Economic Research for Space Development

1.0 SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Emerging Space Office (ESO) invites eligible U.S. organizations to submit proposals for economic research on the emerging space ecosystem. 1.1 Important Dates NRA Release Date: May 30, 2014 Questions Due to Contracting Officer: June 11, 2014 Notice of Intent Due: June 18, 2014 Proposals Due: July 16, 2014 Anticipated Awards Issued: September 30, 2014 1.2 Inquiries All questions about this solicitation must be submitted by email to the Contracting Officer (contact@example.gov) by the date stated above so that answers may be provided in a timely manner. Potential proposers are encouraged to submit questions as soon as possible. Questions and responses will be posted on the NSPIRES website at http://nspires.nasaprs.com . Respondents who experience difficulty using the NSPIRES proposal site may contact the Help Desk at contact@example.gov or call +1 (555) 000-0000. 1.3 Potential proposers are urged to carefully review the proposal and submission information in Section 5.0 and to ensure their organization has or can promptly obtain the required identification numbers. Potential proposers are also cautioned to access the proposal submission system site (NSPIRES) well in advance of the proposal due date to familiarize themselves with its structure and enter the requested identifier information. 2.0 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION The NASA ESO is releasing this NRA for economic research on the emerging space ecosystem and to identify, monitor, and evaluate concepts that encourage emerging commercial and private-sector space
capabilities in a manner that promotes U.S. economic growth or provides other important benefits to the public. 2.1 Background NASA's ESO, within the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters, was formed in recognition of the rising importance of private-sector individuals and organizations that invest their own time and money in space activities. This emerging space community is increasingly a major force in American space developments. NASA's ESO investigates, monitors, and provides analytical support to the Office of the Chief Technologist on the state of this rapidly growing sector to assist in NASA's legislated responsibility to seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space. See: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/emerging_space/index.html . This NRA is one of the mechanisms used by the ESO to explore the range of opportunities inherent in the mandate to seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space, to evaluate and assess the different mechanisms and options available for achieving that mandate, and to characterize the impacts of economic activity in space on the general welfare of the United States and on future NASA missions. 2.2 Definitions The definition of the term "commercia