Single Seat Flight Opportunity

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is issuing this pre-solicitation notice as a means to inform commercial entities having an interest in and the resources necessary to support the requirement for an International Space Station (ISS) single flight opportunity for a duration of 15 to 30 days to be performed no later than 2024. The Agency intends to fulfill this requirement by utilizing a seat on a private astronaut mission (https://www.nasa.gov/leo-economy/private-astronaut-missions), inclusive of crew member training, medical support, launch, on-orbit services and resources, and return.  Prospective offerors may propose the use of government provided resources and services on a negotiated basis as required to enable the flight opportunity.  NASA retains authority for crew assignment of the single seat.

The government intends to compete this requirement as a full and open competition utilizing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 “Commercial Item” and a streamlined procurement approach.

Parties interested in fulfilling this ISS single flight opportunity requirement must first submit a private astronaut mission white paper in response to ISS NASA Research Announcement NNJ13ZBG001N entitled “Research Opportunities for ISS Utilization” dated August 16, 2019, Focus Area 4 entitled “Private Astronaut Missions to the International Space Station”, which can be accessed here: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=704239/solicitationId=%7B21E0270C-BC1F-EFC4-3D87-30713B5FF373%7D/viewSolicitationDocument=1/2012%20Research%20Opportunities%20for%20ISS%20Utilization%20NRA%20Aug%202019_8.16.pdf.

The white paper submittal to the NRA in support of this potential acquisition must outline the private astronaut mission concept, including accommodating the NASA single seat on a mission where the NASA seat occupant is one of no more than four total crew members on the private astronaut mission.  NASA will review the white paper and provide a high-level feasibility assessment to the proposer within three weeks of receipt.  Only offerors who obtain a successful private astronaut mission feasibility assessment will be eligible to submit a proposal for the planned future single flight opportunity solicitation.  The solicitation will detail the proposal submission requirements applicable to the single flight opportunity.

The private astronaut mission will be responsible for all aspects of seat integration. NASA intends to make available up to two private astronaut mission opportunities per year based on currently available schedule information and will make available one of those opportunities to fulfill this single seat requirement. The mission schedule is subject to NASA vehicle traffic changes, anomalies, or other unforeseen circumstances that may arise.  

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is intended to inform interested parties of the prerequisite private astronaut mission feasiblity assessment requirement. There is no solicitation at this time for the ISS single flight opportunity, as this notice does not constitute a request for proposals. The anticipated date for issuance of the solicitation is March 2020.  If a solicitation is released it will be posted in https://beta.sam.gov/. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or future notices.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html .