Frequently Asked Questions About NASA Partnerships

What is a NASA “partnership?”

NASA uses the term “partnership” to describe a wide variety of relationships with various external entities (e.g., contractors, academia, the public, other stakeholders). For the purpose of these FAQs, a “partnership” is a distinct type of non-procurement business relationship that does not involve the acquisition of goods and services for the direct benefit of the Agency.

What is the difference between Partnership Agreements and Procurement Contracts?

• Partnership agreements are generally used to: 
  • (1) support the needs of the external partner where the partner reimburses government expenses (reimbursable partnership) or 
  • (2) achieve a mutual goal when working collaboratively on a no-exchange-of-funds basis (nonreimbursable partnership).
• Procurement contracts, which are subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and procurement statutes, are required when the principal purpose of the transaction is to acquire property or services for the direct benefit or use of the Federal Government. 
• Both procurements and partnerships are important tools used by NASA in meeting its missions.

What is a Space Act Agreement (SAA)?

The most common legal instrument used to formulate partnerships at NASA is called the Space Act Agreement (SAA). NASA is authorized by Congress to enter into these kinds of agreement per its “Other Transactions Authority (OTA)” under the National Aeronautics and Space Act (51 U.S.C. § 20113(e)). These agreements are similar to Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) that some other Federal agencies use when partnering with industry. SAAs can be nonreimbursable, reimbursable, funded, or unfunded.

• Nonreimbursable agreements are agreements in which the partner and NASA are involved in a mutually beneficial activity that furthers the Agency’s objectives, wherein each party bears the cost of its participation on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. 
• Reimbursable agreements are agreements that primarily benefit the partner and NASA’s costs associated with the activity are reimbursed by the agreement partner in accordance with Agency financial policy. NASA undertakes reimbursable agreements when it has goods, services, facilities, or equipment not reasonably available from the U.S. commercial sector, that can be made available to others on a noninterference basis, consistent with the Agency’s mission objectives.
• Funded agreements are agreements in which NASA transfers appropriated funds to a domestic partner to accomplish an Agency objective where there is no direct benefit to NASA. Funded agreements may be used when the Agency cannot accomplish its objectives through the use of a procurement contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, and only after full and open competition.
• Unfunded agreements are agreements in which the Agency provides goods, services, facilities, or equipment on a no-exchange-of-funds basis to a domestic partner to accomplish an Agency objective where there is no direct benefit to NASA. NASA will enter into Unfunded agreements only after full and open competition.

With whom does NASA partner?

NASA partners with a wide variety of entities, including:

• U.S. Industry (large and small)
• Other Federal agencies
• Research institutions
• Public outreach organizations (e.g., museums)
• State and local governments
• Colleges and universities
• Foreign entities (businesses, academia, research institutions, governments)
• Professional associations and non-profits