Request for Information: Conference on Lunar, Planetary and Space Sciences

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) issued a Special Notice announcing a Request for Information (RFI) regarding a Conference on Lunar, Planetary and Space Sciences. The RFI was published on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) on November 5, 2024. NASA's Planetary Science Division sought to explore potential collaborative opportunities for planning and developing content for an annual planetary, lunar, and space science conference spanning the years 2026-2030. The agency was specifically interested in innovative approaches to expand participation within the planetary science community, with a particular focus on increasing involvement from individuals with disabilities and underrepresented groups. The special notice was published through SAM.gov and directed interested parties to review the full details on the NSPIRES platform.

The primary objective of this RFI was to gather input from potential partners about hosting conferences through a potential no-exchange-of-funds Space Act Agreement. Only U.S. entities, including industry, universities, non-profits, and government agencies, were eligible to respond to the RFI. Contractors were instructed to submit their responses through NSPIRES by November 20, 2024, with NASA allowing multiple submissions from individual respondents. While the initial RFI suggested potential discussions or an Announcement for Partnership Proposals, a subsequent email from June 4, 2025, indicated that NASA had decided not to pursue the original partnership approach. Instead, the Planetary Science Division was exploring alternative methods for supporting community-led workshops, symposiums, and conferences. Interested parties were directed to continue monitoring NSPIRES for updates using solicitation number NNH25ZDA006L, with Dr. Aaron Burton serving as the point of contact for any questions.