MCAT Data RFI

NASA Johnson Space Center is soliciting information regarding communications support services to establish a data transfer pathway between the Eugene Stansbery Meter Class Autonomous Telescope (ES-MCAT) facility located at Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield and NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This Request for Information seeks to identify industry partners capable of providing daily data transfer services at rates of 1.5-2.0 terabytes per month for an extended operational period. The contractor must demonstrate expertise in establishing communication links between the facility and NASA-JSC, with personnel capable of performing work either at the contractor's location or along the designated communication path. Responses must address how the company meets the requirements, confirm commercial availability of services, verify suitability of NAICS code 518210 and PSC DG11 classification, establish timeline and infrastructure requirements, provide rough annual cost estimates, and describe the technical approach. Interested parties must submit responses by Friday, March 13, 2026, and while late submissions are permitted, they are discouraged to allow the government timely evaluation of available options.

This RFI does not constitute a binding solicitation and includes no set-aside designations for small businesses or other special categories. No incumbent contractor or current service provider is identified in the solicitation materials. The contract is expected to span an estimated 15-year operational period beginning in 2026 or 2027 and extending to approximately 2028 or later, though specific budget allocations and award values have not been disclosed at this pre-solicitation stage. The solicitation is identified as Solicitation Number 80JSC026RDATA and classified under NAICS 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services) and PSC DG11 (IT and Telecom - Network: Satellite Communications and Telecom Access Services). All electronic and information technology solutions must comply with Section 508 accessibility standards, and travel will be reimbursed according to applicable federal regulations. This RFI serves as an exploratory mechanism only, with actual contract issuance and funding details to be determined following evaluation of industry responses.