Partnering with NASA

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions
About NASA Partnerships

1. What does NASA mean by a “partnership”?
   
   The word “partnership” is used broadly to describe many types of collaboration with outside organizations, including commercial industry, academia, nonprofits, foreign entities, as well as Federal, state, and local governments.
   
   However, for the purpose of NASA partnerships, we refer specifically to a non‑procurement business relationship, that is an agreement other than a contract, cooperative agreement, or grant. These partnership agreements rely on NASA’s “Other Transactions Authority (OTA)” under the National Aeronautics and Space Act (51 U.S.C. § 20113(e)), which allows the Agency to enter into flexible agreements outside traditional procurement regulations. NASA also uses other non‑procurement authorities, such as those supporting Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
   
   In this narrower sense, a NASA partnership agreement enables NASA and an external organization to work together toward shared objectives or allows a partner to use NASA’s unique facilities, capabilities, or expertise in support of activities that align with NASA’s mission.
   
   
2. What is a Space Act Agreement (SAA)?
   
   Space Act Agreements (SAAs) are NASA’s primary partnership instrument, authorized by Congress per NASA’s “Other Transactions Authority (OTA)” under the National Aeronautics and Space Act (51 U.S.C. § 20113(e)). This authority allows NASA to enter into flexible, mission‑supporting agreements outside traditional procurement rules. SAAs enable NASA to work with private and commercial industry, universities and other academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and international entities. SAAs may be nonreimbursable, reimbursable, funded, or unfunded depending on the activity and who benefits.
   • 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.
     
     
3. Why does NASA engage in partnerships?
   
   Partnerships help NASA accomplish its mission objectives by:
   • Collaborating domestically and internationally with industry, academia, nonprofits, and government organizations.
   • Supporting U.S. innovation and strengthen the commercial space sector.
   • Expanding the use of NASA’s unique facilities and technical capabilities.
   • Accelerating research, technology development, and exploration.
   • Inspiring students and support STEM education and public engagement.
     
     
4. How are partnership agreements different from procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements?
   
   Partnership agreements are not governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or by the federal statutes that apply to grants and cooperative agreements. These tools allow NASA to collaborate with outside organizations or enable partners to access NASA resources in ways that provide mutual value. Examples include: Space Act Agreements (authorized under NASA’s Other Transactions Authority), and other non‑procurement mechanisms such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
   
   By contrast, Procurement contracts are FAR‑governed and used when NASA is acquiring goods or services for the direct benefit or use by the Federal Government, while Grants or cooperative agreements follow federal assistance laws and are used when NASA provides financial assistance. You can learn more about these types of activities through the NASA Office of Procurement at: https://www.nasa.gov/procurement/.
   
   
5. Who can partner with NASA?
   
   NASA partners with a wide variety of entities, including:
   • U.S. companies of all sizes, including startups.
   • Universities, research institutions, and other academic institutions.
   • Nonprofit organizations.
   • State, local, and Federal agencies.
   • Foreign entities, subject to U.S. law and NASA policy.
     
     
6. What types of activities can NASA partnerships support?
   
   NASA focuses on mutual collaborations when supporting various activities through partnerships. NASA can support activities in the following areas and more! Recent examples of NASA partnerships are highlighted here: https://www.nasa.gov/partnerships/nasa-partnership-examples/.
   • Use of NASA facilities for testing, research, or technology demonstrations.
   • Collaborative research and technology development.
   • STEM education and outreach activities.
   • Access to NASA expertise, capabilities, or specialized test environments.
   • Pilot projects, demonstrations, and exploratory studies.
     
     
7. Does NASA provide funding through partnership agreements?
   
   NASA’s funded Space Act Agreements are the mechanism through which NASA may transfer funds to a domestic partner. These agreements are typically announced through public solicitations and awarded after full and open competition. Opportunities such as these include:
   • Space Technology Mission Directorate’s (STMD) “Tipping Point” selections: https://www.nasa.gov/space-tech-industry-partnerships/
   • Space Operations Mission Directorate’s (SOMD) Communications Services Project: https://www.nasa.gov/communicating-with-missions/communications-services-project/
     
     
8. What does it cost to partner with NASA?
   
   The appropriate type of agreement depends on the nature of the work and who benefits.
   • For reimbursable Space Act Agreements, partners pay the full cost of the NASA support they use: including personnel time, facility use, equipment, and other direct and indirect costs. Reimbursable agreements are appropriate when the activity primarily benefits the partner and when NASA is not competing with the private sector, meaning the needed capability is not reasonably available commercially.
   • For nonreimbursable agreements, each party funds its own participation, and the activity must provide mutual benefit as well as clearly support NASA’s mission objectives.
     
     
9. How can I explore whether a partnership with NASA might be appropriate?
   
   NASA has Partnership Office teams at every NASA Center who can help you explore whether a partnership agreement might make sense, depending on your goals and NASA’s capabilities. Not every inquiry will result in a partnership, but staff can guide you to the appropriate next steps. NASA’s capabilities and partnership contacts can be found on page: https://www.nasa.gov/partnerships/nasa-locations-capabilities-and-points-of-contact/.
   
   
10. How can I find opportunities or learn more?
    
    Opportunities to enter into a partnership agreement with NASA are communicated through public announcements or originated through connections made at public events and directly with NASA Centers. Explore open opportunities, upcoming events and conferences, or make direct connections through the following sites:
    • System for Award Management – https://SAM.gov
    • NASA Partnerships Engagement Opportunities – https://www.nasa.gov/partnerships/
    • NASA Headquarters and Center Partnership Offices – https://www.nasa.gov/partnerships/nasa-locations-capabilities-and-points-of-contact/
    • Other opportunities to engage with NASA beyond partnership agreements include:
      • NASA Merchandise and Media
      • NASA Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing
      • NASA Research Opportunities
      • NASA Real Estate Usage
      • NASA SBIR/STTR Program
      • NASA STEM Engagement
      • NASA Technology Transfer Program
      • NASA Unsolicited Proposals
      • NASA Office of International and Interagency Relations (Headquarters)
      • NASA Office of Procurement (Headquarters)
      • NASA Office of Small Business Programs (Headquarters)

• Contacts and Capabilities
• Events and Opportunities

Contacts and Capabilities

NASA Locations, Capabilities, and Points of Contact

NASA Partnerships are found in every state and many other countries. NASA centers and facilities offer 60 years of experience in advanced engineering cutting-edge research and technology development, as well as unique assets such as land, facilities, and laboratories for use by commercial industries, academic institutions, U.S. Government agencies, and international entities.

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