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NextSTEP H: Human Landing System

Illustration of SpaceX Starship human lander design that will carry NASA astronauts to the Moon's surface during the first Artemis crewed lunar landing.
Illustration of SpaceX Starship human lander design that will carry NASA astronauts to the Moon’s surface during the first Artemis crewed lunar landing.
SpaceX

Solicitation Number: NNH19ZCQ001K_APPENDIX-H-HLS

Apr. 8, 2019First synopsis Issued   
April 26, 2019 Updated synopsis Issued  
July 19, 2019Draft BAA issued | Announcement
July 23, 2019 – Virtual Industry Forum (summary below)
Aug. 30, 2019Second Draft BAA Issued
Sept. 3, 2019 – Second Virtual Industry Forum (summary below)
Sept. 30, 2019Final BAA Issued | Announcement
Oct. 2, 2019  BAA Amendment 1 (minor updates and clarifications)
Oct. 3, 2019 – Third Virtual Industry Forum (summary below)
Oct. 16, 2019BAA Amendment 2 (minor updates and clarifications) | Industry Q&A log 1 posted
Oct. 25, 2019BAA Amendment 3 (minor updates and clarifications) | Industry Q&A log 2 posted
Apr. 30, 2020 – Selections: Press Release | Feature Article | Source Selection Statement
Jan. 27, 2021 – Notice of intent to base period contractors for a no-cost extension of the base period
Apr. 16, 2021 – Option A Selection: Press Release | Source Selection Statement
Apr. 26, 2021 – Option A bid protests filed with Government Accountability Office 
Apr. 30, 2021 – Base period contract no-cost extensions implemented
Jul. 30, 2021 – Government Accountability Office Decision and Option A contract award: NASA Statement
Aug. 13, 2021 – Option A bid protest filed with Court of Federal Claims
Nov. 4, 2021 – Court of Federal Claims Decision: NASA Statement
Mar. 23, 2022 – Updated Sustaining HLS Plans: Announcement
Nov. 15, 2022 – Option B Award

November 15, 2022

NASA awarded SpaceX an Option B modification to its existing HLS Appendix H contract. Under this award, SpaceX will further develop its Starship Human Landing System to meet NASA’s sustaining lander requirements for lunar missions beyond Artemis III.

March 23, 2022

NASA announced plans to pursue additional work by SpaceX under its current HLS Appendix H contract. The aim of this new “Option B” work will be to develop and demonstrate a lunar lander that meets NASA’s sustaining requirements for missions beyond Artemis III.

November 4, 2021

NASA was notified that the U.S. Court of Federal Claims denied the Option A bid protest and upheld NASA’s selection of SpaceX to develop and demonstrate a modern human lunar lander. NASA resumed work with SpaceX under the Option A contract.

August 13, 2021

Blue Origin Federation filed a bid protest with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. NASA and SpaceX agreed to a stay of performance on the contract until as late as Nov. 8, 2021, to accommodate an accelerated litigation schedule.

July 30, 2021

NASA was notified that the U.S. Government Accountability Office denied both Option A bid protests from Blue Origin Federation and Dynetics. NASA awarded the Option A contract to SpaceX. 

April 30, 2021

NASA implemented a no-cost extension through Aug. 9, 2021 to each of the base period HLS contracts with Blue Origin Federation, Dynetics, and SpaceX. These extensions continue the contracts for administrative purposes ahead of GAO resolution of the current protests.

April 26, 2021

NASA was notified that Blue Origin Federation and Dynetics filed protests with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), challenging the Option A human landing system selection. Pursuant to the GAO protests, NASA instructed SpaceX that progress on the HLS Option A contract has been suspended until GAO resolves all outstanding litigation related to this procurement.

April 16, 2021

NASA announced that the agency selected SpaceX to continue development of the first commercial human landing system to deliver astronauts to the lunar surface under the Artemis Program. Under this award, NASA and SpaceX will complete the first crewed demonstration mission to the surface of the Moon in the 21st century.

January 27, 2021

NASA notified its HLS contractors that a no-cost extension to each of their base period contracts will be required. The current 10-month base period contracts were set to conclude Feb. 28, 2021, and the agency plans to execute contract modifications to extend that period of performance through April 30, 2021. The timing of this extension is designed to allow NASA to complete the Option A evaluation, selection and award process and to preserve the ability to seamlessly transition from the base period contracts to the Option A contracts. However, NASA may not need the full extension period to complete those activities, in which case the agency will execute Option A awards and transition to Option A performance as soon as the source selection has concluded. This extension is an administrative change and allows the three selected U.S. companies to continue HLS design and development activities as set forth in the firms’ base period contracts, awarded in May 2020.

Developing the human landing system (HLS) is a key component of successfully executing crewed demonstration missions to the lunar surface under the Artemis program. NASA is committed to establishing a sustained lunar presence, and this procurement action is consistent with the agency’s strategy to uphold that commitment. HLS awards under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2) Appendix H Broad Agency Announcement are firm-fixed price, milestone-based contracts.

Sept. 30, 2019

NASA issued a solicitation for the development and demonstration of a Human Landing System (HLS) to deliver humans to the lunar surface by 2024 and for the development and demonstration of a more sustainable HLS by 2026.

This solicitation, the second Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2) Appendix H Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), seeks proposals from industry by November 5, 2019 (was November 1, 2019), at 3 p.m. Central Time. The due date was extended in response to the large number of industry requests for NASA resources via Optional GFE/GFP Agreements (OGFPA) and Government Task Agreements (GTA).

Virtual Industry Forum Oct. 3, 2019:

NASA hosted a virtual industry forum on Oct. 3 at 12 p.m. CT to discuss the final NextSTEP H solicitation and to provide potential offerors with an opportunity ask questions about the final solicitation.  

The briefing is available here:

NextSTEP H – 3rd Virtual Industry Forum Briefing

A list of non-NASA industry forum participants is posted here to facilitate partnering among potential proposers: 

NextSTEP H – 3rd Industry Forum Participant List

Virtual Industry Forum Sept. 3, 2019

NASA hosted a virtual industry forum Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. ET, to discuss the changes reflected in Draft 2, and answer questions from industry. 

The briefing is available here:

NextSTEP H – 2nd Virtual Industry Forum Briefing

A list of non-NASA industry forum participants is posted here to facilitate partnering among potential proposers:

NextSTEP H – 2nd Virtual Industry Forum Participants

Virtual Industry ForumJuly 23, 2019

NASA hosted a virtual industry forum on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at 1 p.m. ET, to provide an overview of the NextSTEP H solicitation, timeline and goals, and to allow industry the opportunity to ask clarifying questions.

The briefing is available here: 

NextSTEP H Virtual Industry Forum Briefing

A list of non-NASA industry forum participants is posted here to facilitate partnering among potential proposers:

NextSTEP H Virtual Industry Forum Participants

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Monitor this page for additional details and updates about the BAA.

Learn more about NASA’s NextSTEP public-private partnership model that seeks to stimulate the commercial space industry and help the agency explore deep space for the benefit of all.