NASA Request for Information (RFI) on Biological, Physiological, and Behavioral Adaptations to Spaceflight
Solicitation Number: 80JSC018L0001
Release Date: October 20, 2017
Response Date: November 3, 2017
This Request for Information (RFI) is for an upcoming solicitation that is a collaborative effort between NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP) and NASA’s Space Biology (SB) Program. HRP investigates and mitigates the highest risks to astronaut health and performance in exploration missions. The goal of the HRP is to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. The scope of this goal includes both the successful completion of exploration missions and the preservation of health over the astronaut’s lifetime.
SB sponsors research studies that will document and augment our understanding of causal cellular and other mechanisms that underlie adaptation to fractional gravity levels in cells, microorganisms, plants, and animals to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation to chronically altered gravity levels.
To support formulation of a solicitation scheduled to be released in November 2017, NASA is seeking feedback regarding the set of topics listed in the RFI. Specifically, NASA wishes to know:
1. Is each research topic sufficiently well-defined, clear and unambiguous? In particular, NASA is interested to know if the Background, Aims, Research Platform, Specific Research Focus Areas, and Deliverables are clearly articulated for each topic.
2. Are the research questions and gaps listed for each research topic appropriate to meet the goals of either Program? Respondents are encouraged to study the HRR and review the risks and gaps for each topic, as well as the goals and guiding questions listed in SB’s Science Plan. Missing research or guiding questions, whether included in the HRR or the SB Science Plan, which will aid in addressing each research topic should be identified. Please note that Topic 1 includes critical questions from the SB Science Plan and the 2011 National Research Council Decadal Survey.
Access to NASA’s human life sciences data can assist the research community in providing a better understanding of the appropriate strategies required to mitigate spaceflight-related health and performance risks. If interested in learning about and accessing this data, please visit the Users’ Guide for requesting data at: https://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/Request/dataRequestFAQ.
The full text of the RFI and response instructions can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/2018-BPBA-RFI. Responses must be submitted electronically using the NSPIRES web site. This RFI is open to responses from all parties including commercial entities, international organizations, academia, NASA Centers, and other government agencies.
The information obtained will be used by NASA for planning and acquisition strategy development. NASA will use the information obtained as a result of this RFI on a non-attribution basis. Providing data and information that is limited or restricted for use by NASA for that purpose would be of very little value and such restricted/limited data/information is not solicited. No information or questions received will be posted to any website or public access location. NASA does not plan to respond to the individual responses. The Government does not intend to award an award on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited.
