Inactive

Revision A (7/29/2021): Response Date Extended from August 4, 2021 to August 6, 2021. No other changes were made as a result of this revision. Please see the original posting for associated attachment... Revision A (7/29/2021): Response Date Extended from August 4, 2021 to August 6, 2021. No other changes were made as a result of this revision. Please see the original posting for associated attachments. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking responses from industry under this Request for Information (RFI) to assist NASA in further maturing its acquisition approach for procuring lunar surface transportation services. NASA is currently planning to develop the Lunar Exploration Transportation Services (LETS) solicitation in accordance with Chapter 501, Space Commerce, of U.S. Code Title 51 to procure such services. NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) Program will be responsible for the LETS acquisition and the management and execution of any resultant LETS contract(s). The HLS Program currently seeks to procure a commercially developed and NASA-certified lunar lander services capability no later than 2028 that NASA intends to routinely utilize thereafter to deliver crew to the surface of the Moon. NASA is also considering incorporating the delivery of mission-critical logistics, as well as scientific, and architectural elements, payloads, and cargo within the LETS procurement. NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) provides leadership and management of crewed exploration space operations in and beyond low-Earth orbit. As part of that responsibility, HEOMD is charged with leading NASA’s Artemis efforts, which will return America to the Moon and provide preparation for eventual Mars missions by employing innovative technologies and exploring more of the lunar surface than ever before. Through Artemis, NASA will collaborate with commercial and international providers to engage in sustainable lunar exploration for the first time. HEOMD is developing an Artemis Base Camp concept of operations to help create and refine future element requirements for establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon. To achieve its goal of a sustained human presence on the lunar surface, NASA requires the ability to repeatedly transport crew to and from the lunar surface and further requires cargo-landing capability for human-rated equipment; NASA envisions that the LETS procurement will be the mechanisms by which NASA acquires these services. Responses to this RFI are sought broadly from U.S. industry, universities, non-profit organizations, and other U.S. Government agencies. This information will help shape NASA’s future plans and priorities for the development of an architecture for a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. RFI responses may be used by NASA to inform program formulation, requirements definition and acquisition strategy development.