Announcement for Proposal for land parcels at the NASA GRC Neil Armstrong Test Facility (ATF)

NASA Glenn Research Center is soliciting proposals for the lease of approximately 1,736 acres of underutilized, non-excess, and largely undeveloped land across five parcels at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, designated as the Fee Area, with two parcels located within the controlled access portion of the facility. The lease term offers a 20-year base period with two optional 10-year extensions, and proposals must demonstrate alignment with NASA’s goals of enabling the commercial use of space and adjacent markets, fostering innovation, and establishing long-term aerospace-related tenants. All proposals must include detailed site design concepts, end-to-end operational plans, and evidence that development will not interfere with ongoing NASA activities. Annual rent is determined by fair market value, with rates varying by parcel and use type—agricultural, aerospace/industrial, or data center—with an automatic 3% annual escalation and mandatory re-appraisals every 10 years for leases exceeding that duration. Proposers must be financially viable, provide a Unique Entity ID, and be registered in SAM.gov, and submissions must be in a single, editable PDF format, not exceeding 75 pages, emailed to the designated address by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on July 2, 2026. Evaluation includes pass/fail gates for completeness, relevance to NASA’s objectives, and compliance with solicitation requirements, followed by weighted assessment of fair market rent, financial capability, technical approach, and economic impact on GRC and the local region. Tenants are fully responsible for all construction, development, utilities, operations, maintenance, environmental compliance, safety protocols, and adherence to federal, state, and local codes including OSHA and NASA-STD-8719.11. Environmental liability remains with the Tenant beyond lease termination until all contamination is fully remediated, and NASA assumes no liability for lost profits or consequential damages. The Tenant must comply with all environmental and sustainability standards, secure required permits, and return the property to its original condition upon termination, while NASA retains the right to inspect and enforce compliance through entry with proper coordination. Site visits and Q&A responses are available as supplementary materials, with agricultural lease guidance also provided for interested parties.