NASA Request for Information for Potential Centennial Challenges Sponsors
Synopsis – Jun 11, 2010
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNH10UA003L
Posted Date: Jun 11, 2010
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jun 11, 2010
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: N/A
Current Response Date: N/A
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Description
This is 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 procurement or other action in this matter. Further, neither NASA nor the Government will be responsible for any cost incurred in furnishing the information requested in this RFI.
Through this RFI, NASA seeks to identify potential Sponsoring Organizations who may be interested in partnering with Allied Organizations to support prize competitions to be conducted under Centennial Challenges program within the Innovative Partnership Programs Office (http://www.nasa.gov/challenges ) of NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES BACKGROUND
Centennial Challenges is a program of incentive prizes to generate novel solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. The mission of the program is to [1] drive progress in aerospace technology of value to NASA’s missions, [2] encourage the participation of independent teams, individual inventors, student groups and private companies of all sizes in aerospace research and development; and [3] find the most innovative solutions to technical challenges through competition and cooperation.
Since 2005, nineteen Centennial Challenges competitions have been held in six technical areas. A total of $4.5 million has been awarded in prizes to thirteen different teams. Competitions may be conducted in a first-to-demonstrate format or in a head-to-head contest format. The competition events, especially in the head-to-head contest format, typically involve public spectators, televised or webcasted coverage and are high-visibility opportunities for public outreach and education. Additional information can be found at www.nasa.gov/challenges.
ROLE OF ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS
Allied Organizations are those NASA partners that conduct the Centennial Challenges competitions. NASA provides the prize purse for the competitions, but no funding for the conduct of the competition itself. Allied Organizations may provide additional funding from other sources subject to NASA’s approval. Allied Organizations are selected through a competitive process and agreements are negotiated directly between the Allied Organization and NASA. Allied Organizations cannot compete in the Challenges for which they have responsibility.
Because no NASA funds are provided to fund the conduct of the Challenges, Allied Organizations must administer the Challenges with their own funding or they must raise the funding needed to administer the Challenges through partnerships with Sponsoring Organizations or through other means. Allied Organizations are also permitted to supplement the prize purse with funding from outside organizations, such as a Sponsoring Organization.
ROLE OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
Because the success of Challenges hinges on the ability of NASA’s Allied Organizations to successfully administer and conduct the prize competitions, NASA wishes, through this RFI, to identify interested Sponsoring Organizations that seek the opportunity to partner with an Allied Organization to support one or more Challenges. NASA expects that individual Challenges will demonstrate technologies or operational capabilities, and produce high profile competition events that may enhance the visibility and reputation of the Sponsoring Organization.
Sponsoring Organizations may contribute cash towards the prize purse or administrative expenses associated with the Challenges, and/or may provide in-kind support for one or more Challenges. Sponsoring Organizations are expected enter into agreements directly with the Allied Organization administering the sponsored Challenge. NASA does not anticipate entering into agreements directly with any Sponsoring Organization.
In return for its contribution, the Sponsoring Organization would be associated with a specific Challenge and may be entitled to negotiate naming rights or other public-facing acknowledgement. Depending on the agreement a Sponsoring Organization may negotiate with an Allied Organization, a Sponsoring Organization may provide input to the structure and rules of the Challenges to which it contributes. A Sponsoring Organization cannot compete in the Challenge to which it contributes.
Sponsoring Organizations may include but are not limited to: for-profit companies and corporations, universities and other non-profit or educational organizations, and professional or public organizations, as well as individuals.
Except as specified below, Challenges for which potential Sponsoring Organizations are sought are still in the formulation stage, and no final decision has been made on whether or not to initiate the Challenges described below. Decisions to issue specific Challenges and their rules will be determined at later dates.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Responses to this RFI should be no more than two (2) pages in length and:
* Provide all the pertinent identifying and contact information about the potential Sponsoring Organization, and the principal individuals of the Organization;
* Identify the Challenge(s) in which your organization may wish to partner with a NASA Allied Organization (see lists below). Organizations may indicate an interest in sponsoring challenges in any or all topic areas.
The following individual contact information should be included on any submission in response to this RFI:
– Organization and Individual Point-of-Contact Name – Complete Mailing Address – Telephone Number(s) – Email Address
Responses to this RFI should be sent to the Centennial Challenges Program at NASA Headquarters by electronic message to: hq-prize-idea@mail.nasa.gov with the subject line “Sponsorship RFI”.
DURATION
To provide future opportunities to expand the number of Sponsoring Organizations, this RFI will remain open continuously. However, formulation of new challenges is currently underway and immediate responses are encouraged.
USE OF INFORMATION PROVIDED UNDER THIS RFI
Information provided by interested, potential Sponsoring Organizations under this RFI will be shared with current NASA Allied Organizations and other non-profit organizations that have expressed their interest or intent to partner with NASA as an Allied Organization for the Centennial Challenges program. The information may also be shared within NASA and with contractor personnel associated with the Centennial Challenges Program. Information provided by potential Sponsoring Organizations under this RFI will not be published or posted on any public website without prior authorization by the submitting entity. Information provided under this RFI will be updated at least annually and organizations may add or remove their indication of interest at any time by contacting the Point of Contact, below.
Organizations responding to this RFI may be contacted by the current or potential Allied Organizations to solicit commitment for sponsorship. Potential Sponsoring Organizations have no obligation to respond but may choose to enter into a sponsorship arrangement with one or more current or potential Allied Organizations. The ability of a potential Allied Organization to reach agreement with a Sponsoring Organization may improve its proposal to NASA to administer a Challenge but is no guarantee of selection as a NASA partner. Potential Sponsoring Organizations are responsible for conducting appropriate diligence prior to entering into any arrangement with an Allied Organization. Selection of an Allied Organization to administer a competition by NASA does not constitute an endorsement by NASA.
There are three on-going Centennial Challenges:
* Power Beaming Challenge for wireless power transmission, managed for NASA by the Spaceward Foundation of Mountain View, CA.
* Strong Tether Challenge for advanced materials, also managed for NASA by the Spaceward Foundation of Mountain View, CA.
* Green Flight Challenge for super-efficient, quiet and safe aircraft, managed for NASA by the Comparative Flight Efficiency Foundation of Santa Rosa, CA.
New challenges will be announced in 2010 and additional new challenges are expected in the years to follow. The topics may include, but are not limited to, the following technical areas:
* Energy Generation and Storage
* Access to Space, Rocketry and Space Transportation
* Robotics and Automation
* Aeronautics
* Earth and Space Science
* Space Exploration
* Life Sciences
* Life Support, Habitation and Space Suit
* Cryogenic Fluid Handling and Storage
* Space Resources and Construction
* Instruments and Sensors
* Communications
For more information see: www.nasa.gov/challenges or contact Andrew Petro, NASA Headquarters, Phone (202) 358-0310, Email: andrew.j.petro@nasa.gov.
Point of Contact
Name: Andrew J Petro
Title: Program Executive for Innovation Incubator
Phone: 202-358-0310
Fax: 202-358-3858
Email: andrew.j.petro@nasa.gov
