# NASA Seeks Commercial Space Station Proposals

NASA has released the final RFP for U.S. companies to design, build, test, certify, and operate commercial low Earth orbit destinations, along with related crew and cargo transportation services intended to succeed the International Space Station. The multiple-award, firm-fixed-price IDIQ has a **$100 million guaranteed minimum** and a **$34.063 billion ceiling** across contracts. Proposals are due December 8, 2026 (**55 days from October 14**), and awards are expected in spring 2027, with one signal specifying April 15. NASA plans an initial development phase followed by competitive task orders for later development and services; the ordering period may extend to 15 years through options.

- Companies preparing proposals should address station and transportation capabilities, technical and investment capacity, and a business model supported by customers beyond NASA.
- The staged, multiple-award structure creates an opportunity to compete for early development and later task orders; firms should assess where they can credibly contribute across design, testing, certification, operations, and transportation.
- The large ceiling represents potential maximum contract capacity, not guaranteed revenue. The stated minimum is $100 million, so bidders should plan around phased competition and uncertain task-order demand.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Transportation
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 13, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

### Vendors
- Axiom Space (Space Act Agreement participant in early commercial station development)
- Blue Origin (Space Act Agreement participant in early commercial station development)
- Northrop Grumman (Space Act Agreement participant in early commercial station development)
- Sierra Space (Space Act Agreement participant in early commercial station development)
- SpaceX (Space Act Agreement participant in early commercial station development)

### Key Quotes
> We will continue to need a place to conduct research, develop technologies, train crews, and prepare for missions to the Moon and Mars. Commercial space stations may provide that capability while creating new opportunities for American industry and allowing NASA to concentrate more of our resources on the near-impossible missions ahead.
> — Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

### Sources
- [NASA commercial space station proposal timeline set](https://spaceq.ca/nasa-commercial-space-station-proposal-timeline-set) - SpaceQ
- [(2026/10/09) NASA Seeks US Industry Plans for Commercial Space Stations - NASA https://t.co/QterRqlXCr 

Proposals are due Tuesday, Dec. 8, with contract awards expected in spring 2027.](https://x.com/matiere/status/2110111275342819806) - twitter-agency
- [NASA Issues Final RFP for Commercial Space Stations in LEO](https://www.govconwire.com/articles/nasa-commercial-space-stations-leo-2) - GovCon Wire