Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 15, 2021 / Notices 31735 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

[Document Number NASA–21–038; Docket 

Number–NASA–2021–0002] 

Request for Information on Advancing 

Racial Equity and Support for 

Underserved Communities in NASA 

Programs, Contracts and Grants 

Process 

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA). 

ACTION: Request for information (RFI). 

SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA) is issuing 

this Request for Information (RFI) to 

receive input from the public on 

NASA’s mission directorates’ programs, 

procurements, grants, regulations and 

policies. NASA will use this 

information to evaluate, implement, 

modify, expand, and streamline its 

programs, procurements, grants, 

regulations and policies to remove 

systemic inequitable barriers and 

challenges facing underserved 

communities. NASA will also use 

advanced research, data collection and 

technologies to assist in inter and intraagency execution of this 

Administration’s policy to advance 

equity for all, including people of color 

and others who have been historically 

underserved, marginalized, and 

adversely affected by persistent poverty 

and inequality. 

DATES: Comments are requested on or 

before July 12, 2021. Early comments 

are encouraged. Comments received 

after this date will be considered for 

future advisory, communicative and 

outreach efforts to the extent 

practicable. 

ADDRESSES:

• Comments must be identified with 

the Agency’s name and Docket Number 

NASA–2021–0002 and may be sent to 

NASA via the Federal E-Rulemaking 

Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 

Follow the online instructions for 

submitting comments. All public 

comments received are subject to the 

Freedom of Information Act and will be 

posted in their entirety at https://

www.regulations.gov/, including any 

personal and/or business confidential 

information provided. Do not include 

any information you would not like to 

be made publicly available. 

• Mail: Comments submitted in a 

manner other than the one listed above, 

including emails or letters sent to OP or 

OSBP officials may not be accepted. 

• Hand Delivery: Please note that 

NASA cannot accept any comments that 

are hand delivered or couriered. In 

addition, NASA cannot accept 

comments contained on any form of 

digital media storage devices, such as 

CDs/DVDs and USB drives. If you 

cannot submit your comment by using 

http://www.regulations.gov, please 

contact (include regulatory POC name, 

telephone, and address) for alternate 

instructions. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Issues regarding submission or 

questions on this RFI can be sent to 

Dorice Kenely, Procurement Analyst, 

Office of Procurement at (202) 358–0443 

or dorice.m.kenely@nasa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

NASA is issuing this Request for 

Information (RFI) to receive input from 

the public on NASA’s mission 

directorates’ programs, procurements, 

grants, regulations and policies. NASA 

will use this information to evaluate, 

implement, modify, expand, and 

streamline its programs, procurements, 

grants, regulations and policies to 

remove systemic inequitable barriers 

and challenges facing underserved 

communities. NASA will also use 

advanced research, data collection and 

technologies to assist in inter and intraagency execution of the President’s 

Executive Order 13985, entitled 

‘‘Advancing Racial Equity and Support 

for Underserved Communities Through 

the Federal Government’’ (Equity E.O.), 

signed by the President on January 20, 

2021. Pursuant to the Equity E.O. 

agencies were asked to ‘‘assess whether, 

and to what extent, its programs and 

policies perpetuate systemic barriers to 

opportunities and benefits for people of 

color and other underserved groups.’’ 

These efforts will help foster NASA’s 

vision to benefit the quality of life for all 

on Earth; NASA’s mission to explore, 

use and enable the development of 

space for human enterprise through 

research, development and transfer of 

advanced aeronautics, space and related 

technologies, Economic Growth and 

Security, and Educational Excellence; 

and NASA’s goal to enrich our Nation’s 

society and economy with a fair and 

equitable approach. 

NASA seeks this input pursuant to 

the Equity E.O. to create a whole-ofgovernment approach to advance equity 

for those who have been historically 

underserved and adversely impacted 

due to systemic programmatic and 

policy inequities. The E.O. requires 

agencies to review existing programs, 

practices and policies to assess: (1) 

Potential systemic barriers to accessing 

agencies’ benefits and services for 

people of color and other underserved 

communities and individuals; (2) 

potential systemic barriers that 

underserved and underrepresented 

communities and individuals may face 

in agency procurement, and contracting, 

and grant opportunities; (3) whether 

new policies, regulations, or guidance 

documents may be necessary to advance 

equity in agency actions and programs; 

and (4) how agencies’ resources and 

tools can assist in enhancing equity. 

The Equity E.O. defines the following 

terms noted below and these terms are 

used throughout this RFI: 

• The term ‘‘equity’’ means the 

consistent and systematic fair, just, and 

impartial treatment of all individuals, 

including individuals who belong to 

underserved communities that have 

been denied such treatment, Black, 

Latino, and Indigenous and Native 

American persons, Asian Americans 

and Pacific Islanders and other persons 

of color; members of religious 

minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, 

transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) 

persons; persons with disabilities; 

persons who live in rural areas; and 

persons otherwise adversely affected by 

persistent poverty or inequality. 

