The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] intends to bid on NASA's ISS Cargo Mission Contract. NASA released a Request For Proposals on January 15 for a contract to provide technical support services including the analysis and physical processing of pressurized cargo and flight crew equipment to be transported to and from the ISS — the contract also covers launch preparations and post-landing activities related to processing the flight crew equipment.

Boeing is the prime contractor to NASA for the ISS. In addition to designing and building all the major U.S. elements, Boeing also is responsible for ensuring the successful integration of any new hardware and software — including components from international partners — as well as for providing sustaining engineering work for the ISS. The services and support Boeing provides under its Checkout, Assembly, and Payload Processing Services contract include planning for and receiving payloads, maintaining associated ground support systems, integrating payloads with the space shuttle, launch support, and space shuttle post-landing payload activities. Proposals are due to NASA on April 1. NASA is scheduled to select a contractor at the end of September; work will begin in January 2011. The performance period for the contract is three years with four one-year options, for a potential total of seven years.