Fission Surface Power System

                                                                REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) 
                                                               FISSION SURFACE POWER SYSTEM

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

This notice is issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) to solicit responses from interested parties to gain industry feedback and gauge interest in a potential future opportunity. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to provide feedback and promote competition. 

I.    INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND 

Fission surface power (FSP) is both an essential and sustainable segment of the lunar and Mars power architectures for future human space exploration missions. NASA intends to advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy and power generation on Mars.

The Fission Surface Power System is expected to operate on the lunar surface in proximity to crewed and uncrewed lunar assets, including human-rated landers, rovers, and pressurized habitats. The Fission Surface Power System is expected to have a minimum power output of 100kWe, have a mass allocation of less than 15 metric tons, and utilize a closed Brayton cycle power conversion system with readiness to launch by the first quarter of fiscal year 2030.

II.    GROUND RULES/ASSUMPTIONS

The objective of the Fission Surface Power System effort is to energize the space industrial base to support a future lunar economy through the deployment of advanced fission power technology to the surface of the moon. Responses to this RFI may be used to inform a potential future opportunity for the deployment of lunar surface fission power capabilities. Respondents may choose to answer any or all questions and may add additional content to questions as they see necessary. 

III.    QUESTIONS FOR INDUSTRY 

Respondents are requested to provide the following information to assist in NASA's preparation of a potential future opportunity.

1)    Would your organizational team be interested in providing lunar surface fission power as an end-to-end service, specifically being responsible for the following:
•    Development 
•    Testing 
•    Transportation 
•    Launch vehicle integration 
•    Launch 
•    Landing 
•    Deployment 
•    Continued sustained operation of the FSP system

If your organizational team is not interested in providing the full end-to-end service, which portions would your organizational team be interested in providing?

2)    What level of NASA support would your organizational team expect to need as part of a potential future opportunity? Consider the following: 
•    Seeking indemnification
•    Assisting in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations 
•    Coordinating access to special nuclear materials
•    Providing access to technical subject matter experts
•    Providing access to nuclear or system test facilities
•    Providing launch support, including launch safety analysis, launch authorization, launch integration facilities, or a launch vehicle
•    Developing a lunar lander or surface deployment vehicle 
•    Providing access to Earth, space, or lunar communication networks
•    Coordinating with Other Government Agencies
•    Any other items 

3)    What risks does your organizational team see that will need to be overcome to achieve a launch readiness by quarter one of Government fiscal year (FY) 2030?
•    Technical, inclusive of testing and qualification
•    Programmatic
•    Regulatory
•    Supply Chain Management 
•    Others

4)    What typical commercial or Government standards would your organizational team use when developing a concept of operation to ensure safe and effective operations including potential crew interactions? Are there any gaps in standards that would need to be addressed to provide lunar surface fission power as an end-to-end service?

5)    What capabilities does your organizational team foresee the FSP system providing when deployed and operational? Describe your organizational team’s perceived pros and cons of providing the following end-to-end services:
•    Power on demand 
•    Communications support 
•    Thermal source/sink
•    Other capabilities 

6)    What previous experience or current capabilities would your organizational team offer in support of a potential future opportunity? What future capabilities would your organizational team seek to enhance or develop in a potential future opportunity?

7)    What are your organizational team’s perceived pros and cons of using a Funded Space Act Agreement (FSAA) versus a traditional procurement contract?

8)    Identify your organizational team’s level of interest and any reasons that your organizational team may be deterred from providing a future proposal.

IV.    RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS 

Respondents may not submit confidential, proprietary, or export-controlled information, including International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) restricted information, in responses to this RFI. 

This RFI is not a Request for Proposals, nor is it an Invitation to Bid. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government may use the information to finalize a potential future opportunity as necessary. 

All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Matthew Evans and Linda Nabors, matthew.t.evans@nasa.gov and linda.m.nabors@nasa.gov and no later than 5:00PM EDT August 21, 2025. All responses should be limited to eight (8) pages. When responding, reference Fission Surface Power System in any response.

If an announcement is released, then it, and any additional documents, will be available on www.sam.gov. It is the proposers’ responsibility to monitor this website for the release of the announcement and amendments (if any). Potential proposers will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the announcement and amendments, if any.