NASA released its final commercial space station solicitation on October 9, 2026, inviting proposals for destinations and transportation services in low Earth orbit. The agency’s competition announcement sets December 8 as the proposal deadline and identifies spring 2027 as the expected period for contract awards.
The Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination Contract covers design, construction, testing, certification, and operation. NASA seeks an end-to-end service that includes transporting people to the destination, rather than purchasing an orbital facility without arrangements for access.
NASA intends to select two or more contractors for early development. A subsequent competitive task order would support final design, testing, evaluation, certification, and services from one or more contractors. This sequence gives the agency separate purchasing decisions at successive stages of development.
The planned arrangement uses firm-fixed-price, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts. An indefinite-delivery arrangement establishes a framework for ordering work during a specified period. A firm-fixed-price order sets an agreed price for the defined work. The initial contract framework and later orders perform different functions.
New Space Economy’s examination of the final solicitation describes an eight-year base ordering period and optional extensions of four and three years. Those periods define when work may be ordered. They do not represent a commitment to continuous station occupancy.
The final package also changes the contractual placement of activation and checkout activities, assigning them to service missions rather than retaining a separately described crewed demonstration under the preceding line item. This concerns how NASA organizes and pays for work. It does not remove the need to establish that the destination can perform the required mission.
Transportation pricing is addressed explicitly. The package includes pricing configurations for missions with two, three, and four crew members and distinguishes complete transportation proposals from arrangements requesting government-furnished support. These categories allow comparison of proposed service packages.
NASA’s procurement information page records the final solicitation’s October 9 release and the October 15 pre-proposal conference materials. It also retains earlier industry questions and answers. The sequence documents the transition from the July draft and industry consultation to a competition against final requirements.
The solicitation is intended to support research, technology development, crew training, and preparation for exploration missions after the International Space Station retires. Companies must now submit proposals addressing the combined destination and transportation requirements. Contract awards remain the next selection step, with the agency targeting spring 2027.
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