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NASA's New Crowdsourcing Initiative

On June 5, 2025, NASA announced its third iteration of the NASA Open Innovation Service (NOIS) contracts aimed at addressing complex challenges in space exploration through innovative crowdsourcing strategies. Managed by NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, this initiative introduces 25 new contracts designed to harness the creativity and expertise of the global community. The agency recognizes that collaboration with the public can yield valuable insights and novel solutions critical to its ongoing missions.

Goals of the NOIS3 Contract

The primary objective of this new contract is to empower NASA's workforce by actively involving the public to unearth innovative solutions through quick experimentation with fresh methodologies, new technologies, and unique perspectives. This forward-thinking approach helps ensure that NASA remains at the forefront of innovation while effectively achieving its mission objectives.

This round of contracts falls under the management of NASA's Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI) and is not only utilized by NASA but also by various government agencies, highlighting the broad applicability of the crowdsourcing tools and methodologies being developed under this initiative.

Contract Details

The NOIS3 contract boasts a total value of $475 million over a decade, with a minimum obligation of $500 guaranteed for each contract awarded. The base contract covers a period from June 5, 2025, to May 31, 2027, and includes two additional options — the first for a further three years and the second extending five more years. If all options are exercised, the collaborative work could carry on until May 31, 2035.

The awarded firms span a wide geographical area, bringing together a blend of innovative service providers like:

• - Blue Clarity from Vienna, Virginia
• - Capital Consulting Corp. based in Fairfax, Virginia
• - CrowdPlat Inc. located in Pleasanton, California
• - Challenge Works from London, United Kingdom,

and many others from across the globe.

Other notable awardees include Design Interactive Inc. in Orlando, Florida, DrivenData Inc. in Denver, Luminary Labs in New York City, and HeroX from Wilmington, Delaware.

This diverse pool of contributors reinforces NASA's commitment to pooling a vast array of ideas and approaches, enabling the agency to tackle difficult challenges associated with space exploration and technology.

Innovative Methodologies Employed

The NOIS3 contract employs a variety of crowdsourcing methods, including public prize competitions, freelance tasking, technology searches, and several crowd-based strategies. These tools not only promote active participation from the public but also ensure the best ideas and solutions are brought forth to assist NASA in addressing its complex issues.

The CoECI plays an essential role in guiding open innovation initiatives within NASA, assisting in defining problems and requirements, as well as formulating and evaluating potential solutions. This comprehensive service allows NASA and its partners to rapidly experiment with groundbreaking methods and solve pressing problems collaboratively.

Looking to the Future

With the launch of the NOIS3 contracts, NASA is not only aiming to tackle current challenges in its missions, but also setting a precedent for the future of collaborative innovation in the aerospace sector. As the space agency continues to explore new horizons, fostering public engagement will be critical to unlocking the next advancements in space exploration technologies and methodologies.

To learn more about this initiative and NASA's commitment to collaborative innovation, visit the NASA Center of Excellence.