Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Development Program Phase 2- SAA

Other / Unclassified

This document is a presentation from NASA's Commercial LEO Development Program (CLDP) regarding the Commercial Destinations – Development & Demonstration Objectives (C3DO) Industry Day. It outlines the agenda, speakers, and key information presented during the industry day. The presentation details the "Announcement for Partnership Proposals (AFPP)" and the "Space Act Agreement (SAA)" for Phase 2 of the C3DO program.

This document is highly relevant for potential bidders as it provides an overview of NASA's objectives for developing commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) destinations. It details the scope of the Phase 2 AFPP, including key directive constraints, mandatory milestones (Critical Design Review and On-Orbit Crewed Demonstration), and proposed milestones. It also outlines the proposal structure, evaluation criteria, and selection process. Key areas of interest for bidders include funding (approximately $1B to $1.5B over FY2026-2031), use of NASA resources, liability approach, data rights, policy considerations, and the overall phased acquisition approach. The document also provides important dates, including the proposal due date (December 1, 2025) and anticipated award date (April 2026).

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Draft Announcement for Partnership Proposal (AFPP) for the Commercial Destinations - Development and Demonstration Objectives (C3DO) initiative, managed by NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program (CLDP) Office at the Johnson Space Center. The objective is to enable the development of multiple commercial space station destinations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), advancing them towards on-orbit crewed demonstration flights by 2030. This effort aims to stimulate private sector investment in LEO, supporting the commercialization of space and advancing human space exploration and scientific discovery.

The scope involves commercial partners safely and efficiently designing and developing free-flying platforms in LEO. Key goals include:

• Maturing Commercial LEO Destination Systems (CLDS) from pre-Critical Design Review (CDR) to an in-space crewed demonstration.

• Demonstrating primary space station functions (structural integrity, attitude control, power, life support, etc.).

• Achieving interoperability with commercial crew and cargo transportation services.

• Conducting a U.S. led crewed demonstration flight with 4 crew for a minimum 30-day duration.

• Developing and demonstrating processes for hazard identification, control, and verification.

• Establishing criteria and plans for system certification for crew habitation.

• Providing NASA insight into development and data systems.

• The announcement anticipates the establishment of one or more Funded Space Act Agreements (FSAA).

• The period of performance for each agreement will not exceed 5 years, with potential for one-year extensions.

• NASA anticipates a range of $1.0 - 1.5 billion dollars spread over fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to be available for funding a minimum of two SAAs.

• Proposals are due by December 1, 2025.

• Submission is electronic via NASA's Enterprise File Sharing and Sync Box (EFSS Box).

• Evaluation will be based on effectiveness ratings of the Technical Approach and Business Information, not FAR-based procedures.

• Key milestones include a CLDS Baseline Review/Kickoff and a mandatory On-Orbit Crewed Demonstration.

• Eligible entities must be organized under U.S. laws, with specific criteria for ownership and foreign subsidiaries.

• Prohibitions exist against certain entities and collaborations with China or Chinese-owned companies.

• Compliance with U.S. laws, regulations, and policies, including export control and sanctions, is mandatory.

• Attachments include a Draft Model Funded Space Act Agreement (FSAA), a Public Private Support Guide (PPSG), and NASA Utilization Service Needs.

• A website is provided for general information and updates: https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/jsc-procurement/c3do/

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment A: Draft Funded Space Act Agreement (FSAA)", outlines the proposed terms and conditions for a Space Act Agreement (SAA) between NASA and a "Partner" (identified as ). It serves as a draft for final negotiations and establishes the basic parameters for the "Commercial Destinations - Development and Demonstration Objectives (C3DO)" initiative.

• Background: Details the goal of developing U.S. Commercial LEO Destination Systems (CLDS) to support crew and cargo transportation, utilization, and ground/mission systems, aiming for a U.S. human presence in LEO beyond 2030.
• Articles: Covers a wide range of legal and operational aspects including Authority and Parties, Purpose, Responsibilities (NASA and Partner), Schedule and Milestones, Financial Obligations, Liability and Risk of Loss, Intellectual Property Rights (Data and Invention/Patent Rights), Insurance, Compliance with Laws, Term of Agreement, Termination, Dispute Resolution, and more.
• Appendices: Includes an Executive Summary, C3DO Payment Milestones, C3DO Insight Plan, and Applicable Documents.

