Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies

The purpose of today's update is to provide the list of attendees and PowerPoint Presentation from the NextSTEP-3: Moon to Mars Architectural Studies Industry Day Hybrid Industry Day held on January 22, 2026. The recording can be found at the following: nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/app-b-industry-day-20260122-final.mp4

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THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

This notice is issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/George C. Marshall Space Center (MSFC) to post a draft solicitation to notify interested parties that the Government anticipates release of the final solicitation #80MSFC26R0003 on or about January 30, 2026, with the anticipated due date for proposals on or about February 20, 2026.  This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility, as well as promote competition.

This proposed solicitation, NextSTEP-3 Appendix B: Moon to Mars Architectural Studies, seeks partner participation on a recurring basis, targeting several calls per year for proposal submissions focused on topics addressing infrastructure, transportation, habitation, mission concept of operations, and Lunar and Mars mission science capabilities identified in the latest revision of the Architecture Definition Document. NASA intends to establish a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC), where only MATOC holders will be eligible to compete for the directed-topic calls. MATOC awards will be Firm-Fixed Price Task Orders with performance-based milestone payments. This establishes a flexible acquisition strategy that accommodates directed-topic calls, issued using the competitive task order process. Directed-topic calls will identify specific areas of Government interest. Along with directed-topic calls this solicitation establishes open-topic opportunities which are meant to capture innovative solutions from the broader industrial base and may result in an individual, standalone Firm-Fixed Price contract to any qualified organization, regardless of MATOC membership status. All awards, whether MATOC, task orders, or stand-alone fixed-price contracts, will be subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS).

Interested parties are invited to comment on all aspects of the draft solicitation. The cognizant contracting office responsible for this procurement is Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Interested parties are requested to review the DRFP and submit written comments and questions via email to the Contracting Officer, Maranda McCord, at HQ-NEXTSTEP3APPB@mail.nasa.gov no later than 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on January 27, 2026. When responding reference 80MSFC26R0003 in the subject line.

A hybrid industry day briefing is planned for Thursday, January 22, 2026. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor this website for the release of the final solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments, (if any).

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AMENDMENT- January 12, 2026 (Changes in bold and underlined)

NASA plans to host an Appendix B Industry Day to provide potential Offerors with additional context and information. This HYBRID event will take place on Thursday, January 22, 2026, beginning at 1400 hours Eastern Time, with in-person attendance at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Information for the MATOC strategy, as well as the first two directed-topic calls, will be discussed as part of the Industry Day. Organizations are identified by unique CAGE codes. Interested parties must register for this event in advance by sending the following details to HQ-NEXTSTEP3APPB@mail.nasa.gov: 
•    Two points of contact by name and role in the organization  
•    Corporate email addresses where NASA can send the meeting invitation and link
•    Send details for two back-up personnel including their email address and role in the organization 

Please indicate your preference for virtual or in-person attendance during registration. All attendee registrations must be received no later than 1700 hours Eastern Time on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Subsequent industry forums may be scheduled in conjunction with future study calls. All email subject lines should contain the Notice ID and Company Name.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) intends to release a solicitation under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 (NextSTEP-3) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to seek industry-led architecture concept development, concept refinement studies, and risk-reduction activities that address Moon to Mars architecture gaps.

NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture defines the capabilities needed for long-term, human-led scientific discovery in deep space (https://www.nasa.gov/moontomarsarchitecture/). NASA’s architecture approach distills agency-developed objectives into capabilities and elements that support exploration and science goals. Success requires an architectural approach incorporating innovation, collaboration, and sustainable multi-decadal partnerships.  NASA continuously evolves that blueprint for crewed exploration, setting humanity on a path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond by collaborating with experts across industry, academia, and the international community. 

This proposed solicitation, NextSTEP-3 Appendix B: Moon to Mars Architectural Studies, seeks partner participation on a recurring basis under a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC), where only MATOC holders will be eligible to compete for the directed-topic calls. MATOC awards will be Firm-Fixed Price Task Orders with performance-based milestone payments. This solicitation establishes a flexible acquisition strategy that accommodates both directed-topic calls, issued using the competitive task order process, and open-topic calls for topics not addressed as part of directed-topic calls. Several calls per year for proposal submissions focused on topics addressing infrastructure, transportation, habitation, mission concept of operations, and Lunar and Mars mission science capabilities identified in the latest revision of the Architecture Definition Document (https://www.nasa.gov/moontomarsarchitecture-architecturedefinitiondocuments/). Directed-topic calls will identify specific areas of Government interest. Open-topic calls will invite offeror-inspired innovative commercial concepts.  Open-topic calls are meant to capture innovative solutions from the broader industrial base and may result in an individual, standalone Firm-Fixed Price contract to any qualified organization, regardless of MATOC membership status. All awards, whether MATOC, task orders, or fixed-price contracts, will be subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS).

The first Appendix B directed-topic study calls are anticipated to focus on concepts for both lunar and future Mars missions. NASA intends to issue a directed-topic call for research into an integrated surface power infrastructure (or power grid), which is evolvable from early lunar missions to more capable sustained missions. This call will seek advantageous power infrastructure approaches and/or individual system concepts to generate, store, condition, transmit, and distribute power between lunar surface elements. This call excludes proposals seeking to address the Fission Surface Power System Announcement for Partnership Proposal (https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/e33becf3872a473dbeea39d446baf397/view). The call may include all technology solutions including alternate fission, solar hybrid, or other power grid approaches and evolution strategies. 

Concurrently, NASA also intends to issue a directed-topic call for Mars Crew Transportation seeking concept development, trade studies, and identification of risk reduction activities for integrated human exploration architecture focus areas including in-space transportation, Mars surface access, and Mars ascent options for crew and cargo.

This Appendix B solicitation is planned for release January 30, 2026, and will be open to U.S. institutions (companies, universities, nonprofit organizations) only. NASA civil servants, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) employees, national laboratories, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) shall not propose as a Prime Contractor on any effort associated with this announcement but may participate as a team member. Any award would follow BAA procedures outlined in FAR 35.102 (previously FAR 35.016). Offerors are encouraged to monitor the NextSTEP-3 website and sam.gov for announcement of new calls and areas of interest. Any award would be subject to successful negotiation and availability of funds. NASA reserves the right to select for award one, all, some, or none of the proposals in response to this solicitation. The detailed call requirements and additional information on the selection process will be contained in the Appendix B solicitation.  

NASA plans to host an Appendix B Industry Day to provide potential Offerors with additional context and information. This engagement will be held virtually on Thursday, January 22, 2026, beginning at 1400 hours Eastern Time. Information for the MATOC strategy, as well as the first two directed-topic calls, will be discussed as part of the Industry Day. Organizations are identified by unique CAGE codes. Interested parties must register for this event in advance by sending the following details to HQ-NEXTSTEP3APPB@mail.nasa.gov: 
•    Two points of contact by name and role in the organization  
•    Corporate email addresses where NASA can send the meeting invitation and link
•    Send details for two back-up personnel including their email address and role in the organization 

All virtual attendee registrations must be received no later than 1700 hours Eastern Time on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Subsequent industry forums may be scheduled in conjunction with future study calls. All email subject lines should contain the Notice ID and Company Name.