The 5 Phases of the Space Act Agreement Process

NASA Technical Point of Contact (TPOC)

1. Identify Partnership Needs and Scope: As a NASA TPOC, the first step in the Space Act Agreement (SAA) process is to effectively identify the needs and scope of your potential partner.

2. Obtain the Necessary Approvals: NASA TPOCs should obtain the required approvals from any requisite organizational channels before proceeding with the Space Act Agreements process. 

3. Request New Agreement Form (RNA):  NASA TPOCs should complete a Request for New Agreement form (RNA) to have an agreement assigned to an Agreement Manager that is a part of the AA2 Agreement's Team. Click here to fill out the RNA form. 

Agreement Manager (AM)

4. Instrumental Question: If you are concerned as to whether there is enough basis for a Space Act Agreement, visit here and refer to Collin Hieger to ask the "instrumental question". This process will enable you to make informed decisions about the type of agreement that best aligns with your objectives and aspirations. If not, please continue to the next step.

5. Construct Initial Draft in PAM: Once the RNA form has been completed by a NASA TPOC and assigned to you by Collin, Agreement Managers should create an initial draft in PAM to generate a PAM number and kickstart the SAA process. Utilize the details on the RNA form to shape discussions and construct an initial draft in PAM to generate a PAM number. For more PAM training, visit "What is PAM?". 

6. Generate a Working Draft outside of PAM: Once a PAM number is assigned to your agreement, and you've input all available information, download the document as a Word.doc file for use as a working copy. Share this copy with NASA TPOCs, external entities, your assigned attorney, or any other parties involved in making proposed changes to the agreement. Utilize tracked changes for version control and tracking purposes.

7. Finalize the Initial Working Draft: Collaborate with your NASA TPOC to conclude the initial draft, ensuring it is ready to be sent to the Partner.

Agreement Manager

8. Complete Attorney Request form: Once a PAM number has been generated, AMs are able to fill out an attorney request form to have an attorney assigned from the JSC Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to your agreement. This step can be completed anytime once the PAM number has been created. Click here to view the attorney request form. For more instructions, visit How to Submit for a Legal Assignment. Allow for 5-7 days for an attorney to be assigned, for more information please contact the JSC Legal Office.

NASA TPOC

9. Begin the EPR process: Collaborate with your Resource Analyst (RA) to begin the EPR process. Visit the OCFO Analyst Crosswalk to find out who your RA is. Visit here for more information on the EPR process, or contact Sundy Van Hauen for additional questions.

Agreement Manager

10. Partner Concurrence: Upon completing the initial draft of the agreement in PAM and obtaining NASA TPOC concurrence, the Agreement Manager will proceed to send the draft document to the Partner's TPOC.

11. Deviation Determination: Once an Agreement Manager receives the document back from the Partner, they are to analyze any comments and ascertain if any deviations are present. . If so, Agreement Managers must receive OGC concurrence and submit a deviations request to Headquarters (HQ) for Partnerships Office (PO) approval. If no deviations are necessary, continue to the next step. For more information on export control, deviations, and how to submit a deviation request to HQ, visit the Deviation Guide.

12. Abstract Determination: A decision that AMs will need to be make is whether or not an agreement requires an Abstract. If not, AMs will need to provide justification for this decision in PAM. For more information on the HQ abstract process and to view an Abstract Determination Template, click here.

13. Legal concurrence: If there are no deviations, Agreement Managers will forward the tracked changes version, which includes any comments from the Partner, of the draft agreement to their assigned attorney for legal concurrence. In the presence of deviations, Agreement Managers must inform the attorney and obtain their approval before submitting a deviation request to HQ.

14. Send back to Partner for second concurrence: Now, you will need to apply any changes or suggestions by your assigned attorney or HQ and send a final draft to the Partner to confirm any modifications. Ideally, this will be the final step before the signature process begins. Make sure the Partner is able to concur to any and all changes. 

Please note, time spent reaching a consensus is entirely dependent on each agreement's unique circumstances. This stage of the agreements process will vary case by case. 

15. Begin Routing Package: Once the AM has successfully obtained NASA TPOC, OGC, and Partner concurrence on all of the agreement's components, as well as financial concurrence from OCFO, they may begin the routing package in PAM. For more information on how to complete a routing package, visit here.

16. Partner Signature: After the Routing Package is complete, the document(s) will be sent back to the Partner for signature.

17. NASA Signature: Once a signature is received, AMs should contact the appropriate department director or NASA signatory for their signature. Visit here to learn more about obtaining a NASA signature.

18. Execute and Store in PAM: Once all signatures have been collected, the agreement is considered fully executed. Agreement Managers will  now need to change the agreement status to "active" in PAM. 

19. Distribute Executed Copies: Transmit a copy of the fully executed agreement to both the Partner TPOC and NASA TPOC.

20. Complete Close Out Report:  A close out report must be completed by the AM 15 days following the execution of an agreement. For additional information on closeout reports, click here.