Commercial Crew Space Transportation Service RFI Released
NASA is looking to expand its commercial crew space transportation services, and has released a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting proposals from potential suppliers.
The competition is not limited to companies that have already been certified for human spaceflight. In the RFI, posted to SAM.gov, NASA says the agency 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 says it 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.
Companies are being asked to provide details on their crew transportation service capabilities, including all inherent capabilities available as part of the system’s services, and additional information whether the crew transportation system was designed in compliance with NASA requirements defined in CCtCap. Companies that meet that requirement are asked to identify whether NASA has certified the crew transportation system for compliance with such requirements, or identify the efforts needed to become compliant with NASA requirements and the timeframe of availability of the crew transportation system.
Additionally companies need to provide information about the maturity of crew transportation systems that are still under design and/or development. That information must include:
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
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.
Responses are due back to the agency by November 19, 2021.
(Source: NASA. Images from file)