• The term ‘‘underserved 

communities’’ refers to populations 

sharing a particular characteristic, as 

well as geographic communities, that 

have been systematically denied the full 

opportunity to participate in aspects of 

economic, social, and civic life, as 

exemplified by the list in the preceding 

definition of ‘‘equity.’’ 

• The term ‘‘environmental justice,’’ 

referenced in E.O. 14008, Tackling the 

Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, 

dated January 27, 2021, and defined in 

the White House Environmental Justice 

Advisory Council Final 

Recommendations to Executive Order 

12898 Revisions released May 21, 2021, 

is the just treatment and meaningful 

involvement of all people regardless of 

race, color, national origin, or income, 

or ability, with respect to the 

development, implementation, 

enforcement, and evaluation of laws, 

regulations, programs, policies, 

practices, and activities, that affect 

human health and the environment. 

This term will also be used throughout 

this RFI. 

NASA inspires the Nation by 

advancing understanding of the Earth 

and space sending astronauts and 

robotic missions to explore the solar 

system and developing new 

technologies and approaches to improve 

aviation and space activities. Our work 

benefits Americans and all humanity. 

Today, our Nation’s economic 

prosperity, National security, and 

cultural identity depend on our 


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31736 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 15, 2021 / Notices 

leadership in aeronautics, space 

exploration, and science. NASA accepts 

the challenge to continue our legacy of 

achievement and greatly expand the 

benefits we provide to mankind. 

Descriptions have been provided for the 

following NASA Offices mentioned in 

this RFI. 

II. NASA Offices 

The Office of STEM Engagement 

delivers tools for young Americans and 

educators to learn and succeed. OSTEM 

seeks to: (1) Create unique opportunities 

for a diverse set of students to 

contribute to NASA’s work in 

exploration and discovery; (2) Build a 

diverse future STEM workforce by 

engaging students in authentic learning 

experiences with NASA’s people, 

content and facilities; and (3) Attract 

diverse groups of students to STEM 

through learning opportunities that 

spark interest and provide connections 

to NASA’s mission and work. For more 

information on OSTEM, see https://

www.nasa.gov/stem/about.html. 

The Science Mission Directorate 

(SMD) expands the frontiers of Earth 

science, heliophysics, planetary science, 

and astrophysics. Using robotic 

observatories, explorer craft, groundbased instruments, and a peer-reviewed 

portfolio of sponsored research, SMD 

seeks knowledge about our solar system, 

the farthest reaches of space and time, 

and our changing Earth. For more 

information on SMD, see https://

science.nasa.gov. 

The Space Technology Mission 

Directorate (STMD) develops 

transformative space technologies to 

enable NASA’s future missions. NASA’s 

investments in revolutionary, Americanmade technologies provide solutions on 

Earth and in space. For more 

information on STMD Programs, see 

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/ 

spacetech/home/index.html. 

The Office Chief Financial Officer, 

Grants Policy and Compliance (GPC) 

Branch provides leadership and 

oversight in grants management policy 

and compliance and internal guidance 

and training to NASA Technical 

Officers, Grant Officers, and the Grants 

Community implementing governmentwide and NASA specific regulations for 

awarding and administering grants and 

cooperative agreements. In Fiscal Year 

2019, NASA issued $1.1 Billion in 

grants and cooperative agreements. Each 

year NASA issues 1,977 new awards 

and provides policy guidance and 

instruction for 6,646 awards. For more 

information on GPC, see https://

www.nasa.gov/offices/ocfo/gpc. 

The Office of Procurement (OP) 

oversees the acquisition process to 

support successful accomplishment of 

the Agency’s current and future 

missions. OP provides policy, oversight, 

and optimization of procurement 

resources, and supports Mission 

Directorate acquisition strategies to 

enable more efficient operations for the 

Agency. For more information on OP, 

see https://www.nasa.gov/office/ 

procurement. 

The Office of Small Business 

Programs (OSBP) at NASA Headquarters 

promotes and integrates all small 

businesses into the competitive base of 

contractors that pioneer the future of 

space exploration, scientific discovery, 

and aeronautics research. For more 

information on OSBP, see https://

www.nasa.gov/osbp. 

III. Discussion of Questions 

To support and achieve the objectives 

of the Equity E.O., NASA is conducting 

an internal assessment of mission 

programs and mission support programs 

and is soliciting public input to better 

understand and identify the systemic 

barriers and challenges facing people of 

color and other underserved 

communities to access and participate 

in NASA programs, contracts, and 

grants processes. The information and 

input from this RFI will assist the 

Agency with addressing gaps in equity 

while utilizing advanced science-based 

data and transfer technologies for 

environmental protection, climate 

resiliency and environmental justice. 

