United States - Plan for Commercial Lower Earth Orbit Development

Description

Added: Jun 07, 2019 8:30 am

Request for Information

NASA's Plan for Commercial LEO Development
This is a Request for Information (RFI) only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will take action in this matter. NASA is requesting feedback on the multi-pronged approach to enabling commercial activity in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) as described here: https://nasa.gov/leo-economy/vision-for-low-earth-orbit-economy . Specifically, NASA is looking for feedback on the ISS commercial use and pricing policy, the approach to enabling private astronaut missions, the development of commercial LEO destinations, the opportunities to stimulate sustainable demand, and the quantification of NASA's long-term needs. NASA is interested in feedback on the overall approach and if it sufficiently enables private industry use of LEO, areas where the approach may cause problems for commercial users or may fall short in enabling commercial activities and recommendations for how the approach may need further expansion. Additionally, NASA is interested in perspectives on how to accelerate the transition of traditionally government (or government-led) activities to the private sector.
Introduction:
On June 7, 2019, NASA issued the "NASA Plan for Commercial LEO Development" which included five key actions intended to further enable use of the ISS for economic development of LEO.
1. Establishment of an ISS commercial use and pricing policy (https://nasa.gov/leo-economy/commercial-use-policy)
2. Enabling of Private Astronaut Missions
3. Initiating a process for commercial development of LEO destinations including:

Release of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 (NextSTEP-2) Broad Agency Announcement Appendix I synopsis to request proposals for use of the ISS Node 2 Port for a Commercial Module
Notification of the intent to release NextSTEP-2 Appendix K for a Free Flying Commercial Module
 
4.  Continuing to seek out and pursue opportunities to stimulate sustainable demand, both through the NASA Research Announcement soliciting proposals for scalable in-space manufacturing technology demonstrations and National Lab utilization enhancements, and the release of NextSTEP-2 Appendix J, which seeks to broadly stimulate demand for commercial activities in LEO, and

5.  Quantification of NASA's long-term needs for activities in LEO post-ISS end of life.
The latest links to ongoing activities related to the NASA Plan for Commercial LEO Development will be provided at https://nasa.gov/leo-economy/open-opportunities . As of June 7, 2019 this includes the NextSTEP-2 BAA Appendix I synopsis for the ISS Node 2 port, the NextSTEP-2 BAA Appendix J synopsis for opportunities to broadly foster LEO market growth, the ISS Utilization NRA solicitation for the development of sustainable demand, ISS National Lab capability enhancements, private astronaut missions, and purchase of resources for commercial activities.
https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitationAmmendments.do?method=init&solId={21E0270C-BC1F-EFC4-3D87-30713B5FF373}&path=&redirectURL=%2Fexternal%2Fsolicitations%2Fsolicitations.do%3Fmethod%3Dopen%26stack%3Dpush

This RFI is being used to obtain feedback on NASA's plans to advance economic development in LEO, including use the International Space Station (ISS). NASA may use the results of this RFI to guide efforts or modify existing efforts, to guide the development of the implementation approach, and continue expansion of efforts necessary to enable the Agency's objective of fostering a self-sustaining commercial economy in LEO.
Information Requested from Responders:
NASA is interested in understanding the following information from responders:

Feedback on the overall Commercial LEO Development approach and if it sufficiently enables private industry use of LEO.

Feedback on areas where the approach may fall short in enabling commercial activities and recommendations for how the approach may need further expansion.

Feedback on the policy defining the allowable commercial and marketing activites.

Other activities private industry could pursue, which NASA and the US government should enable, including how these activities would advance economic development and private sector demand for space.

Suggestions of ways NASA and the US government can incentivize a partner to stimulate economic development in LEO with minimal to no unique NASA direct investment.

Recommendations on how to accelerate the transition of traditionally government (or government-led) activities to the private sector. NASA is also interested in understanding recommended changes to its operating and/or implementation approach that would further enable commercial users.

Other activities NASA and the US government could pursue that would help private industry with the economic development of LEO such as stimulus programs, tax incentives or the like.
 
Feedback on areas where the approach may cause problems for commercial users or specific barriers private industry may face in taking advantage of this new policy.

A discussion on how this activity would intersect with the ISS National Lab function to foster use of the National Laboratory and how the ISS NL could best support your efforts. https://www.issnationallab.org/about/about-the-iss-national-lab/

Company Information:
Please provide the company name, point of contact name, phone number, and e-mail address.
Response Preparation and Transmittal:
This is a request for information only. It is not a procurement, commitment to procure items or services, or request for proposals. NASA will not reimburse any costs incurred for preparation or submission of information in response to this RFI.
NASA reserves the right to share all information received in response to this RFI throughout NASA and to use all information submitted in response to this RFI in NASA's formulation of one or more partnerships for or related to the stimulation of economic development activities in LEO. NASA does not wish to receive any competition sensitive data that requires protection. However, if it is necessary to submit competition sensitive data to answer any of the questions in this RFI that data should be clearly segregated and marked as sensitive. Although information contained herein represents current program content and acquisition planning, it is subject to change.
Questions and responses shall reference this RFI. Interested parties should submit a response of no more than 10 single-sided pages indicating their interest as described herein. A cover page may be added in addition to the 10 pages.
Point of Contact:
Questions concerning this RFI shall be submitted via email to HQ-LEO-Economy@nasa.gov  under the subject "LEO Economy RFI Questions" no later than June 21st.
Electronic submission of the responses should be sent to HQ-LEO-Economy@nasa.gov  under the subject "LEO Economy RFI Response" no later than July 3, 2019 by 5:00 pm eastern daylight time.

Opportunity closing date

03 July 2019

Value of contract

to be confirmed