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NASA is seeking proposals for Project Nexus, a program to develop and demonstrate an end-to-end Ka band relay service that is backward compatible with legacy TDRSS users. This service is needed to support on-orbit missions that cannot modify flight hardware or transition to non-compatible commercial services. The acquisition will be phased, with multiple initial firm-fixed-price awards anticipated. NASA anticipates multiple initial firm fixed price awards with progressive down selections based on demonstrated performance, technical credibility, and commercial viability. NASA does not anticipate being the sole commercial customer and anticipates proposed solutions to be supported by a broader commercial business case beyond NASA. NASA seeks to accelerate maturation of commercially viable capabilities through competitive research demonstrations to support transition to future operational services, while preserving full and open competition for those services. All proposed satellite orbit solutions are acceptable notwithstanding that the proposed solutions will be expected to include all elements necessary for industry to develop, deliver and sustain the end to end relay service capability, including, but not limited to: space segment, associated launch services, as applicable, ground and network infrastructure, and service operations and maintenance. Accordingly, NASA may use, consistent with the terms and conditions of the resulting contract, knowledge gained through contract performance, including demonstration results, technical data, and operational insight, to inform future acquisition strategies for operational services. Participation in this competition does not guarantee eligibility for or award of any future procurement. NASA may also issue limited initial service contracts or pilot service awards to one or more appendix E participants to support transition and continued service demonstration phase 4 while pursuing broader competition for long term operational services phase 5. Participation in this BAA solicitation does not otherwise limit eligibility for future service acquisitions. This effort is intended to support NASA's transition to commercially provided, backward compatible Ka band relay services for a minimum 15 year service period. NAICS: Phases 4-5: **** All Other Telecommunications and/or **** Satellite Communication. BAA Synopsis: Phase 1 - 6 months: Mature proposed concepts and development plans. Multiple FFP awards are anticipated no later than September 2026. Phase 2 - 15 months: Develop capability and integrate ground and space segments. NASA anticipates option exercise for down selected contractors around February 2027. Phase 3 - 6 months: On orbit flight demonstration and end-to-end verification. NASA anticipates option exercise for down selected contractors around May 2028 to support a flight demonstration NLT June 2028 and verification through September 2028. Note: NASA anticipates acquiring operational service provider demonstration pilot contracts as a Phase 4, which is a separate commercial services acquisition under FAR Parts 12 and 15. NASA anticipates the pilot to be one year (October 2028) plus a one-year option to extend. Project Nexus BAA Acquisition Schedule: A final BAA solicitation release is tentatively planned on or around May 14, 2026. A final solicitation industry day walk through is expected to occur on or around May 13, 2026. The proposal due date will be June 5, 2026, but specific instructions will be identified in the final solicitation BAA. This draft solicitation includes Attachment B, Service Requirements Document (SRD), which contains International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) controlled technical data. Access to these materials is restricted to contractors with valid ITAR export clearance. Interested parties wanting access must send a copy of its Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) letter to ***@***. *. * prior to requesting access. NASA reserve
The draft solicitation indicates that Phase 1 is expected to have multiple firm fixed price awards no later than September 2026, Phase 2 option exercise around February 2027, and Phase 3 option exercise around May 2028 to support a flight demonstration no later than June 2028 and verification through September 2028. A separate Phase 4 pilot is anticipated to be one year (October 2028) plus a one-year option to extend. The proposal due date for the final solicitation is June 5, 2026. The bid notice states The proposal due date will be June 5, 2026, but specific instructions will be identified in the final solicitation BA.
The bid notice states NASA anticipates multiple initial firm fixed price FFP awards with progressive down selections based on demonstrated performance, technical credibility, and commercial viability.
The bid notice states This draft solicitation is for a phased competitive research and development R&D acquisition in accordance with NFS **** All proposed satellite orbit solutions are acceptable notwithstanding that the proposed solutions will be expected to include all elements necessary for industry to develop, deliver and sustain the end to end relay service capability, including, but not limited to: space segment, associated launch services, as applicable, ground and network infrastructure, and service operations and maintenance.