Jane Edwards
NASA is soliciting information and feedback from industry to determine whether to conduct an on-ramp process for a contract vehicle to deliver pressurized and unpressurized cargo, payloads and other supplies to Gateway, a moon-orbiting outpost that will host astronauts on lunar exploration missions.
The agency issued a request for information as it plans to enlist additional launch services providers through an on-ramp solicitation for the Gateway Logistics Services indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, which has an ordering period that will run through March 24, 2032, according to a notice published Friday.
Interested stakeholders should provide details about their cargo delivery capacity, potential innovative capabilities they can bring in the next five years to expand cargo delivery capacity and state whether they are in a position to compete for the delivery of the Gateway External Robotic System by mid-2020s.
NASA also wants to know about industry capabilities to support other deep space destinations and provide rapid response delivery service and other potential delivery services.
The agency will hold a virtual industry day on April 20 to discuss key components of the RFI and address questions from stakeholders.
Responses to the RFI are due May 31.
In March 2020, NASA awarded SpaceX a spot on the potential 15-year, $7 billion GLS IDIQ contract. The agency requested proposals for the program in August 2019.
