PAM Industry Day Q_A.pdf

Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) 5/6 Solicita�on Industry Day Ques�on & Answer

1. Will the government confirm that the NRA encompasses all the requirements in the NFS 1852.234-72 Instruc�ons for responding to NRAs and that we do not need to provide project descrip�on, management approach, personnel, facili�es and equipment, and proposed costs in addi�on to the requirements listed in the NRA?

Response: Focus Area 4A Sec�on 3.1 of the NRA defines content that is required when responding to the solicita�on. Per Sec�on IV. White Paper, Proposal and Submission Informa�on of the NRA “applicants shall prepare proposals in accordance with NFS 1852.235-72 (JUL 2016), Instruc�ons for Responding to NASA Research Announcements, herea�er referred to as the NASA FAR Supplement Provision, which is located at:

htps://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf. The informa�on in this NRA supersedes and provides addi�onal direc�on to that found in the GCAM and the NASA FAR Supplement Provision.”

2. The dra� request for proposals s�pulates submissions must be developed in accordance with the No�ce of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) guidebook. With respect to this, please confirm if this includes Sec�on 2.18 (Proposal Budget Narra�ve and Budget Details) – pages 17-18 and Appendix C, which necessitates the development of detailed budgets and related narra�ves illustra�ng the basis and assump�ons upon which pricing has been developed.

Response: Budget details should be provided as they relate to the content required in 4A Sec�on 3.1 of the NRA. The Final Focus Area 4A was updated to reference the NASA Grant and Coopera�ve Agreement Manual (GCAM). Where any discrepancies exist between the instruc�ons in Focus Area 4A of this NRA and the GCAM, the informa�on in Focus Area 4A of this NRA takes precedence.

3. NASA consider increasing the page limits on Mission Overview, Mission Integra�on, Business

Approach Sec�ons by 5 pages each.

Response: NASA has increased the page limits on Mission Overview, Mission Integration and Business Approach sections by 5 pages each. New page limits are as follows:

• Mission Overview (not to exceed 17 pages)

• Mission Integration Approach (not to exceed 17 pages)

• Mission Business Approach (not to exceed 14 pages)

4. Will you be awarding both PAM 5 & 6 at the same �me or phased release?

Response: NASA intends to award PAM 5 and 6 at the same �me.

5. Can you clarify the white paper comment? Will you s�ll be accep�ng white papers for review under the prior NRA during the proposal period (ie a�er March 31), or will proposal submiters be barred from submi�ng white papers under the prior NRA during the proposal period?

Response: White papers can be submited any�me, however white paper submissions under Phase I of Focus Area 4A or Focus Area 4B will not be considered for award for PAM 5 and 6. For proposals to be considered for award for PAM 5 & 6, they must be submited under Phase II of Focus Area 4A by the due date specified in the NRA.

6. The wording on Sam.gov states “PAM Commander candidates must be no more than 5 years removed from ac�ve par�cipa�on in ISS USOS spaceflight opera�ons (can include ground support roles) when training begins or have NASA-approved ra�onale or a plan to get familiar with the current USOS spaceflight environment prior to launch.” Can you provide more detail on what would cons�tute NASA approved ra�onale?

Response: A submited PAM commander may be more than 5 years removed from ac�ve par�cipa�on in ISS USOS spaceflight opera�ons if the proposer provides suppor�ng ra�onale demonstra�ng the individual’s current, ac�ve par�cipa�on in similar, relevant spaceflight opera�ons or provides a plan explaining how the proposed PAM Commander will get familiar with the current ISS USOS spaceflight opera�ng environment prior to launch, in accordance with NRA 4A Sec�on 3.1.vii. a.1. ii.

7. Did the PAM Commander reference form change from last �me?

Response: PAM Commander references, which were required in previous solicita�ons, are no longer required to be submited as part of the proposal content. Proposal content requirements for PAM Commander Experience sec�on are outlined in 4A Sec�on 3.1.vii.

8. Where can I find a copy of the Industry Day charts?

Response: The industry day charts can be found at the following loca�on under “Atachments/Links” https://sam.gov/opp/76a3c5e1915b4aa9a73c55dd7f41ad39/view https://sam.gov/opp/76a3c5e1915b4aa9a73c55dd7f41ad39/view

9. Can NASA please clarify which of the 3 evalua�on factors apply to each of the Proposal Content sec�ons?

Sec�on 3.1 specifies the following sec�ons:

Proposal Abstract

Mission Overview

Mission Integra�on Approach

Mission Business Approach

PAM Commander Experience

Sec�on 4.2 contains the following evalua�on factors:

Factor 1: Merit

Factor 2: NASA Supportability

Factor 3: Relevance

Response: Per Focus Area 4A Sec�on 4.2 any materials provided in the proposal and/or the atachments may be evaluated against the evalua�on criteria.

10. If a company already has an RSAA in place, is the RSAA number sufficient evidence of the agreement or will the company need to also provide the agreement itself?

Response: A Provider is required to describe status and provide evidence of engagement and path to comple�on for each agreement, including the RSAA, listed in 4A Sec�on 3.1.v.f.

Evidence of engagement shall demonstrate ability to meet the expected launch windows defined in Focus Area 4A.1 and associated mission integra�on milestones. For the RSAA, offerors are required to provide evidence showing ability to begin training by Integra�on Kickoff.

11. Budget Ques�on: The RFP 4A sec�on 3.0 – Proposal submission, page 25 indicates the proposals shall be developed with instruc�ons in this RFP, Instruc�ons for Responding to NASA Research Announcement and the Agency rules in the NASA Grant and Coopera�ve Agreement Manual

(GCAM).

The budget is to be presented in the PAM Budget Table contained in the RFP Atachment e.

GCAM Sec�on 5.14 s�pulates that the recipient ins�tu�on is responsible for ensuring costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable. In this GCAM proposers should submit proposal budget and budget narra�ves in accordance with the NASA Guidebook Proposers. Appendix C is referenced in GCAM. Appendix C, page 75 provides cost categories from 2 CFR 200 Subpart E, includes the following:

• Direct labor – number and �tles of personnel and amount devoted to the grant

• Other direct costs, including, not limited to subcontracts, supplies, and travel.

In considera�on of these requirements, other than the budget table in appendix e, what suppor�ng budget details should be included in the proposal to support the analysis to determine whether costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable?

Where should the bidders present narra�ve and suppor�ng budget data in their proposals?

Response: Budget details should be provided as they relate to the content required in 4A Sec�on 3.1 of the NRA, which includes Mission Business Approach and a PAM Budget Table.

NASA is not reques�ng any budget details outside of this. Narra�ve and suppor�ng budget data may be included as it pertains the Mission Business Approach sec�on.

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