Notice of Partnership Opportunity -PRISM AO 2025.pdf

Notice of Partnering Opportunity

Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (“PRISM”)

80GRC026Q0001-NPO

General Information

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has issued a NASA Announcement of Opportunity (AO) NNH25ZDA001N entitled "Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM)”. The solicitation and related documents can be found at:

https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?solId=%7b7D2A1FB4-62A6- 7691-D879-8E06168F12EF%7d&path=&method=init

Proposals to this AO are 2-step proposals with the due date for Step-1 proposals no later than 5:00pm on March 30, 2026. Both Step-1 and Step-2 proposals will be submitted via NSPIRES.

The NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA GRC) intends to submit proposal(s) to offer instruments and technology demonstrations for this and closely-related solicitations. This present Notice of Partnering Opportunity (Notice) is intended to allow interested non-Government entities to team with GRC consistent with the instructions provided below.

Purpose of Notice

NASA GRC is issuing this Notice for the purpose of openly and competitively selecting prospective team members to assist it in the preparation of proposals to be submitted by NASA GRC to NASA in response to this and closely related solicitations. This process is being conducted in accordance with NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) 1872.308. By this Notice, NASA GRC is seeking information from partners regarding their availability and capabilities that relate to the development, integration and operation of lunar instruments and payloads to address future lunar science missions. In accordance with NFS 1872.308 (c), this Notice also authorizes NASA GRC to award contracts to its selected partner(s) without further competition or justification, for execution of any NASA GRC proposal that is selected by NASA.

Overview

This Notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a partnership. This Notice is subject to revision or cancellation at any time. Based on the responses to this Notice, NASA GRC anticipates selecting one or more organizations with which NASA GRC would then immediately work directly and individually to develop, complete and submit proposals in response to the above-mentioned solicitation.

During the proposal development phase, specific roles and cost estimates for the selected partners will be developed. During these procurement negotiations, the specific statement of work, terms and conditions, and procurement value will be determined.

There will be no exchange of funds between NASA GRC and the teaming partners during the preparation of proposals. NASA will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing a response to this Notice or by the selected partners in assisting NASA GRC in the preparation of proposals.

Details of Opportunity

The Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) AO cited above includes opportunities for the development and flight of a science-driven suite of instruments and supporting technology demonstration payloads tailored to complete scientific investigations at a lunar landing destination.

This present Notice solicits partners for support of the development and flight of a science-driven suite of instruments and supporting technology demonstration payloads tailored to complete scientific investigations at a lunar landing destination. The investigation should address topic relevant to the science goals of 1) any of the Science Mission Directorate’s goals, e.g., Planetary Science, Earth Science, Heliophysics, Astrophysics, and Biological and Physical Sciences, 2) objectives of the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD), and 3) any technology demonstration goals of the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) that advance capabilities for science, exploration, or commercial development of the Moon. Payloads will be delivered on a Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander to a location the lunar surface that is identified and justified in the proposal, including the South Pole region but excluding the North Pole region.

In the response to this Notice, the interested parties should provide information regarding their qualifications, including participation in current and past relevant flight, development, and research projects funded by the Government and industry, as well as relevant facilities available.

Also, relevant flight, development, and research activities including publications and professional activities should be reflected in that response. Moreover, the proposers to this AO should identify one of the most qualified persons as a point of contact to become, potentially, a co-investigator on the NASA GRC-led proposal. Respondents should also identify potential roles they offer to development activities leading to PRISM flight implementation.

The PRISM awards are expected to cover all phases of the proposed investigation, typically including payload development and construction, instrument integration and calibration, support for the team through launch/operations, publication of results, and data analysis/dissemination/archiving. NASA GRC’s focus includes providing such relevant instrument payloads capable of conducting science-related missions in lunar environments.

Response Content Instructions

Responses are limited to no more than 2 8.5” x 11” pages in not less than 10-point font and 1-inch margins.

Respondents shall address the following in their responses:

(1) Proposed capabilities relevant to the solicitation and the details of this Notice described above including contributed technological processes, maturation activities and project roles. This may include development activities, specific instrument components for space-relevant environments, and testing facilities

(2) Evidence of successful participation in previous, similar development efforts.

NASA GRC reserves the right to communicate with potential proposal partners for additional information about their interest and capability. NASA GRC reserves the option to not select any teaming partners under this offering on the basis of material received. All information received in response to this Notice that is marked 'Proprietary' will be handled and protected accordingly.

Evaluation Criteria

NASA GRC will evaluate responses to this request based on the following criteria, listed in descending order of importance:

(1) Relevance of technology and/or instrumentation concepts to the solicitation and this Notice.

(2) Relevant experience and technical capability. This criterion evaluates the respondent's relevant recent experience in similar activities and technical capability to contribute to the proposed payload.

NASA GRC anticipates completing its evaluation and selection process by 3:00 PM ET on December 9, 2025. At that time, NASA GRC may ask for supplemental information. Non-selected organizations will be notified and provided the basis for the selection decisions as soon as possible after NASA GRC proposal submission to NASA.

Submission Instructions

Responses are to be submitted via email to Hunter Butkovic, Contracting Specialist, at hunter.c.butkovic@nasa.gov, no later than 3:00 pm ET on Friday, December 5, 2025. Any responses received after this time and date will be handled as late proposals in accordance with FAR 15.208. Responses to this Notice must be submitted in the form of a Portable Data Format (PDF) file. All responses will be treated as proprietary information and controlled as such.

Questions of a technical or procurement nature shall be submitted via email to Hunter Butkovic at hunter.c.butkovic@nasa.gov no later than 3:00 pm ET on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Additional Information Releases

It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any).

Evaluators of responses, which are submitted under this process, may include non-US Government personnel (i.e. the Principal Investigator). Therefore, responders are hereby on notice that responders submitted hereunder may be released outside the Government but shall be released solely for the purpose of evaluation of responses as part of this selection process. All responders acknowledge acceptance of this condition by the submittal of their responses. These individuals will be required to protect the confidentiality of any specifically identified trade secrets and/or privileged or confidential commercial or financial information obtained because of their participation in this evaluation.

---END OF NOTICE---