Potential bidders should review this document to understand the framework and requirements for participating in the C3DO initiative. It details the responsibilities of both NASA and the Partner, the payment structure tied to milestones, intellectual property considerations, and the legal and operational framework governing such agreements. This draft FSAA is intended to be completed by the participant with their unique sections and proposed modifications, indicating it's a foundational document for potential collaborators.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a feedback template for the Commercial Destinations - Development and Demonstration Objectives (C3DO) Space Act Agreement (SAA), specifically for the draft AFPP (Affordable Flight Program Partnership) and SAA. It is designed to collect comments and questions from potential partners or bidders regarding these draft documents.

• Company: Field to identify the entity providing feedback.
• Document (AFPP, SAA, Attach X): Field to specify which document the feedback pertains to.
• Page No.: Field to indicate the specific page number within the document.
• Section/Paragraph: Field to reference the exact section or paragraph being commented on.
• Comment or Question: The primary area for users to input their feedback, questions, or concerns.

This template is crucial for potential bidders to provide input on the draft C3DO SAA and AFPP documents. By using this template, bidders can formally submit their questions, concerns, or suggestions, which may influence the finalization of these agreements and potentially impact future solicitations or partnership opportunities related to C3DO. It serves as a structured channel for communication and clarification before final agreements are established.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment B - NASA Public-Private Partnership Guide," serves as a guide for commercial partners interested in developing Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLDs). It outlines NASA services, capabilities, infrastructure, and expertise available across NASA Centers to facilitate collaboration.

• Introduction: NASA's broad range of infrastructure, technical capabilities, and specialized expertise available for CLD development.
• Purpose: To identify and outline NASA services that commercial partners may request to support CLD development.
• NASA Center Capabilities Overview: Details available services and designated Points of Contact (POCs) for various NASA Centers (e.g., JSC, MSFC, KSC, GRC, ARC, GSFC, JPL, LaRC, SSC, IV&V, AFRC).
• NASA Technical Data: Information on NASA's technical expertise in spacecraft design, development, and operation, including a curated technical library for knowledge transfer. This repository includes documentation and data across various spacecraft systems and operational domains.
• Commercial Partner Resource Requests: Defines the process for commercial partners to request technical support from NASA, including access to Government Furnished Services (GFS) and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).

This guide is crucial for potential bidders as it details the resources, expertise, and support mechanisms NASA offers to facilitate the development of Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations. It helps vendors understand how to collaborate with NASA, what types of support can be requested, and which NASA centers possess relevant capabilities. The document also provides key dates for the announcement, including a draft release, final planned release, and proposal due date, which are critical for planning a bid.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Draft Announcement for Partnership Proposal (AFPP) for NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Development Program (CLDP), specifically for the Commercial Destinations - Development and Demonstration Objectives (C3DO) Space Act Agreement (SAA). It is released for public review and comment, not as a solicitation requesting proposals at this time. NASA is seeking feedback on all aspects of the draft AFPP, including goals, milestones, SAA terms, proposal preparation, evaluation, legal framework, and insight approach. Feedback is also requested on the overall acquisition strategy (Phase 2 and Phase 3) and its impact on pricing and CLD investment.

Potential Participants are encouraged to identify unclear or ambiguous areas in the draft AFPP that warrant additional information or clarification.

This is not a solicitation, and no commitment is made to award a SAA. Costs incurred in preparing proposals are not reimbursable. The final AFPP will be published on www.sam.gov. Award is estimated for April 2026.

Feedback must be submitted electronically via email to JSC-C3DO-SAA@mail.nasa.gov no later than noon (Central) on September 12, 2025. Responses should reference "C3DO-Industry Day Feedback" and use the attached "C3DO draft AFPP-SAA Feedback Template," referencing applicable sections. NASA may not respond directly but will consider all feedback for potential revisions and may issue FAQs on www.sam.gov.

Not applicable as this is not a solicitation.

Additional information can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/jsc-procurement/c3do/. Key tentative dates include Industry Day on September 8, 2025, and comments due September 12, 2025. The release of the final AFPP is expected by October 3, 2025. Attachments include the draft AFPP, draft Model FSAA, draft Public Private Partnership Guide, draft NASA Utilization Services, and the feedback template.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment C - NASA Utilization Service Needs," outlines the Commercial Destinations - Development and Demonstration Objectives (C3DO) for NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program (CLDP). It details the envisioned utilization capabilities and associated quantities required by NASA, categorized into three levels based on priorities and implementation order.

• Category 1: Represents NASA's minimum needs for short-duration missions.
• Category 2: Represents NASA's increased need for short and long-duration mission capabilities.
• Category 3: Represents NASA's vision for minimum capabilities for a future Commercial Lunar Development (CLD) end-state.

