Solicitation, first published as presolicitation
NextSTEP-3 Appendix B: Moon Base Demonstrations
M2M-MSFC-0001
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).
Response deadline
August 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT
Closed 77 days ago. Posted October 9, 2026, first published December 15, 2025. Scheduled to archive September 23, 2029.
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Description
As published on SAM.gov.
UPDATE: October 9, 2026
Directed Call (DC) #2 Surface Mating Systems (SMS) White Paper Questions and Responses and Model Contract added to Attachments/Links. DC #2 SMS White paper submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. CT on October 16, 2026.
UPDATE: October 2, 2026
NASA is pleased to announce the release of Directed Call #2, Surface Mating Systems. The primary objective of this Directed Call is to design and develop new SMS concepts, culminating in a ground demonstration by September 30, 2027. Per Section 7 of the Directed Call, questions related to this call may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. CT on October 6, 2026. White paper submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. CT on October 16, 2026.
UPDATE: August 14, 2026
The remaining Q&As have been added under the Attachments/Links tab along with associated updates to the Solicitation and Directed-Topic Call 1. Updates in the solicitation and Directed-Topic call are in red font. White paper submission date for Directed-Topic Call 1 is August 24, 2026.
UPDATE: August 7, 2026
NASA is actively working to finalize and publish responses to all questions and comments submitted under the Appendix B solicitation and Direct-Topic Call 1. Due to the significant level of industry engagement, and to better support offerors, NASA will release these responses in batches as they are completed. The first batch of responses is now available in the Attachments section.
Additionally, NASA is extending the white paper submission deadline from August 17, 2026, to August 24, 2026, to allow offerors sufficient time to incorporate the released responses into their submissions.
UPDATE: July 16, 2026
The final solicitation for Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 (NextSTEP-3), Appendix B, Moon to Mars Architectural Studies, issued under solicitation number 80MSFC26R0003, has been reissued as Appendix B: Moon Base Demonstrations and supersedes previous solicitation instructions.
In December 2025, a national space policy was signed into place that emphasized America's leadership in space, including returning to the Moon, building a permanent base, investing in new technologies, and advancing lunar and orbital economies for future scientific missions. NASA’s Moon Base, located in the lunar South Pole region, will serve as the premier proving ground for deep space exploration, empowering scientific discovery and the development of advanced space technologies.
Based on the preceding, Appendix B will now focus on phased implementation of Moon Base. NASA seeks to bridge the gap between technology development and mission operations, targeting concepts at technology readiness level (TRL) 6 and beyond. Industry partners play a critical role in addressing architectural gaps and risk reduction buy-down that create the knowledge foundation NASA needs to make informed programmatic decisions and strengthen its ability to achieve strategic exploration goals efficiently and effectively. To that end, NASA's Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate (HSMD) is actively embracing innovative ideas from industry partners through this Appendix B: Moon Base Demonstrations under the NextSTEP-3 Omnibus Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) that calls for industry-led demonstrations and special topic activities.
This BAA uses a dual-path call structure: Directed-Topic Calls and Open-Topic Calls. NASA will periodically release specific Directed-Topic Calls to guide industry partners and promote focused innovation in support of Moon Base objectives. These Directed-Topic Calls are designed to address evolving mission needs and encourage proposals that advance technologies and capabilities critical to lunar exploration. NASA intends to also have Open-Topic Calls available at a later date to allow industry to propose concepts within the topics outlined above that are not part of any prior Directed-Topic Calls included within this announcement. Open opportunities are meant to capture innovative solutions from the broader industrial base and may result in a contract to any qualified organization. Open-Topic submissions with identical concepts as Directed-Topic Calls will not be evaluated.
This announcement will follow a 2-step process for proposal submissions. Step-1 of the process is the submission of a White Paper. In Step-2 of the process, only invited proposers will be requested to submit a full project proposal. NASA intends to award Firm-Fixed Price contracts with performance-based milestone payments. All awards will be subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS).
All questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted in writing, electronically to Brad Vest, Contracting Officer, at Bradley.D.Vest@nasa.gov no later than 5:00 p.m., Central Time (CT), July 30, 2026. Offerors are encouraged to submit questions as soon as possible for consideration. The Offeror shall courtesy copy (cc) hq-nextstep3appb@mail.nasa.gov on this communication.
________________________________________________________________________
The final solicitation for Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 (NextSTEP-3), Appendix B, Moon to Mars Architectural Studies, issued under solicitation number 80MSFC26R0003, is on hold until further notice. Offerors are responsible for monitoring this website for the reissuance of the solicitation and any subsequent amendments, if applicable.
Attachments
Files listed on SAM.gov. The ones we hold a copy of download from here; the rest open SAM's download, which needs no account.
- Attachment D-OCI Plan Submission Instructions.pdf78 KB, January 20, 2026
- Relationship to Other NextSTEP-3 Solicitations.pdf87 KB, July 16, 2026
Publications
Every notice SAM.gov issued under this solicitation number, oldest first. Each is a separate record on SAM.
December 15, 2025
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 085b9bb9badd407688f2741638aa950f
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
December 16, 2025
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 5d301fed3b28442983335c70c8b6c325
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
December 16, 2025
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice c972da7bf4c74edd8c98354574bc9340
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
January 12, 2026
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 9a403493259045e29a2b863c09a6b632
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
January 20, 2026
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 53dc10ad929a458f9ce594af0fcf4b5f
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
January 28, 2026
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice c5f2c1d0a09f451892d8a5220082bdb2
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
January 30, 2026
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 27ea299bf3dc4a7ea40f2e33d450bf07
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
January 30, 2026
Solicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due February 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 63be045d315f404686341d54f0061578
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
January 30, 2026
Solicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due February 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice d238fac49dcb4fe18f628a3bd776cd03
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
February 9, 2026
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 55385f7378e045aa917f94a9a4bc8121
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
February 9, 2026
Solicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due February 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 3a3c8f8550484b4989c8f9f27cf34c3b
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
February 9, 2026
Solicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due February 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice 7503f8e67f2040dab73fbc806d11d342
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
February 9, 2026
Solicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due February 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice b09317294e7940dbb21ffb5864f4b2bb
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
February 9, 2026
Presolicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. SAM.gov, notice e8df469126e14c6b827d0942931c93e0
9 revisions on SAM
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 28, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 20, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- January 12, 2026: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 16, 2025: publish, presolicitation
- December 15, 2025: publish, presolicitation
July 16, 2026
Solicitation
Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
Due August 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT. SAM.gov, notice 01550a780b3d4a4ea128460d484f2ec8
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
July 16, 2026
Solicitation
Due August 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT. SAM.gov, notice 4c48e9f1405941bf96f73c65afe03779
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
August 7, 2026
Solicitation
Due August 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT. SAM.gov, notice 14a8946fbfbf470f9979a709f1d73304
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
August 14, 2026
Solicitation
Due August 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT. SAM.gov, notice 86c251098a714ec6a3d0584138eb920b
9 revisions on SAM
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
October 2, 2026
Solicitation
Due August 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT. SAM.gov, notice 9ef5eb405c404c17a4aec0f4dcadfe67
10 revisions on SAM
- October 2, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
October 9, 2026
Solicitation
Due August 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT. SAM.gov, notice 65fd92eccfb14d1e971e000dfbd4b930
11 revisions on SAM
- October 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- October 2, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 14, 2026: publish, solicitation
- August 7, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- July 16, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- February 9, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
- January 30, 2026: publish, solicitation
Points of contact
- Brad VestBradley.D.Vest@nasa.gov
- Appendix B Emailhq-nextstep3appb@mail.nasa.gov