By Kevin Cirilli mtf.news
-- Kevin Cirilli is a journalist who has appeared on Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNOW (MSNBC), C-SPAN and more.
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2026 — NASA is moving to scale up its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program through a new contract vehicle aimed at increasing the frequency and volume of lunar deliveries while fostering a more competitive commercial logistics sector.
The agency has released a draft solicitation for what is being referred to as CLPS 2.0, shifting from the initial phase of the program to one designed to support sustained operations on the Moon.
Under the existing CLPS framework, NASA has operated under a $2.6 billion indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with 14 U.S. providers through 2028. The program has supported a relatively modest number of missions, many of which have experienced significant delays.
"We are building the Moon Base for all we will learn, the innovation that will improve life on Earth, the inspiration for the next generation of explorers, and to master the skills needed for where we will inevitably go next...Mars," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X. "The Golden Age of lunar exploration has begun."
The proposed CLPS 2.0 phase targets a substantially higher operational tempo. Industry reporting indicates NASA’s internal planning calls for approximately 77 lander missions over the next decade, backed by a roughly $6 billion budget. This represents more than double the prior funding allocation while supporting roughly four times the mission volume. Average delivery costs are projected to decline from about $129 million per mission under the current program to around $91 million.
The new framework also calls for a transition toward medium- and heavy-class landers by 2031 and raises domestic content requirements to 75% by 2029. Cargo delivery capacity is expected to rise from roughly 3 tonnes under the initial phase to approximately 60 tonnes between 2029 and 2033, and up to 150 tonnes in the subsequent period.
New Contract Vehicle Opens Market
NASA’s Johnson Space Center has posted a draft Request for Proposal on SAM.gov for the CLPS 2.0 Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract. The new vehicle is intended to expand the pool of eligible providers beyond the original 14 vendors while maintaining U.S. commercial requirements.
The draft outlines multiple contract line items, including standard payload delivery services, direct lander deliveries, and support activities such as feasibility studies. The contract is expected to run through at least 2036, with provisions for on-ramping new participants and off-ramping underperforming providers.
The structure is designed to encourage companies to invest in production capacity and standardized interfaces, reducing the need for custom engineering on each mission.
Strategic Shift Toward Sustained Operations
The expansion aligns with NASA’s broader Artemis objectives of establishing a more permanent presence on the Moon. By increasing delivery cadence and standardizing services, the agency aims to lower costs for both government and commercial users while supporting science, technology demonstrations, and infrastructure development.
The program’s success will depend in part on whether providers can establish common interface standards and resilient domestic supply chains. Companies that anchor these standards are expected to gain a stronger position in the emerging lunar logistics market.
The draft solicitation remains open for industry feedback, with a final version anticipated later this year.
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