NASA Underwater Training and Testing

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center has issued a Request for Information (RFI) under solicitation number 80JSC026RNUTT to identify industry partners capable of providing underwater training and testing services in support of spaceflight analog missions. This RFI, posted on June 22, 2026, with a response deadline of July 6, 2026, seeks capabilities statements from potential vendors who can operate a subsea saturation habitat, conduct helmet diving operations, deliver real-time bi-directional telemetry, and support integrated human research and technology demonstrations. The work involves executing a minimum five-day saturation mission with four NASA-provided participants, simulating communication delays consistent with lunar and Martian missions, and conducting biological sample collection and cognitive testing using standardized tools such as ANAM. All operations must occur at the contractor’s facility in Houston, Texas, with strict compliance to NASA’s JPR 1700.1L RFF certification standards, federal safety regulations, and environmental guidelines. The contractor is expected to collaborate with NASA on joint test planning, facility readiness reviews, and mission readiness reviews, but must not provide crew or medical personnel—only infrastructure, technical support, and operational expertise. The solicitation is strictly informational and carries no obligation for award; no formal contract, pricing, or financial terms are included, and no CLINs or cost structures are presented. The NAICS code 611630 indicates the focus is on technical and trade school services, aligning with the educational and operational nature of the training environment. While deliverables such as integration documentation, a notional schedule, joint reports, and four technology demonstrations are required for submission, no formal evaluation factors, award criteria, or contracting officer details are specified because this is a pre-solicitation market research tool. The contractor’s role encompasses habitat operations, telemetry systems, data integration with NASA systems, and compliance with Human Research Program and Space Technology Mission Directorate priorities, but does not require security clearances for personnel. Responses must be submitted by the deadline in a capabilities statement format, with no page limits defined, and must demonstrate the ability to support flexible scheduling aligned with NASA’s unpredictable crew and research asset availability. Submissions will be evaluated for market viability only, and any resulting procurement will be issued separately as a distinct RFP or RFQ.