completely committed to delivering NASA a safe, affordable and producible upper stage."

Boeing's team of suppliers include Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies, Moog Inc., Northrop Grumman, Orion Propulsion, SUMMA Technology, United Space Alliance, and the United Launch Alliance.

"We recognize our suppliers are critical to our proposal, and we have worked closely with them to ensure they know our processes, approaches, people and tools and that their capabilities precisely match NASA's needs," said Chilton.

"Boeing and its suppliers are fully prepared to continue our collaboration with NASA and are positioned to begin work immediately upon contract award."

Delivery of this final Ares I upper stage production proposal volume culminates more than a year-long effort to bring Boeing's best lean manufacturing practices to NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, LA, where the upper stage will be built.

Alliant Techsystems' competing team, unveiled in September, includes Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, CA, which is under contract to produce the Ares 1's upper-stage engine, the J2-X.

Ares I, which will transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle to low Earth orbit, is an essential element of the nation's space exploration program that will return astronauts to the moon no later than 2020.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.nasa.gov, www.atk.com