14 August 2025
The NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has released a Space Technology Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) Announcement. Standing ACO #NNH25ZTR002O will be available for five years and will serve as the umbrella opportunity for topic-specific appendix releases. NASA intends to issue appendices every six to 12 months to address evolving space technology needs. Details regarding the Standing ACO can be accessed via its NSPIRES webpage.
STMD leads the development, demonstration, and infusion of transformational space technologies that solve critical stakeholder needs and support future NASA, government, and commercial missions. STMD investments aim to (1) advance U.S. space technology innovation and competitiveness in a global context, (2) foster innovation by cultivating breakthrough ideas, embracing risk, and fueling a competitive space economy and (3) inspire and develop a powerful U.S. aerospace technology community to improve life on Earth and in space. STMD releases collaboration opportunities throughout the year, allowing NASA to find and fund solutions, innovations, and services from a range of people and organizations.
STMD has used a Strategic Framework to guide its investment strategy, which provides proposers insight into technologies and capabilities of interest. The Framework aligns with Agency-wide NASA priorities, including the Moon to Mars Objectives and Science Decadal Surveys. The Strategic Framework provides context and traceability from overarching mission needs to high level goals, to the technological advances STMD should prioritize, and the specific technical challenges that must be addressed. The Strategic Framework is also aligned with the 2024 NASA Technology Taxonomy.
In 2024, STMD initiated a new collaborative process to better integrate the aerospace community’s most pervasive technical challenges and further guide NASA’s space technology development and investments. STMD published a document overviewing 187 shortfalls – technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The 2024 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking document, integrates input received from NASA mission directorates and centers, small and large industry organizations, other government agencies, academia, and other interested individuals. STMD is using the integrated ranked list and future updates as one of several investment decision-making factors including informing the development of capability goals and technology roadmaps.
Specific Appendix Call for Proposals will be periodically announced as Appendices to this Standing ACO. The intent is for Appendix selections to result in partnerships focused on advancing commercially developed space technologies, benefitting both the commercial and government use of space. The Appendices will be issued under the Standing ACO in NSPIRES.
Appendix A was released on 30 July 2025, with proposals due by 24 September 2025. Details on the topics can be found on the associated NSPIRES page.
More information about the topics is available Standing ACO on SAM.gov. Please address technical and programmatic comments and questions by email to HQ-STMD-ACO@nasaprs.com.