Notice of Partnering Opportunity - Lunar Dust Reduction through Electrostatic Adhesion Mitigation (L-DREAM)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center has issued a Notice of Partnering Opportunity (NPO) for the Early Career Initiative (ECI) project titled "Lunar Dust Reduction through Electrostatic Adhesion Mitigation" (L-DREAM). This special notice seeks external partners to collaborate on developing a lunar dust mitigation coating specifically designed for solar cells and thermal control surfaces. The project focuses on minimizing electrostatic adhesion forces that can compromise equipment functionality in lunar environments. NASA is targeting organizations with advanced manufacturing capabilities, particularly those with expertise in roll-to-roll or large area batch magnetron sputter deposition techniques. The notice was published on March 7, 2025, with a proposal submission deadline of March 12, 2025.

The primary objective of this partnering opportunity is to identify and collaborate with a partner capable of developing large-scale manufacturing methods for an innovative lunar dust mitigation coating. Participation is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, with NASA encouraging applications from historically Black colleges, minority universities, small businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and women-owned small businesses. Potential partners must submit a two-page PDF document that comprehensively addresses their technical proficiency, past experience, and business information. The project performance period is set from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2027, with NASA anticipating partner selection by March 14, 2025. Evaluation criteria will prioritize technical capabilities, manufacturing experience in extreme environments, and personnel expertise. Importantly, no funds will be exchanged during the proposal preparation phase, making this an opportunity for collaborative research and development in space technology.