Full Lifecycle Procurement

Metis maintains a formal Supply Chain Risk Management process. Key elements of the Metis process include:

• Risk assessment process based on NIST SP 800-161 Appendix C for risk framing, assessment, and response.
• Supplier management and due diligence to include a formal vetting process.
• Cyber security controls implementation

Metis currently manages 250 distinct vendors in support of US Space Force and NASA programs. Vendors range from large companies such as Boeing providing flight test services to small specialized equipment vendors. 

Vendor management services are based on a robust AS9100 certified procurement process enabled by Metis investment in enterprise procurement and contract management systems to document and track all relevant information. Key to mission success is the quick turn-around times delivered by Metis as a result of this coupling of process and system efficiencies.

Metis provided NASA with procurement to support a comprehensive modernization of the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) at the Ames Research Center, enhancing the world’s largest vertical motion test bed to support a new era of aerospace exploration. The modernization involved procurement of a suite of higher-fidelity visual displays that provide operators with a more immersive and accurate representation of their surroundings, reducing the “simulator sickness” often associated with motion-based testing and increasing the reliability of pilot performance data.

Metis support of this multi-year, multi-million-dollar effort included working with the NASA end customer to define procurement requirements, issuing vendor Requests for Proposals (RFPs), vendor response evaluation and selection, and contract execution. Metis also provided vendor oversight during program execution to include cost, schedule and risk management and vendor site visits.

The Vertical Motion Simulator has historically served as a cornerstone of flight-test research at the Ames Research Center. For decades, it has been used to evaluate pilot performance and vehicle handling in scenarios that would be too dangerous or expensive to replicate in the air. Its ability to simulate vertical motion—essential for any vehicle that takes off or lands vertically—has made it indispensable for everything from early helicopter research to the development of the Space Shuttle. The current upgrades ensure that the facility remains relevant as NASA moves to support lunar missions and research into autonomous flight systems.

Metis technical teams provide prominent design, development, fabrication, testing and systems maintenance expertise and support to NASA in aeronautics and space exploration. These groundbreaking technology development programs includes Unmanned Aerial Systems, and planetary human landing system simulation. An important aspect of this support is the capability to define and procure the necessary components and subsystems making up the technology or the product being designed. 

Metis employs proven processes to identify and procure the subsystems desired where efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness to requirements define the success of the project or the program.  Process flexibility, getting the best value for the customer through exceptional negotiation skills, ability to respond to demand surge, and timely communications with stakeholders are the hallmarks of our successful standard-setting operation. Operational expertise, that is the result of hundreds of successful individual procurements totaling millions of dollars for the customer.

Our procurement activity supports design and development of new technologies/facilities as well as upgrading/maintenance of existing systems/facilities for our customers.  The design and procurement of NASA’s collimated display system for the new Exploration Flight Deck (EFD) to simulate Human landing systems, including the Inceptors system, onboard rack mounted computer systems, communication system, lighting system, seating systems, and cooling system are one example of the scope of our procurement support. Metis procurement also supports the procurement of numerous new or existing real-time computer systems and the associated software to support the flight simulation facility. We provide extensive support to NASA’s UAS technology development through procurement and testing of  various drone systems and support subsystems such as communication or camera-based monitoring systems.