The document provides a detailed table of "NASA Standard Capabilities" across these categories, including: - Reconfigurable Locker Style Payloads - Deployable Pressurized Powered Payloads - Cargo Transfer Bag Equivalent (CTBE) Stowage - Average continuous and peak power requirements - Vacuum, gaseous O2, and gaseous N2 resource access locations - Potable/Conditioned/Hot Water Access - On-Orbit Conditioned Stowage (Liters) - Specialized capabilities like Ultrasound, Centrifuges, Gloveboxes, Edge Computing, Microscopes, and various Analysis Capabilities (Molecular, Cell Culture, Materials, Polymer Synthesis). - Transportation capabilities for both "UPMASS" (delivery) and "DOWNMASS" (return/trash).

This attachment is crucial for potential bidders as it defines the specific utilization capabilities and quantities NASA requires for its CLDP. Vendors can use this information to understand the scope of services and infrastructure needed to support NASA's objectives in Low Earth Orbit and potentially for future CLD missions. It directly informs the development of proposals by outlining the technical requirements and performance expectations for commercial partners.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarifications and answers to frequently asked questions regarding NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) Directive, specifically addressing demonstration requirements, architecture, and future phases.

• Demonstration Minimums: The requirement for a minimum of four crew members for a one-month increment is a baseline for demonstrating readiness and capability, not the final end-state requirement for CLD. Flexibility is allowed in proposals regarding mission duration, but the four-crew, one-month duration is non-negotiable.
• Demonstration Purpose: The demonstration aims to reduce the gap post-ISS, provide operational capability for potential service purchases, and ensure NASA's investment in expanded capability. A full station in five years would satisfy demonstration requirements.
• Architecture & Scalability: The demonstration vehicle is intended to be the starting point for future commercial space stations, requiring affordable and scalable design approaches. Proposals can include scalable architectures with replaceable components, but maintenance costs will be assessed as part of mission services.
• Crew & Cargo: While the demonstration requires non-NASA crew, proposals can include government-provided equipment and services, including crew and cargo transportation. NASA crew may be proposed if deemed appropriate and not impacting schedule.
• Funding & Budget: The expected budget for the CLD Phase 2 SAAs is approximately $2.1 billion over five years, with $272.3 million allocated for FY26. Phase 2 awardees are not guaranteed future certification and services contracts, which will be procured via full and open competition.
• Timelines & Milestones: NASA plans to release a draft Announcement for Proposal (AFP) no earlier than September 2, 2025, with the final AFP no later than October 4, 2025. The final Certification Transition Framework is expected by December 4, 2025.

This FAQ provides crucial details that will inform proposals for the upcoming Announcement for Proposal (AFP) and subsequent phases. Bidders should note the flexibility in demonstration details (except the four-crew, one-month minimum), the emphasis on scalable architecture, and the clarification on funding and future contract structures. Key dates for draft and final AFP releases are provided.

Other / Unclassified

This document provides updates and clarifications regarding NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Destinations (CLD) Phase 2 Acquisition Strategy. It details the purpose, executive summary, and phased approach (Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3) for developing and deploying commercial space stations.

• Purpose: To clarify the Directive on Revised Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) Phase 2 Acquisition Strategy dated December 4, 2025, in response to industry questions.
• Executive Summary: Highlights the FY2026 budget request for commercial space stations and the need for a cost-effective LEO platform replacement as the International Space Station (ISS) decommissions.
• Phase 1 Summary: Outlines contracts and Space Act Agreements (SAAs) awarded for initial design and development of commercial modules and free-flying destinations.
• Revised Phase 2 Strategy: Shifts from FAR firm fixed price contracts to multiple funded Space Act Agreements (SAAs) to support industry's design and demonstration of CLDs, offering greater flexibility.
• SAA Phase 2 Features: Details requirements for SAA proposals, including minimum milestones for critical design review (CDR) readiness, in-space crewed demonstrations (minimum 1 month duration with 4 crew), cost-realism assessments, and interoperability.
• SAA Phase 2 Industry Flexibility: Indicates areas where industry has flexibility, such as utilization capabilities and demonstration objectives, with notes that previously defined strategies may not be binding.
• Phase 3 Summary: Describes the planned follow-on Certification and Services phase, which will be a separate, full, and open competition.
• Additional Information: Mentions the development of a CLD Performance Metrics Plan and a Public-Private Support Guide to assist SAA partners.