NASA intends to release Appendix I to the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) entitled "Appendix I: Commercial Destination Development in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using the International Space Station." This appendix will request proposals from United States (U.S.) commercial entities to enter into a public-private partnership to develop and demonstrate commercial destination technologies and markets at the International Space Station (ISS) using the Node 2 forward port and associated ISS services. TheThe primary objectives of Appendix I to the NextSTEP-2 BAA are (1) to successfully develop commercial markets through demonstration of products and services in one or more habitable commercial elements attached to International Space Station (ISS) Node 2 forward port and (2) to transition to a long-term, sustainable, commercial, human spaceflight enterprise in LEO where NASA is one of many customers.
NASA anticipates awarding multiple single-award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts from Appendix I with multiple phases executed by Task Orders. Through task orders, the government intends to purchase data deliverables and insight to support integration of the Commercial Segment into ISS and demonstration of commercial capabilities. All awardees will receive Task Order 1 for concept and business plan development. AtAt the time of contract award, depending on the concept maturity and availability of funds, NASA may award Task Order 2 to begin the early design phase and mature business plans, leading to subsequent task orders and an eventual decision point for prioritization of use of the ISS port. FollowingFollowing a port prioritization decision, the awardee will complete Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E) and deliver the Commercial Element(s) to ISS in order to conduct a long-duration demonstration of commercial products and services ultimately leading to a self-sustaining Commercial Destination to serve both NASA and non-NASA needs. NASA currently envisions any hardware developed for this action will be fully owned and operated by the developer through completion of an industry partner/NASA spaceflight demonstration. The detailed requirements and additional information on the overall acquisition strategy will be contained in the forthcoming Appendix I solicitation.
An important part of NASA's strategy is to stimulate the commercial space industry while leveraging those same commercial capabilities through partnerships and future contracts to deliver mission capabilities. A key component of the partnership model is that it provides an opportunity for NASA and industry to partner to develop capabilities that meet NASA human space exploration objectives to support more extensive human space flight missions while also supporting industry commercialization plans for expanding the frontiers of future opportunities in space. NASA will schedule a virtual pre-proposal conference approximately one week following the release of the Appendix I solicitation.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html.
The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet at www.fbo.gov.
NASA plans to release a separate but related solicitation as Appendix K to the Next-STEP2 BAA to enable additional partnerships for development and space flight demonstrations of direct-to-free flyer habitable platforms in LEO. DetailsDetails on the overall strategy for development of commercial LEO destinations can be found at www.nasa.gov/leo-economy/low-earth-orbit-economy/. The synopsis for the free-flyer solicitation (Appendix K) is anticipated to be released one month after the Appendix I solicitation is released.
All questions must be submitted in writing via email. Telephone questions will not be accepted. Any questions on this synopsis should be submitted to the contracting officer at Johnson Space Center, Roger Roberts at roger.m.roberts@nasa.gov.
Submission information, participant eligibility, additional topic information and specific evaluation criteria for the solicitation will be identified in Appendix I when it is released.