This notice is issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) to solicit responses from interested parties to gain industry feedback for a potential future opportunity. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to provide feedback and promote competition.
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
On September 9th and 10th 2025, The Fission Surface Power (FSP) System effort held an industry day and one-on-one industry meetings to provide an opportunity for the government team to hear directly from industry on all aspects of the draft Announcement for Partnership Proposals (AFPP) and to provide the government team an opportunity to further explain the objectives and provide additional context on the AFPP. Feedback from industry has been immensely helpful in finalizing the AFPP and NASA is investigating options to incorporate industry comments in the final solicitation.
Two themes were repeated in multiple forms:
- The cost of launch and lander services is likely to be substantial. A significant cost share between NASA and participants for those services will be difficult, if not impossible, to justify the business case for cost share investment.
- A consistent, reliable power supply will be required to effectively stimulate the demand needed for a sustainable lunar economy.
GROUND RULES/ASSUMPTIONS
The objective of the FSP System effort is to energize the space industrial base to support a future lunar economy through the deployment of advanced fission power technology to the surface of the moon. Responses to this RFI may be used to inform a potential future opportunity for the deployment of lunar surface fission power capabilities. Respondents may choose to answer any or all questions and may add additional content to questions as they see necessary.
QUESTIONS FOR INDUSTRY
Respondents are requested to provide the following information to assist in NASA's preparation of a potential future opportunity.
- Based on industry feedback on the risk of cost sharing launch and landing services, NASA is considering providing the launch and landing services through the Human Landing System (HLS) Program as a NASA Responsibility in the FSP Effort FSAA.
- Will removing the financial burden of acquiring launch and landing services be beneficial to your business case?
- Are there specific risks or requirements from providing HLS services that would be detrimental to your technical approach or business case?
- Based on industry feedback regarding the developing commercial market, NASA is considering adding additional milestones for operational evaluation and service life verification following successful deployment of the FSP System on the lunar surface. These milestones would serve to demonstrate the technology and monitor the health of the FSP System to build confidence in system capabilities for potential industry customers.
- Would adding these milestones help to instill awareness of and confidence in FSP System capabilities for potential industry customers anticipated to be developing lunar assets?
- If so, how long of a period of operational evaluation and service life verification following successful deployment would be helpful?
- If not, what other post deployment activities would help to stimulate the lunar economy?
RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS
Respondents may not submit confidential, proprietary, or export-controlled information, including International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) restricted information, in responses to this RFI.
This RFI is not a Request for Proposals, nor is it an Invitation to Bid. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. The Government may use the information to finalize a potential future opportunity as necessary.
All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Matthew Evans and Linda Nabors, matthew.t.evans@nasa.gov and linda.m.nabors@nasa.gov and no later than 5:00PM EDT September 24, 2025. All responses should be limited to two (2) pages. When responding reference Fission Surface Power System in any response.
If an announcement is released, then it, and any additional documents, will be available on www.sam.gov. It is the proposers’ responsibility to monitor this website for the release of the announcement and amendments (if any). Potential proposers will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the announcement and amendments, if any.
Additionally, please visit www.nasa.gov/glenn/fsps for additional information and links to all communication regarding the Fission Surface Power System.
