Notice of Availability -- Commercial Aerospace Opportunities at John F. Kennedy Space Center

The purpose of this Notice of Availability (NOA) is to publicize commercial aerospace development opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This NOA replaces and supersedes NOA-KSC-LandDev_2020-2022, which was scheduled to expire on June 1, 2022. As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) envisioned in the KSC Master Plan, NASA has developed KSC as a multi-user spaceport by leveraging KSC’s unique location, developable land, and infrastructure to achieve Agency programmatic objectives while also encouraging the development of a healthy and robust United States commercial space sector. NASA is seeking partners interested in developing commercial aerospace capabilities on vacant KSC land.  NASA may engage in discussions with any respondent based upon the information submitted in response to this NOA.  In accordance with the KSC Master Plan, the specific land uses that NASA will consider under this NOA are:·       1.  Launch Operations and Support·     

 2.  Assembly, Testing, and Processing·       3.  Renewable Energy·       4.  Research and Development·       5.  Support Services·       6.  Vertical Launch*·       7.  Vertical Landing**Currently NASA has limited capacity to accommodate commercial development and operation of vertical launch and landing sites.  Accordingly, NASA may choose to conduct further competition for this category of land use.Detailed information and definitions of the above land uses can be found on the KSC Master Plan website at:  http://masterplan.ksc.nasa.gov/NASA may grant a partner an interest in, access to, or use of real property for a specified term through an instrument such as a lease, revocable license, or other form of agreement in accordance with the National Aeronautics and Space Act, 51 U.S.C. § 20101 et seq.  Aerospace-related commercial use of KSC real property supports NASA’s mandate to “seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space,” as stated in 51 U.S.C. § 20112(a)(4), and advances the National Space Policy that “United States Government space technology and infrastructure are made available for commercial use on a reimbursable, noninterference, and equitable basis to the maximum practical extent.” NASA invites all categories of U.S. domestic entities, including commercial, federal, and state organizations, and United States Commercial Providers as defined in the Space Commerce Act, 51 U.S.C. § 50101(7), to submit responses to this NOA.It is NASA’s intent to ensure fairness to all parties and to ensure the best value to the Government in granting use of NASA real property. NOA ObjectivesNASA’s objectives are:1.     Identify specific industry and non-federal public entities interested in partnering with NASA for land development at KSC, as described in the purpose of this NOA;2.     Increase commercial access to space;3.     Enhance U.S. commercial competitiveness in the space launch industry;4.     Diversify the user base and operations at KSC; and5.     Promote partnerships that will build, expand, modernize, or operate aerospace-related capabilities at KSC.NASA will only engage in discussions or enter into an agreement if it determines that doing so is in the Government’s best interest.  NASA is not precluded from entering into agreements with other federal entities for uses identified in this NOA, nor from using any land at KSC for NASA purposes, regardless of expressions of interest and proposed uses that NASA may receive from industry or non-federal public entities pursuant to this NOA.Neither this NOA nor any response to it places NASA under any obligation to proceed with any particular action. Uses That NASA Will Not ConsiderNASA will not consider:·      Proposed uses that NASA deems incompatible with the current KSC Master Plan, NASA or KSC land use policies, or existing environmental conditions;·      Proposed uses that could negatively impact any NASA mission;·      Proposed non-aerospace uses of KSC real property or proposed uses that do not otherwise contribute to a NASA objective; ·      Proposed transfer of title to land;·      Proposed residential or agricultural uses; or·      Proposed uses that NASA in its sole discretion determines not to be in the best interest of the Government.Environmental ComplianceRespondents must ensure that proposed uses align with NASA’s practice of emphasizing environmental stewardship of the natural environment, ensuring appropriate mitigation measures are implemented to offset development impacts, and protecting critical habitat to the highest extent possible. KSC completed a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the KSC Master Plan pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.  All potential land uses, as envisioned in the KSC Master Plan, are addressed in the PEIS.  The PEIS does not cover any specific actions or projects that a respondent may be propose.  Any proposed uses may require additional NEPA analysis addressing the specific use and its potential impacts.  Respondents are responsible for providing NASA with any additional environmental analysis that NASA may require to complete additional NEPA documentation. Any additional analysis may be “tiered” off of the KSC PEIS as determined by KSC’s NEPA Manager.Partner’s Responsibility for Costs of Land Use DevelopmentNASA will not be responsible for the costs of a partner’s land use development.  