This is a summary notice for a Request for Information (RFI) only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will take action in this matter. This notice is not a complete or verbatim summary of the Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD) RFI entitled: “Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM)”; therefore, it is necessary to visit the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?solId={8A4B5803-AF22-1C12-B9B1-1A0DEB015EE8}&path=&method=init and download the full version of the RFI solicitation number NNH20ZDA007L. On or after the date of this betaSAM notice, NSPIRES will publish the RFI in full. NASA is seeking information under this RFI to assess availability of potential lunar investigations for NASA's Commercial Lunar Investigation Services (CLPS) effort. Summary The NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program provides end-to-end services for investigations to the lunar surface. This RFI is seeking information about potential scientific, exploration, and technology demonstration investigations for these landers. This is a joint effort among the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD), and the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD); and investigation concepts related to science, exploration, or technology demonstration are requested. Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) are sought broadly from only U.S. entities including industry, universities, non-profit organizations, NASA Centers, and other U.S. Government agencies, and will be used by NASA to further inform planning and acquisition strategy development. Context/Background CLPS will deliver investigations and technology demonstrations to meet science, exploration, and technology development needs. To enable planning of how to best utilize upcoming CLPS opportunities, NASA is seeking information from U.S. entities on potential investigation components (basic or applied science instruments or technology demonstrations) for CLPS launches beginning in the August 2023 timeframe. This information will be used to help formulate a strategy for prioritizing investigations for multiple future CLPS delivery opportunities. The data gathered by this RFI will be used to make decisions on near-term lunar opportunities and landing locations. NASA is interested in investigation component suites that maximize the basic and applied science and technology demonstrations that can be accomplished at a particular lunar location, as well as individual investigation components (both science investigations and technology demonstration opportunities) that do not require a specific location and/or would be valuable at multiple locations. In this RFI, a “suite” is defined to mean two or more investigations that work together to achieve applied and/or basic research objectives. Although it is expected that the capabilities of the companies’ landers under the CLPS contract will evolve with time, early missions will be stationary landers that are not expected to last beyond a single lunar day. In addition, this RFI is requesting investigations that would require enhanced capabilities from the landers that can be communicated to the CLPS providers so that future delivery opportunities may include the necessary capabilities for enhanced science investigations. Although mobility, articulation, and/or surviving the lunar night options may ultimately be provided by the CLPS provider, small rovers or other innovative solutions are acceptable as part of a suite, if necessary, to accomplish your research goals. Request for Information It is anticipated that CLPS will be providing a minimum of two delivery opportunities to the lunar surface per year starting in 2021. While investigations for the first four deliveries for 2021 and 2022 have been determined, there exists a continuing need and opportunity to provide lunar surface investigations for 2023 and beyond. The Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) effort is the primary process by which investigations will be selected for future CLPS deliveries. This RFI requests information on all investigation components and suites of investigation components that are available within the broad community, including those that can be ready quickly in order to meet the immediate need for investigations for CLPS flights as early as 2023. These short RFI responses will allow NASA to generate an internal database of investigations that can inform the CLPS office about desired landing sites and identify new lander capabilities that need to be developed in order to accommodate the broad range of potential investigations. In order to inform the planning of the first PRISM Stage-2 solicitation, May 11, 2020, is the due date for responses to the initial PRISM Stage-1 RFI. This RFI seeks investigations that address the science goals of any of the four SMD divisions (Planetary, Earth Science, Heliophysics, Astrophysics) as well as Strategic Knowledge Gaps of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD), program goals of the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications (SLPSRA) Division of HEOMD, and any technology demonstration goals of the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) that advance capabilities for science, exploration, or commercial development of the Moon. NASA will accept multiple responses from the same entity. For example, if you submit an RFI response for a suite, you may also submit separate RFI responses for any/each of the components. A suite may have individual leads for each component, but a single principal investigator (PI) and their associated institution must be the primary point of contact. Given the scope and the technical goals of CLPS deliveries, NASA is using a much more risk tolerant approach to flight hardware development and integration than is normally adopted by other segments of NASA’s planetary exploration program ( e.g., Discovery, New Frontiers), and is willing to accept a risk posture similar to Class D developed under NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 7120.8A. For the full detailed text of this NPR, please visit https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPR&c=7120&s=8A . Offerors are requested to provide information for that class of investigations and to briefly describe the risks associated with delivering and integrating this hardware. The initial PRISM RFI is soliciting only investigations that operate on the lunar surface. It is expected that a revised or a future RFI will request potential investigations for orbiters and other research platforms. NASA recognizes and supports the benefits of having diverse and inclusive scientific, engineering, and technology communities and fully expects that such values will be reflected in the composition of all proposal teams as well as peer review panels (science, engineering, and technology), science definition teams, and mission and investigation teams. The initial RFI will be in the form of a PDF Notice of Intent (NOI). RFI respondents must be registered with NSPIRES. See registration instructions at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select “Getting an account”), and submit the PDF via NSPIRES. Neither institution registration nor an institution affiliation is required to respond to this RFI. RFI submissions are due no later than May 11, 2020. It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and information purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Points of Contact Address any comments or questions to: Brad Bailey (SMD) Program Scientist, Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office Kevin Sato (HEOMD/SLPSRA) Program Scientist (acting), SLPSRAD Jay Falker (STMD) Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Integration E-mail all questions or comments to:
[email protected] , (subject line to read "PRISM RFI"). Responses to questions concerning this Request for Information will be posted on NSPIRES in a Question and Answer (Q&A) document.