NASA extends KBR’s $250M Wallops range contract

Keith Misener photo.

NASA is extending a key contract with KBR to continue support services at the Wallops Flight Facility Range in Virginia, citing the potential disruption of a recompete process as the facility prepares for a growing slate of commercial and hypersonic launches.

In a notice on Sam.gov, the space agency announced a modification to the existing contract that pushes its expiration from August 2025 to February 9, 2026. KBR originally won the contract in 2019, and has since been responsible for a range of operational support functions at Wallops.

NASA emphasized that a competitive recompete at this time would risk interrupting critical services necessary to maintain the facility’s mission readiness. The agency also pointed to the need to ensure continuity for key stakeholders, including the Goddard Space Flight Center.

The Wallops Flight Facility plays a central role in NASA’s launch capabilities, overseeing rocket missions, scientific balloon programs, and airborne research. It also manages a highly instrumented range that enables tracking and data collection for launch vehicles.

KBR’s responsibilities under the contract include range operations, telemetry, radar and mission control services, along with communications, meteorology, and videography support.

NASA expects the workload at Wallops to expand in the coming years due to increased commercial launch activity and the development of hypersonic flight technologies. According to GovTribe data, NASA has obligated approximately $203 million under the current contract to date. No timeline has yet been announced for a follow-on competition.