NASA Seeks Proposals for Using International Space Station

International Space Station

NASA is looking for some good ideas on how to make use of the International Space Station as a national laboratory. The space agency put out a pre-solicitation notice last week seeking proposals from private sector organizations and other government agencies to increase utilization of the orbiting research facility.

NASA PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is operating a share of the United States accommodations on the International Space Station (ISS) as a national laboratory in accordance with Section 507 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 (P.L.109-155). NASA seeks to increase the utilization of the ISS by other federal entities and the private sector.

To facilitate and increase such utilization of the ISS, NASA is providing access to the ISS for the conduct of basic and applied research, technology development and industrial processing (collectively, R&D) to U.S. federal, state and local government entities, and to U.S. private entities (including, but not limited to,commercial firms, non-profit institutions, and academic institutions) as part of the national laboratory.

NASA is soliciting these proposals from two announcements of opportunity. The first call, ‘OPPORTUNITY FOR THE USE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION BY DOMESTIC ENTITIES OTHER THAN U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.’ – NNH09CAO003O anticipates using NASA’s authority to enter into Non-reimbursable Space Act Agreements to support national laboratory activities, including providing necessary access to NASA facilities, personnel and technical information, however, there will be no provision of funds in connection with this opportunity.

This opportunity is focused on U.S private entities and is seeking proposals from domestic entities other than U.S. federal government agencies.This Broad Agency Announcement, however anticipates using NASA’s authority to enter into contracts, grants,and cooperative agreements or other transactions to support national laboratory activities where funding is required.

Activities related to expanding the use of the International Space Station include providing individual payload integration and operations support services, or by making available support equipment and instrumentation that expand the capabilities of the ISS.

Participation in this National Lab Opportunity will be contingent upon selection by NASA and negotiation of an appropriate Agreement between NASA and the Offeror.

Concepts are sought in two (2) general mission thrust areas: Payload Integration & Operations Services, and Support Equipment and Instrumentation Capabilities for Utilization of ISS. Responses for any thrust area may be submitted at any time while this solicitation is open. NASA may publish groups of special topics as modifications to this BAA throughout the year.

This announcement is not intended to solicit concepts for ISS utilization management organizations, or ISS user development support. It is not to be confused with concepts that involve the establishment of new institutes, government corporations, non-government organizations, non-profit institutions, strategic partnerships, cooperative agreements,grants, or contracts that involve any form of management organization for ISS-based utilization.

This announcement is limited to the acquisition of products and services necessary to execute specific missions under the ISS national laboratory initiative specifically to the thrust areas covered by this announcement.