# SAM #80GRC027R0003

NASA LEGS lunar communications ground-station network partnership

**Buyer:** Glenn Research Center
**Posted:** October 15, 2026
**Respond By:** October 30, 2026
**Identifier:** 80GRC027R0003
**NAICS:** 517410, 541512

NASA Glenn Research Center seeks a commercial partner to deploy and operate the Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) communications network for lunar and cislunar missions.
- **Government buyer:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Research and Technology Mission Directorate (RTMD), Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), through John H. Glenn Research Center.
- **Named vendor and procurement approach:** NASA intends to pursue a sole-source award to **KSAT Inc.** through a public-private partnership; capability information may be considered in assessing whether the effort should be competed.
- **Requested network and services:** Develop, integrate, verify, operate, and maintain a global lunar direct-to-Earth ground-station subnet for Artemis, Moonbase, and other suitable missions. The network is planned for six geographically distributed, 20-meter-class X/Ka-band stations, with planned growth to nine antennas.
  - Coverage is intended for spacecraft operating from 36,000 kilometers to 2 million kilometers from Earth.
  - Scope includes site infrastructure, ground-station electronics, signal processing, monitoring and control, network interfaces, integration with NASA’s SCaN Program Operations Cloud (SPOC), testing, operations, and maintenance.
  - NASA is to receive highest-priority, unlimited, uninterrupted use of available stations at a negotiated rate.
- **Government-furnished equipment:** Two dual-band X/Ka-band antennas are furnished by NASA for integration; four Fiber Optic Transmission System (FOTS) panels are also identified as government-furnished equipment. No manufacturer or part numbers are specified.
- **Deployment milestones:** The documents describe a phased buildout from three operational sites to six antennas, with planned later expansion to nine antennas. Operations and maintenance follow successful operational readiness and achievement of global lunar direct-to-Earth coverage.
- **Pricing and term:** No contract value, overall period of performance, option structure, or annual subscription is specified.

### Description

<p>NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has a requirement for Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) Public Private Partnership (PPP).</p>

<p>NASA GRC intends to award a sole source contract to KSAT Inc. under the authority of <em><u>FAR 6.103-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements</u></em> to develop a global network of Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. LEGS will provide high-availability, direct-to-Earth communications coverage for spacecraft operating between 36,000 kilometers and 2 million kilometers from Earth, increasing NASA&rsquo;s capacity to send and receive lunar data.</p>

<p>The Government intends to acquire a commercial product or service using FAR Part 12.</p>

<p>Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Ian Park, Contracting Officer at HQ-SCaN-LEGS@mail.nasa.gov no later than 3:00PM ET on 30OCT26. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A decision by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.</p>

<p>NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at : https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf</p>

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