Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships -3 (NextSTEP-3) Omnibus

Background
NASA's strategic objectives include stimulating the growth of human spaceflight commercial activities while leveraging those same commercial capabilities to deliver mission capabilities.

The Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 (NextSTEP-3) Omnibus is a mechanism to support future NASA Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) for contracting with industry to develop deep space exploration capabilities. This effort follows the NextSTEP-2 Omnibus released in 2016, which supported NASA’s issuance of 17 solicitations from 2016 through 2024.

The NextSTEP-3 Omnibus is effective for five years, through September 26, 2029, and aims to enable long-term human presence and exploration throughout the solar system in alignment with NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration strategy.

Work Details
The NextSTEP-3 Omnibus will solicit proposals focused on various research areas related to deep space exploration technologies and capabilities. Specific tasks may include:
- Lunar/Planetary Science: Addressing high-priority planetary science questions through human exploration on and around the Moon and Mars.
- Heliophysics Science: Investigating heliophysics science and space weather questions using both human explorers and robotic systems.
- Human and Biological Science: Advancing understanding of biological responses to lunar, Martian, and deep space environments.
- Physics and Physical Science: Exploring physics questions unique to the lunar environment.
- Science-Enabling: Developing integrated methods that facilitate scientific inquiries on the Moon and Mars.
- Applied Science: Conducting scientific research using integrated human and robotic methods.
- Lunar Infrastructure: Creating a global lunar utilization infrastructure for continuous robotic and human presence.
- Mars Infrastructure: Establishing essential infrastructure for initial human Mars exploration campaigns.
- Transportation and Habitation: Demonstrating systems for conducting human missions on the lunar surface and Mars.
- Operations: Conducting missions that demonstrate technologies for living on planetary surfaces beyond Earth.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed over a period of five years, effective until September 26, 2029, with potential extensions for contracts awarded under individual BAA Appendices.

Place of Performance
The work will be performed at various NASA centers such as Marshall Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center, etc.