Ed Campion September 22, 1995

Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-1778)

Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-0002)

RELEASE: 95-158

NASA RECEIVES OVER 40 RESPONSES OF INTEREST FROM INDUSTRY

FOR
SHUTTLE PROGRAM RESTRUCTURING EFFORT

Over 40 different companies have expressed an interest in

serving as either the new prime contractor or a subcontractor
in the agency's effort to restructure management of the Space
Shuttle program.

The restructure of the Shuttle program includes reducing

program requirements, significantly reducing civil service
involvement in day-to-day operations, modifying the government
approach to safety and mission assurance and consolidating
contracts, including Shuttle and Station operations, into a
single prime contract.

NASA will still have overall management responsibility

for the Space Shuttle system and will still be responsible for
such things as safety, program schedule and space flight
operations budget. NASA will have appropriate insight into
operations so they are aware of any potential system issues
and will actively participate in resolution of any "out of
family" or anomalous performance of Shuttle or payload
hardware.

Of the packages received, there were four letters of

interest and capability for consideration as the prime
contractor for space flight operations. The companies
submitting the packages were:

* Bamsi, Titusville, FL
* Boeing, Seattle, WA
* McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, St. Louis, MO
* United Space Alliance (a joint venture formed by
 Rockwell and Lockheed Martin, Houston, TX)

The NASA source evaluation board will now evaluate the

statements of interest from industry. NASA plans to have this
evaluation completed in the next several weeks, and is working
toward the release of a draft Request for Proposals by mid-
November 1995. This draft will be for the purpose of
communicating with industry the approaches NASA would intend
to use in the subsequent request for proposals and seeking
industry comment on those approaches.

NASA will consider industry comments and recommendations

for improvements which could be incorporated into the formal
RFP. Following the review of comments, NASA will seek to
release the formal RFP in early 1996. NASA hopes to select a
prime contractor in the next 12 to 15 months.

Numerous firms expressed interest in subcontracting

opportunities. A complete list of the firms considering
subcontracting roles is available in the newsrooms at NASA
Headquarters, Washington, DC; Kennedy Space Center, FL;
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL; Stennis Space
Center, Bay St. Louis, MS; Johnson Space Center, Houston and
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA.

- end -

NASA press releases and other information are available

automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message
to domo@hq.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the
subject line) users should type the words "subscribe press-
release" (no quotes). The system will reply with a
confirmation via E-mail of each subscription. A second
automatic message will include additional information on the
service. Questions should be directed to (202) 358-4043.