Request for Information (RFI) Advancement of “Science as a Service” for NASA and Commercial Partners

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is issuing a Sources‑Sought RFI to gather commercial input on technologies and mission concepts that can advance Virtual Testbed (VTA) Earth‑science, space‑weather, and astrophysics objectives while creating viable market opportunities. Respondents are asked to identify sensors, components, subsystems, or data‑processing innovations needed for business cases over the next three to five years, specifying target performance thresholds, validation metrics, and gaps in the current supply chain (e.g., calibration standards, thermal‑vacuum compatibility, radiation‑hard parts, on‑board processing). The agency seeks guidance on how VTA, the Space Weather Program, and the Astrophysics Division can mitigate development risk through environmental testing, hosted on‑orbit validation, reference datasets, and other risk‑reduction activities. The RFI also requests recommendations for commercialization pathways, including preferred flight platforms (rideshare, hosted payloads, small‑sat buses, ISS or commercial stations), standardized payload interfaces, pre‑negotiated rideshare/hosting options, shared test facilities, and ground‑segment/data‑service support (cloud pipelines, APIs, metadata standards). Participants should outline potential roles (provider, host, analytics partner), revenue models, policy or regulatory enablers for public‑private partnerships, and considerations for productization, supply‑chain quality, data‑rights licensing, and long‑term lifecycle support. Responses—limited to non‑proprietary, non‑CUI information—must be submitted as a PDF attachment via NSPIRES by 11:59 p.m. ET on 23 April 2026, with required contact and demographic data.

Notice ID

091243d4b4e442a5ac049c5872ea4607

Solicitation Number

NNH26ZDA006L

NAICS Code

N/A

Classification Code

N/A