NASA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration is seeking information through a Request for Information (RFI) regarding potential partnerships for the operations and data collection of the Terra, Aqua, and Aura Earth Science satellite missions. The objective is to explore innovative partnership arrangements that can enhance the utilization of NASA resources and advance the commercial remote sensing industry. This initiative is part of NASA's broader effort to foster collaborations that support Earth Science missions, with the possibility of future agreements being either reimbursable or non-reimbursable Space Act Agreements. Interested parties should direct their inquiries to Beth Weinstein at hq-esdpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov and are encouraged to regularly check the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) for updates, with responses due in January–February 2026.

1stEmail.pdf

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD), Earth Science Division (ESD), has released two Announcements for Partnership Proposals (AFPPs) and one Request for Information (RFI) to foster collaborations for Earth Science satellite missions. These opportunities, released on NSPIRES in January 2026, aim to enhance NASA resource utilization, advance the commercial remote sensing industry, and support innovative mission operations. The specific opportunities include AFPPs for the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) and Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), and an RFI for the Terra, Aqua, and Aura (TAA) Missions. Responses are due in January–February 2026, with AFPP selections estimated for late March 2026. NASA will not provide funding, but agreements may be Non-Reimbursable or Reimbursable Space Act Agreements. Interested parties should regularly check the respective websites for updates and submission requirements. Technical questions can be directed to Beth Weinstein.

NASA is exploring partnerships with external organizations for the operations and data collection of Earth Science satellite missions to enable more impactful exploitation of NASA resources and to advance the commercial remote sensing industry. This RFI specifically seeks information on interest in the Terra, Aqua, and/or Aura missions and information on potential innovative partnership arrangements to maintain one or more of these on-orbit missions.

Depending on the responses to this RFI, NASA may 1) proceed to have discussions with individual respondents or 2) release an Announcement for Partnership Proposals (AFPP) to compete this opportunity with NASA under a reimbursable or non-reimbursable (no exchange of funds) Space Act Agreement, or both 1 and 2. Any resultant agreement(s) from this RFI or potential future AFPP will define the full roles and responsibilities of NASA and the selected Partner(s).

On or after the publication date of this SAM.gov special notice, the  full, final text for this Request for Information will be available for download from the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) at https://nspires.nasaprs.com by searching on the SAM notice ID (called a solicitation number on NSPIRES) or via the  link provided below.

NASA may periodically update the NSPIRES landing page to add other documents such as questions and answers or to revise and amend this RFI. To stay up to date Interested parties must visit NSPIRES regularly to ensure that they have the latest information available.

The attached PDF file entitled “**1stEmail**” is a copy of the text of an email NSPIRES sent to Science Mission Directorate (SMD) List Serv subscribers and includes other important dates not shown on this SAM.gov landing page.  After downloading and carefully reading the full text from NSPIRES, by email only address questions (or other comments) with a subject line to read “**TAA RFI**” to the listed point(s) of contact.

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