Communications Services Project (CSP)   2

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) intends to release an announcement for proposals (AFP) to seek an industry/NASA partnership for the commercial capability development and demonstration phase of the Communications Services Project (CSP). NASA intends to use the other transactions authority provided within the National Aeronautics and Space Act (Space Act), 51 U.S.C. 20101-20164 to award Funded Space Act Agreement(s) (FSAAs), through which appropriated funds are transferred to a partner to accomplish activities which advance the Agency's authorized statutory objectives.

NASA intends to establish one or more partnerships between NASA and commercial satellite communications (SATCOM) companies to develop and demonstrate end-to-end operational capabilities that may potentially meet NASA's future needs along with other customer needs in the overall market. These partnerships are intended to catalyze the development of commercial space communications systems through adaption of existing technology, spur growth of a U.S. commercial SATCOM market, and maximize interoperability between Government and commercial service providers while promoting a diverse commercial market.

Through this announcement, NASA will seek proposals for U.S. industry to establish capabilities and services that can open new space markets and support the satellite communication needs of spacecraft in diverse orbital regimes. NASA will seek the demonstration of non-government commercial capabilities that can provide robust, reliable, and cost-effective communication services for space-based users in near-Earth Orbit that are spectrum and data path agnostic.

NASA does not have a preferred solution. Objectives will be conveyed to the maximum extent possible, in terms of performance goals, not processes. Any mandated processes will reflect matters of fundamental safety and mission assurance or other basic operational matters.

The targeted release of the draft announcement will be in the late March / early April 2021 timeframe with final proposals anticipated to be due in the June 2021 timeframe. A virtual Industry Day is planned to be held following the release of the draft announcement.

The announcement, instructions regarding Industry Day, and any documents related to this opportunity will be available over the Internet at www.beta.sam.gov.

It is the Participant's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the announcement and amendments (if any). Potential Participants will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the announcement and amendments (if any).

All questions must be submitted in writing via email. Telephone questions will not be accepted. Any questions on this synopsis should be submitted to the Agreements Officer at NASA Glenn Research Center, Eric Hartman, at eric.t.hartman@nasa.gov.

Submission information, participant eligibility, additional topic information and specific evaluation criteria for the announcement will be identified when it is released.