NASA TAKES NEXT STEP IN DEVELOPING COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM<div></div>Competitive Agreements Will Keep U.S. Commercial Space Program on Track

Dec. 15, 2011

Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2497
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 11-419

NASA TAKES NEXT STEP IN DEVELOPING COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM COMPETITIVE AGREEMENTS WILL KEEP U.S. COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAM ON TRACK

WASHINGTON -- NASA announced today a modified competitive procurement
strategy to keep on track the agency's plan to have U.S. companies
transport American astronauts into space instead of outsourcing this
work to foreign governments.

Instead of awarding contracts for the next phase of the Commercial
Crew Program, the agency plans to use multiple, competitively awarded
Space Act Agreements. Using competitive Space Act Agreements instead
of contracts will allow NASA to maintain a larger number of partners
during this phase of the program, with the flexibility to adjust
technical direction, milestones and funding.

This flexibility is important during a period of high budget
uncertainty when NASA is receiving less funding than President Obama
requested for the agency's commercial space program.

"NASA is committed to ensuring that U.S. companies are sending
American astronauts into space," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden
said. "This new acquisition strategy will allow us to preserve
competition as we maintain our momentum to provide a U.S.-based
commercial crew launch capability at the earliest possible time."

This competitive Space Act solicitation is separate from the work
being carried out under existing Space Act Agreements. The new
competition will focus on an overall system design rather than single
technology activities. Details on the new competition will be
available in January.

The announcement for proposals is expected in the first quarter of
2012. These competitively awarded Space Acts will be followed by a
competitively awarded contract for the certification phase. The
certification phase will ensure that the designs fully meet the
safety and performance requirements for NASA utilization.

For more information about NASA's Commercial Crew Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

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