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NextSTEP N: Sustainable Human Landing System Studies and Risk Reduction

April 28, 2021 – Request for Information (RFI) Issued (Notice ID 21-27-PS50) | Announcement
May 3, 2021 – Virtual Industry Forum
June 9, 2021 – Synopsis Issued
July 1, 2021 – Solicitation Released | Announcement
July 16, 2021 Industry Q&A Log posted
July 20, 2021 BAA Amendment 1 (minor updates and clarifications) 
July 22, 2021BAA Amendment 2 (minor updates and clarifications)
July 27, 2021 – Industry Q&A Log posted
Sept. 14, 2021 – Selections: Press release | Source Selection Statement

astronaut stepping from capsule on moon
Artist concept of Artemis astronaut stepping onto the Moon.
NASA

Sept. 14, 2021 – NASA announced the selection of five U.S. companies to mature sustainable human landing system concepts, conduct risk-reduction activities, and provide feedback on NASA’s requirements to cultivate industry capabilities for enabling a steady pace of crewed trips to the lunar surface under the agency’s Artemis return to the Moon. 

July 1, 2021 – NASA released a solicitation seeking new commercial-led work to mature human landing system (HLS) designs and study risk reduction solutions. The agency will make awards for firm-fixed price, milestone-based contracts valued up to $45 million to each company selected to help NASA fine-tune its approach to establishing a regular cadence of trips to the Moon under Artemis.

Companies awarded work under this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) will help NASA polish requirements for the future Lunar Exploration Transportation Services (LETS) solicitation, which will secure routine crewed trips from Gateway in lunar orbit to the lunar surface and back. LETS will build on the risk reduction activities completed under Appendix N as well as previous public-private HLS work.

Virtual Industry Forum – July 7, 2021:

NASA hosted a virtual informational briefing to industry on July 7, 2021 at 1 p.m. EDT. HLS Program Manager Lisa Watson-Morgan provided high level acquisition strategy information and insight enabling early engagement with U.S. industry on sustaining requirements development and risk reduction activities.

Industry forum briefing: 

Sustainable HLS Industry Forum Briefing July 2021.pdf

 Industry participants who provided contact information: 

Sustainable HLS Industry Forum Industry Participants July 2021.pdf

Virtual Industry Forum – May 3, 2021:

NASA hosted a virtual informational briefing to industry on May 3, 2021. NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Advanced Exploration Systems Mark Kirasich and HLS Program Manager Lisa Watson-Morgan provided high level acquisition strategy information and insight to potential acquisition activities enabling early engagement with U.S. industry on sustaining requirements development and risk reduction activities.

Industry forum briefing:

Sustainable HLS Industry Forum Briefing May 2021

Q&A log: 

Sustainable HLS Industry Forum QandA May 2021

Industry participants who provided contact information: 

Sustainable HLS Industry Forum Industry Participants May 2021

April 28, 2021 – NASA issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking industry feedback in advance of the development of NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) Lunar Exploration Transportation Services (LETS) acquisition, which will establish a routine cadence of human transportation services to and from the Moon. NASA is seeking input on how to enable U.S. industry readiness for this endeavor. 

Prior to the LETS solicitation, NASA plans to issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), as NextSTEP-2 Appendix N, to fund sustainable human lander studies and risk reduction efforts beginning in 2021. Open to all U.S. industry for competition, this BAA will offer partner engagement opportunities distinct from and in addition to Appendix H HLS Option A to support early sustainable lander requirements development and concept risk reduction testing.

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