Such costs will be the sole responsibility of the partner; they may include, but are not limited to:Design and construction costs;·       Costs associated with environmental compliance (e.g., regulatory permitting, NEPA compliance);·       Any costs associated with design and construction needed improvements to infrastructure components/systems (e.g., roads, water, utilities, sewer, waste water, etc.);·       Operations and maintenance of improvements; and·       Land lease costs.Instructions for ResponsesInterested parties shall submit responses by e-mail to the points of contact (POCs) listed below.  Responses shall be a maximum of 10 pages, single-spaced with 12 point font. The response shall clearly identify the land use needs and planned use of the real property requested.Responses shall include the following information:(1)     Organization name, address, primary POC and telephone number, business size and type, and product or service line (Provide North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code if available);(2)     Specific real property (land) and project requirements (e.g., size in acres or square feet, line of sight requirements, utilities) and an overview of the proposed concept of operations for using the real property (land);(3)     Approximate month and year when the real property (land) is needed, a schedule that includes projected development activities, initial operational capability and estimated duration for the proposed use;  (4)     Evidence of proposer’s financial capability (e.g. a general company business case or similar form of financial background summary) to accomplish the proposed development and subsequent operational use; (5)     Information that addresses the Government Assessment Criteria outlined below; and(6)     Any additional information that would be relevant to achieving one or more of the objectives enumerated above.Note:   Responses should not request a specific location or site. NASA may reject as nonresponsive any response that is contingent upon NASA providing a specific location or plot of land.  NASA will make siting decisions after it assesses the potential partner’s requirements.  While NASA may consider the potential partner’s input, NASA shall make such decisions at its sole discretion.Government Assessment CriteriaNASA will apply the following criteria for assessing whether responses to this NOA are in the best interest of the Government.  Such criteria include, but are not limited to:Compatibility:  NASA will consider whether a proposed use is compatible with KSC uses and NASA missions based on the following (as applicable):Whether the entity presently operates or directly supports space-related missions for the U.S. Government at KSC or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station;·        Whether the entity operates or directly supports commercial space launches or missions, regardless of whether the U.S. Government is a customer;·       Whether the proposed use is compatible with the current uses as defined in the KSC Master Plan, land use policies, and environmental conditions;·       Whether the proposed use aligns with a NASA mission, purpose, and NOA objectives and plans for KSC as a multi-user spaceport;·       Whether the proposed use offers any benefit to KSC, NASA, or other U.S. Government interests;·       Whether NASA can accommodate the requested occupancy dates/period;·       Whether environmental, safety, and security impacts of the proposed use and user pose risks to KSC, NASA, and/or other U.S. Government interests; and·       Whether KSC infrastructure and systems can support the proposed use.Capability:  NASA will consider the proposed user’s financial capability and past performance to accomplish its proposed use.Siting:  Responses may identify a preferred location or parcel of land; however, all decisions regarding siting shall be at NASA’s sole discretion.Additional Information:  The information provided in this NOA is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Additional information, if any, will be released via the sam.gov website.  It is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor sam.gov for the release of any new or additional information.This NOA is not a commitment by the Government to enter into any contract or agreement, or negotiation of any contract or agreement. NASA will not pay for any information provided nor any administrative costs incurred in response to this NOA.  NASA will not provide information concerning or developed in the course of its deliberative process.This NOA will remain open, and interested parties may respond, for up to two years from the date of this NOA’s posting. NASA will evaluate responses in the order in which they are received.  Please reference this NOA number in any response:  [NOA-KSC-LandDev_2022-2024].It is not NASA’s intent to publicly disclose proprietary information obtained through this NOA; therefore, if proprietary information is included, it should be clearly marked.   Consistent with its statutory obligations and to the extent permitted under the Freedom of Information Act, NASA will protect such data from public disclosure.Questions regarding this NOA shall be submitted in writing via email to the POCs listed below.   Verbal questions will not be entertained.All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.