REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) - NASA COMMERCIAL CREW SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services to and from the International Space Station.NASA is seeking capability statements and other information identified below from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI), and members of the underserved communities as defined by Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for an acquisition of Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services.  The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or

HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received. Public Law 105-303, 51 U.S.C. 50131, et. seq., states that the Government shall acquire space transportation services from United States commercial providers whenever such services are required in the course of its activities. Accordingly, it is anticipated that any subsequent procurement will consider domestic sources only.Description:The NASA Authorization Act of 2010, Public Law 111-267, identified the need to develop a U.S capability for human crew access to the International Space Station (ISS). Further, the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017, Public Law 115-10, stated, "It is the sense of Congress that an orderly transition for United States human space flight activities in low Earth orbit from the current regime, that relies heavily on NASA sponsorship, to a regime where NASA is one of many customers of a low-Earth orbit commercial human space flight enterprise may be necessary.”  Through its Commercial Crew Program (CCP), NASA invested in multiple American companies to design and develop crew transportation capabilities to and from low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station.In 2014, NASA awarded the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts. Under CCtCap, NASA certifies that a provider’s space transportation system meets NASA requirements prior to flying missions to meet its crew rotation and emergency return obligations for the ISS. Subsequent to the certification, the contract allows NASA to acquire space transportation services for Post-Certification Missions (PCMs). NASA has currently awarded all PCMs authorized under the CCtCap contracts and needs additional PCMs to meet its obligations under agreements with its International partners to assure continued crewed access to the ISS.By supporting the development of human spaceflight capabilities, NASA is laying the foundation for future commercial transportation capabilities. Ultimately, the goal is to establish and maintain safe, reliable and cost-effective human access to space. Throughout the process, both NASA and industry have invested time, money and resources in the development of their systems. NASA also is spurring economic growth through this program as potential new space markets are created.After years of development, commercial human space transportation systems have achieved or are nearing operational readiness.  NASA recognizes the significant advancement of the commercial spaceflight industry and requests information on the availability of existing NASA certified capabilities, estimated timelines on the availability of future capabilities to be certified by NASA, and whether commercial services are available for crewed space transportation services delivering NASA and International Partner astronauts to and returning them from the ISS.  Responses to this RFI will be used to inform NASA’s planning for an acquisition approach for Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services.NASA anticipates continued ongoing operations of the ISS beyond 2024.  To provide for these needs and contingencies, NASA has determined a need to acquire additional Post-Certification Missions to meet its obligations to assure crewed access to the International Space Station.NASA is considering acquisition of Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services from one or more U.S. providers through commercial services contracts. Depending on mission requirements, NASA may purchase single seats, multiple seats within one mission, or seats for an entire mission.  NASA is seeking pertinent information from industry which may be used to formulate one or more solicitations related to the Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services effort.Requested Information: NASA seeks information from industry regarding its capabilities to transport NASA and International Partner astronauts to and from the International Space Station; whether the crew transportation system meets NASA’s requirements imposed under the CCtCap contract; whether the crew transportation system has been certified by NASA; if not, the timing of availability of such a system capable of being certified by NASA; and input on whether Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services could be considered “commercial services,” as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 2. If you require a copy of the NASA requirements, specifically, the CCP 1100 series documents and SSP 50808, please contact Mr. Joe Bell (Joseph.M.Bell@nasa.gov) and Mr. Brian Hinerth (Brian.S.Hinerth@nasa.gov) no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 with your request.  Along with your request, please provide sufficient information to determine if your company qualifies as a United States commercial provider of space transportation services as defined in Public Law 105-303, Commercial Space Act of 1998. Specifically, NASA is requesting the following information, as applicable:Company name including physical address, DUNS number, CAGE code, number of employees, number of years in business, business size and category, point of contact name, phone number, e-mail address, and nature of interest in Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services including affiliate information (parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential subcontractor), or subcontractors (if potential prime)).  Provide sufficient information to determine if your company qualifies as a United States commercial provider of space transportation services as defined in Public Law 105-303, Commercial Space Act of 1998.        Details on the provider’s crew transportation service capabilities, including all inherent capabilities available as part of the system’s services.  Please provide additional information whether the crew transportation system was designed in compliance with NASA requirements defined in CCtCap.  If so, please identify whether NASA has certified the crew transportation system for compliance with such requirements.  If not, please identify the efforts needed to become compliant with NASA requirements and the timeframe of availability of the crew transportation system.                           Information about the maturity of crew transportation systems that are still under design and/or development.  Specifically, identify: the level of maturity of the crew transportation system (e.g., how much testing has been performed, what type of testing remains, etc.); the remaining activities planned to complete the system to be compliant with NASA requirements; and, generally, the resources required to mature the system so that a NASA certification could be accomplished no later than 2027. Details on whether Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services can be considered “commercial services,” as defined by FAR Part 2.                                                                 Pertinent information that may assist NASA with establishing cost-savings measures as part of its approach for a potential acquisition of Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services.This is a request for information only. It is not a commitment to procure services or a request for proposals. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by NASA to form a binding agreement or contract. NASA is under no obligation to issue a solicitation or to enter into any agreement or award any contract on the basis of this RFI. NASA will not pay for any information solicited. No evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov.  Interested firms are responsible for monitoring these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.NASA reserves the right to share all information received in response to this RFI throughout the Government and its support services contractors and to use all information submitted in response to this RFI in NASA's formulation of one or more solicitation(s) seeking competitive proposals related to initiatives described herein.  NASA is not requesting competition sensitive or export controlled data that requires protection. However, if it is necessary to submit competition sensitive data to answer any of the questions in this RFI, that data should be clearly segregated and marked as sensitive. NASA will protect such data from public disclosure to the extent permitted under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and other laws and regulations.  Additionally, any International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) restricted information should be appropriately labeled in response to the RFI.  Although information contained herein represents current program content and acquisition planning, it is subject to change.Instructions: All responses submitted in response to this RFI shall be submitted as a single PDF file via email to Mr. Joe Bell (Joseph.M.Bell@nasa.gov) and Mr. Brian Hinerth (brian.s.hinerth@nasa.gov) no later than November 19, 2021 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. The email subject line should be in the following format: Company Name – CCP Sources Sought. NASA intends to update this notice on SAM.gov to announce future opportunities for NASA and industry dialogue regarding future acquisition of crewed spaceflight missions to the International Space Station.Additionally, the Commercial Crew Program is offering to conduct one-on-one meetings via teleconference to discuss interest and capabilities for NASA Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services to the International Space Station. To schedule a one-on-one meeting, attendees will need to submit a request and provide the company name and requested meeting date via email to Mr. Joe Bell (Joseph.M.Bell@nasa.gov) and Mr. Brian Hinerth at Brian.S.Hinerth@nasa.gov. The Government requires this request for one-on-one discussions no later than December 2, 2021. Please start the subject of the email with "Commercial Crew Space Transportation Services One-On-One Discussions". Any requests for one-on-one meetings received after December 2, 2021, will be reviewed and considered.Amendment 1, 10/27/2021:   Updated to attach controlled requirement document.