PAMs Questions and Answers Part II.pdf

Private Astronaut Mission 5/6 Questions and Answers

Question

Question Answer

Is a white paper still required to request or purchase NASA resources for commercial use?

White papers, submitted under Phase I of Focus Area 4- Private Astronaut Missions to the International Space Station (ISS), Focus Area 4A

– Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) Provider allow the submitters to receive initial feedback regarding their mission concept and readiness.

White Papers under Phase I can be submitted at any time and are not required to submit a proposal for Phase II under the current Announcement of Opportunity. However, as stated in NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNJ13ZBG001N, Focus Area 4A.1, Solicitation for Private Astronaut Missions’ Provider for Flight Opportunity, as well as the Industry Day charts, no white papers will be accepted as part of the PAMs 5 and 6 flight opportunities.

Offerors are requested to describe the NASA resources needed to execute a PAM through submission of a proposal for Phase II of Focus Area 4A. The instructions for proposal submission as they relate to NASA resources are outlined in Section 3.1, paragraphs iv. Mission Overview Subparagraph a.i.4, iv. Mission Overview subparagraph a.ii.2, and v. Mission Integration Approach subparagraph e.

2 If so (see Q. #1), is a separate white paper needed for each individual resource?

See answer to Question 1.

Does this requirement (see Q. #1 & #2) apply only to resources listed in the Commercial and Marketing Pricing Policy, or does it also extend to items referenced in PARIS and SSP 51092 Section 4.0 that are not listed in the Pricing Policy?

Per Section 4A Section 3.1 – Proposal Content, Paragraph v. Mission Integration Approach, Paragraph e, NASA is requesting proposers submit any major services, facilities, resources, and equipment required from NASA in order to successfully execute the proposed mission. SSP 50192 - Private Astronaut Resources, Interfaces, and Services (PARIS) for ISS, should be used as a reference to assist in the identification of potential resources needed.

Question

Question Answer

If the answer to each of the above (Q. #1, #2, & #3) is “no white paper is necessary,” does that mean the proposal itself is intended to serve as the comprehensive vehicle for all NASA resource requests for commercial purposes?

See answers to Questions 1 and 3.

Section 3.1 limits experience for “Alternate PAM Commander Experience” to current or former CSA, ESA, or JAXA flown astronauts with U.S. Operating Segment Experience. This restricts competition by failing to credit the experience of astronauts affiliated with other space programs, such as Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), that have successfully participated on expedition crews and would otherwise qualify as an Alternate PAM Commander.

Would NASA consider broadening the experience requirement to include astronauts from MBRSC to promote full and open competition?

Focus Area 4A was updated on 5/19. In the latest revision, experience requirements for Alternate PAM Commanders permit current (non-NASA) or former flown U.S. Operating Segment astronauts to be eligible to be proposed as an Alternate PAM Commander, provided they meet all experience requirements described in the NRA, Focus Area 4A, Section 3.1, Paragraph vii, PAM Commander Experience, subparagraph b.

Under section viii. Attachments sub-bullet

(b) calls out a page limit for the financial statements of 20 pages. Our audited financials exceed that limit.

Is it acceptable to submit the entire audited financials and exceed the page limit rather han us providing a truncated version that may remove information that would provide NASA he desired context and insight?

NASA plans to remove the page limit under Section 3.1, paragraph viii. Attachments subparagraph b, however, offerors are requested only to provide the cash flow, balance sheet, and income statement for the last three years of your company and supplementary documents (as needed) covering the period of execution.

Financial information is intended to supplement the Mission Business Approach Section of the proposal and to allow the Evaluation Board to assess the merit of the proposal as it relates to the ability of the Proposer to provide the financing necessary to plan and execute the proposed mission.

Regarding:

• Attachment C Evidence of Revenue and Sources of Funds and

• Attachment D Evidence of Planned Suppliers, Teaming Agreements, etc.

NASA plans to remove the 10-page limit for Section 3.1, paragraph viii Attachments subparagraph c, however emphasis should be placed by the offeror on providing information that allows the Source Board to assess the ability of the Proposer to provide the financing

Question

Question Answer

a. Will the government consider removing the page counts from Agreements and sources of funds that are multiple pages long?

o 10 pages for each attachment limits the ability to provide sufficient evidence.

necessary to plan and execute the proposed mission.

In addition, for Section 3.1, paragraph viii Attachments subparagraph d, NASA plans to remove the 10-page limit for any evidence that supports teaming arrangements and agreements in the areas outlined in the NRA which includes Focus Area 4A, Section 3.1, Paragraph v, Mission Integration approach, subparagraph f and Focus Area 4A, Section 3.1, v Mission Integration approach, subparagraph g. The 10-page limit still applies to other suppliers and teaming arrangements not specifically requested in the NRA.

In its latest amendment, NASA revised the PAM 5 launch date to state, “expected launch of No Earlier Than (NET) June 2026 through October 2026”.

Please clarify that any NET date projected within the specified period (June 2026 through October 2026) is a valid NET launch date for PAM 5 and NASA does not have (and will not assign) any preference to particular dates during that time period.

Yes, the expected launch dates listed under Focus Area 4A.1 - “Solicitation for Private Astronaut Missions’ Provider for Flight Opportunity” for PAMs 5 and 6 are valid.

NASA has identified this launch window as a window of opportunity where a PAM mission to the ISS could be supported, based on currently available scheduling information and resource availability. The Selection Official will select proposals as judged against all evaluation criteria (i.e., Merit, NASA Supportability, and Relevance), the objectives of the NOFO, programmatic considerations, the flight opportunities available, the flight planning and scheduling constraints provided in the proposal, and available financial resources.