NASA Request for Information (RFI): Private Sector Activities in Astrobiology, Planetary Protection, and Space Biology Released
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released a new Request for Information (RFI) entitled, Private Sector Activities in Astrobiology, Planetary Protection, and Space Biology, seeking expressions of interest from U.S. private sector, academic, nonprofit, and government organizations interested in potential partnerships in astrobiology, planetary protection, and space biology.
This RFI is intended to help NASA identify potential collaborators who can contribute to advancing research, technology development, and applications that support our broader efforts to understand the origins, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. Please note that the RFI is not a solicitation.
NASA does not intend to award contracts, grants, cooperative agreements or Space Act Agreements. This RFI is voluntary and strictly for planning purposes. Please visit https://go.nasa.gov/PSPRFI to download a copy of the full RFI.
The RFI will be open for at least 60 days following the date of release. All responses must be submitted through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) by August 10, 2026, to be considered.
Other inquiries must be submitted using subject line “PSP RFI” by email to:
Rebecca McCauley Rench
NASA Headquarters
Email: rebecca.l.mccauleyrench – at – nasa.gov
Number: NNH26ZDA010L
Release Date: May 18, 2026
Response Date: August 10, 2026
Short URL: https://go.nasa.gov/PSPRFI
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.
This Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Request for Information (RFI) does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will take action in this matter.
Only United States entities, e.g., U.S. industry, universities, non-profit organizations, and other U.S. Federal, state, local, tribal government agencies, may respond to this RFI. While responses from NASA Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are not prohibited, their responding to this RFI is unnecessary. NASA components are in regular contact with SMD at Headquarters and should communicate via normal communication channels.
Interested parties may contribute to multiple RFI responses. A respondent may submit more than one response to this RFI.
Purpose:
Astrobiological studies are crucial for ensuring safe exploration, understanding life’s adaptability beyond Earth, and developing technologies for human and robotic missions that are capable of advancing our understanding of life, while protecting potential biological cross-contamination between planets. This RFI aims to identify potential collaborators who have an interest in working with NASA to accelerate progress in answering the question – Are we alone?
Background:
NASA Science exploration missions have expanded knowledge about the potential habitability of other bodies in our solar system and exoplanets, and research on Earth continues to improve understanding of the limits of life as we know it. NASA-sponsored astrobiology research focuses on questions such as: How does life begin and evolve? and Does life exist elsewhere in the Universe? Learn more at: https://science.nasa.gov/astrobiology/
Planetary protection safeguards both Earth and other celestial bodies from biological contamination, ensuring the integrity of life-detection missions and compliance with international standards. Learn more at: https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/planetary-protection
Space biology research investigates how living systems respond to space environments, informing life-support systems, crew health, and biotechnological innovations for long-duration missions. Learn more at: https://science.nasa.gov/biological-physical/
NASA has a long history of supporting astrobiology research through collaborations with universities, research institutions, and industry. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) recommended in An Astrobiology Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe that “NASA should actively seek new mechanisms to reduce the barriers to collaboration with private and philanthropic entities, and with international space agencies to achieve its objective of searching for life in the universe.” Expanding partnerships with the private sector will enhance capabilities for future missions, technology development, and data analysis. Such collaborations with private partners can be pursued when there is overlap in NASA and the potential partner’s goals.
Areas of Interest:
NASA seeks expressions of interest in potential partnership opportunities, such as Space Act
Agreements, in one or more of the following areas:
- Technology Development: Instruments, sensors, and platforms for detecting biosignatures, including technosignatures, on planetary bodies within the Solar System and elsewhere in the Galaxy.
- Data Analytics & AI: Advanced computational tools for understanding prebiotic chemistry, modeling habitability, and searching for biosignatures and analyzing mission data.
- Life Detection & Sample Analysis: Innovative approaches for in-situ and returned sample analysis.
- Applied Astrobiology: Applications in biotechnology, resource utilization, and lifesupport systems relevant to space exploration.
- Planetary Protection: Technologies and protocols for containment and minimizing transport of microbial species, contamination control, limits of life, limits of detection and design of experiments to avoid false positive and false negative detection, biostatistical modeling and biosecurity in spacecraft and sample handling.
- Space Biology: Studies on microbial, plant, and human adaptation to microgravity and radiation; development of bioregenerative life-support systems; and biomanufacturing in space.
- Other: Any area that is relevant to NASA’s mission in astrobiology, applied astrobiology, planetary protection, and space biology.
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