Draft RFP - Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has released a Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) for the Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) acquisition. This DRFP seeks feedback on plans to establish a robust Mars relay network supporting future exploration, including human missions, through 2035. The contract will be a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) with an IDIQ component. Comments on the updated DRFP documents are encouraged by April 13, 2026. The final RFP is anticipated around May 1, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
The MTN project aims to enhance the existing Mars Relay Network and develop a new architecture for comprehensive Mars telecommunications and navigation services. This three-phase effort covers design, development, integration, testing, delivery, launch operations support, and operational commissioning. Key objectives include providing communication, data exchange, positioning/navigation services, and supporting autonomous operations and extended mission durations. Hardware delivery is required by December 31, 2028, with full operational readiness at Mars by the end of 2030.
Contract Details & Timeline
- Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) with an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) component for Time and Materials (T&M) Task Orders for Special Studies. Includes Schedule and Performance Incentives.
- Mandate: Public Law (PL) 119-21.
- Phases: Development through implementation, launch and post-launch check-out, and transit to Mars through relay commissioning.
- Core Requirement: MTN delivery by December 31, 2028.
- Mission Operations: Five years of optional mission operations, with full operational readiness at Mars by end of 2030.
- Anticipated Final RFP Release: On or about May 1, 2026.
- Anticipated Final Proposal Due: Approximately 30 calendar days after Final RFP release.
Eligibility & Set-Aside
This is an Unrestricted / Full and Open Competition. The procurement is specifically for a U.S. commercial provider. Offerors are encouraged to submit nonbinding information demonstrating statutory eligibility with The Working Families Tax Cut (WFTC) Act (51 U.S.C § 20306), including proof of US commercial provider status, NASA funding in FY2024/2025 for Mars Sample Return commercial design studies, and a proposed independently launched Mars telecom orbiter for Mars Sample Return.
Key Requirements & Deliverables
Offerors must develop and propose a Contract Performance Work Statement (PWS) based on the provided Draft PWS, detailing approaches for:
- Project Management, Systems Engineering, Safety & Mission Assurance.
- Payloads, Spacecraft, Mission Operations, Launch Vehicle Services, Ground Systems.
- Systems Integration & Testing, including use of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) like the Electra UHF Transceiver.
- Compliance with IT policies, Section 508, AI disclosure, and cybersecurity standards (Commercial Architecture Security Questionnaire - CASQ).
- Detailed pricing using Exhibits 2-9, including milestone payment schedules for CLINs 0001, 0003, 0004-0008, and the newly added CLIN 0009 for NASA Selected Science Payload integration.
- Mission trajectory data (Exhibit 12).
- Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Avoidance Plan.
- Past performance information (Exhibit 11).
Evaluation Factors
Technical Proposal and Past Performance are significantly more important than Price. Technical Proposal is more important than Past Performance as an individual factor, and Price is less important than Past Performance. The Government values above-threshold performance.
Important Dates & Actions
- Comments on updated DRFP documents: Due by April 13, 2026, 6:00 PM ET.
- Industry Day: Held on April 9, 2026, at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.
- Contact: Alisha Mercadante (alisha.m.mercadante@nasa.gov), Carlos McKenzie (Carlos.R.Mckenzie@nasa.gov), and Antwan Reid (Antwan.G.Reid@nasa.gov).