Engaging for-profit entities in a pre-competitive framework for trust-building, innovation, and market intelligence in the mining and exploration sector.

This Special Notice, posted January 9, 2026, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center, announces a sole source contract opportunity for engaging for-profit entities in the mining and exploration sector. The notice solicits participation in a pre-competitive framework designed to build trust, foster innovation, and generate market intelligence within the industry. The opportunity is restricted to authorized resellers only, as specified in the attached documents. The performance period runs from January 15, 2026, through January 14, 2027, with the work to be conducted at the Colorado School of Mines. This is a civilian federal contracting opportunity classified under higher education services and general science and technology research and development.

The primary objective of this contract is to establish NASA as a reliable partner within the mining and exploration sector while leveraging NASA Earth Science Division data and capabilities to advance industry applications. The contractor will conduct research using NASA datasets such as EMIT, AVIRIS, and ECOSRTRESS, educate industry stakeholders about NASA assets, and facilitate an Industry Advisory Board to communicate operational needs that will inform future NASA missions. Prospective contractors must submit proposals by the January 13, 2026, deadline and should note that credit card payments are not accepted. Eligibility is limited to authorized resellers participating in the Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM), an NSF-Industry-University Cooperative Research Center, which is identified as the sole source provider for this unique pre-competitive engagement opportunity. The contract emphasizes collaborative development, cross-sector innovation, and the creation of pipelines to expand Earth observation capabilities for mining industry applications.