Space Ready 2.0 Act

Full Title:
Space Ready 2.0 Act

Summary#

This bill authorizes NASA to run a pilot program that lets public and private entities voluntarily contribute money or services for specific infrastructure projects at one or more NASA Centers. The contributions would fund capital repairs, maintenance, improvements, renovation, demolition, construction, and related work on NASA-owned infrastructure that supports shared use by NASA and other users. Agreements must include project cost and schedule estimates, rules for cost sharing and unspent funds, and provisions on use and ownership of improvements. The authority to collect voluntary contributions ends on December 31, 2031.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a commercial or public partner that uses a NASA Center, you may be able to voluntarily contribute funds or services to help pay for specific infrastructure projects.
  • Contributors get a project cost and schedule baseline, a final cost breakdown at project completion, and the option to get refunds of unspent designated funds or redesignate them to another eligible project.
  • Improvements paid for under these agreements generally become U.S. property unless NASA decides otherwise.
  • NASA must not make contributions a condition for leases or other authorizations.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on total cost or a government-wide budget estimate is included in the bill text. The bill allows NASA to use amounts from the Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration account, subject to availability of appropriations. Amounts received from contributors are to be credited to and merged with that account and used under the same terms and conditions. The bill also states it does not provide new budget authority to incur obligations in advance of appropriations.

Proponents' View#

The bill establishes a structured pilot program that permits voluntary public and private investment in shared infrastructure at NASA Centers. It requires transparency through cost and schedule baselines and final cost breakdowns, sets rules for cost sharing and refunds of unexpended contributions, allows consultation with Federal, State, and local partners to avoid duplication, and authorizes the use and crediting of contributions to the Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration account.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the provided text about specific opposition or objections to the bill.