NextSTEP-3 Appendix B: Moon Base Demonstrations

<p>UPDATE: July 16, 2026</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>In December 2025, a national space policy was signed into place that emphasized America&#39;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.&nbsp; NASA&rsquo;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.</p>

<p>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.&nbsp; 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&#39;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.</p>

<p>This BAA uses a dual-path call structure: Directed-Topic Calls and Open-Topic Calls.&nbsp; 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.</p>

<p>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).</p>

<p>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.</p>

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<p>The final solicitation for&nbsp;<strong>Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 (NextSTEP-3), Appendix B, Moon to Mars Architectural Studies</strong>, issued under solicitation number&nbsp;<strong>80MSFC26R0003</strong>, 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.</p>

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Point of Contact

• Brad Vest — Bradley.D.Vest@nasa.gov
• Appendix B Email — hq-nextstep3appb@mail.nasa.gov

View on SAM.gov

https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/4c48e9f1405941bf96f73c65afe03779/view