The following list of questions and topic 

areas are intended to guide the public in 

this effort: 

Barriers/Gaps to Accessing Current 

NASA Grants, Programs and 

Procurements 

1. What challenges, issues, or 

obstacles have been encountered with 

the scientific competition and award 

implementation processes, especially 

the challenges, issues, or obstacles that 

impact underserved communities? 

2. What are some tools that NASA 

should consider for purposes of 

increasing access to information related 

to Notice of Funding Opportunities or 

grant programs to reach communities 

that are historically underserved and 

underrepresented by NASA and the 

federal government more broadly? 

3. What resources could NASA 

provide to better assist underserved 

communities with identifying new 

opportunities to partner with NASA or 

access its grants, programs or data? 

4. What are some of the best practices 

that NASA could put in place to ensure 

individuals and organizations from 

underserved communities have the 

necessary access, information, and tools 

to partner with NASA? 

5. Are NASA Funding Opportunities 

clear in the description of eligibility 

requirements for underserved 

communities? If not, how can they be 

improved? 

6. How might NASA better assist 

individuals and institutions from 

underserved communities in identifying 

financial assistance opportunities 

funded by NASA that they are eligible 

to win? 

7. Besides NSPIRES and Grants.gov, 

where else could financial assistance 

opportunities be posted, advertised, or 

communicated to better reach 

underserved communities and 

individuals? 

8. How might NASA improve its 

financial assistance application process 

to better assist individuals and 

institutions; what resources could 

NASA provide to assist underserved 

communities? 

9. Is there a specific NASA regulation, 

policy, or requirement that presents 

barriers to individuals and institutions 

that are part of underserved 

communities from identifying or 

applying for NASA financial assistance 

opportunities or implementing a 

financial assistance award? 

10. What challenges do NASA 

financial assistance recipients face 

when developing and implementing 

policies and procedures that advance 

diversity and inclusion and/or equity 

for underserved communities? 

11. What resources could NASA 

provide to assist with the development 

or implementation of policies and 

procedures that advance diversity and 

inclusion and/or equity for underserved 

communities? 

12. What challenges do NASA 

financial assistance recipients face 

regarding compliance with 

nondiscrimination laws, such as Title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX 

of the Education Amendments of 1972, 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973, or the Age Discrimination Act of 

1975? What role can NASA play in 

addressing those challenges? 

13. What practical, complex and 

technologically innovative steps that, if 

implemented, could reduce barriers and 

challenges perceived or encountered by 

vendors/aspiring contractors when 

participating in the procurement 

process? 

14. What policies, regulations, or 

guidance documents should NASA add, 

revise, or remove to advance equity for 

underserved communities in the 

procurement process? 

15. What barriers do academic, nonprofit or philanthropic institutions face 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 15, 2021 / Notices 31737 

to accessing and using NASA data, 

science and technology to address 

environmental justice and other equity 

challenges facing underserved 

communities? 

16. What barriers or challenges do 

institutions or organizations face in 

recruiting diverse students from 

underserved communities to apply to 

and participate in internships or similar 

work-based learning experiences (e.g., 

research opportunities, coops, 

externships)? 

17. What barriers or challenges do 

institutions or organizations face in 

retaining diverse students from 

underserved communities who apply to 

and participate in internships or similar 

work-based learning experiences (e.g., 

research opportunities, coops, 

externships)? 

Opportunities for NASA to Leverage Its 

Data, Expertise, Missions To Help 

Underserved Communities 

1. How can NASA utilize SMD’s 

scientific competition process to 

develop research and tools that will 

advance environmental justice, support 

rural, urban, and coastal communities, 

and address equity challenges facing 

underserved communities? 

2. How can NASA better collaborate 

with academic research institutions, 

particularly Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic 

Serving Institutions (HSI), and other 

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), to 

advance environmental justice, support 

rural, urban, and coastal communities, 

and address equity challenges facing 

underserved communities? 

3. What opportunities do you see for 

NASA research-to advance 

environmental justice, support rural, 

urban, and coastal communities, and 

address equity challenges facing 

underserved communities? 

4. How can NASA better collaborate 

with non-profit and philanthropic 

organizations to advance environmental 

justice; support rural, urban, and coastal 

communities; and address equity 

challenges facing underserved 

communities? 

5. How can NASA better collaborate 

with other federal, state, local, regional 

and Tribal authorities to advance 

environmental justice; support rural, 

urban, and coastal communities; and 

address equity challenges facing 

underserved communities? 

6. What types of data are most needed 

that would assist academic, non-profit 

or philanthropic institutions in 

advancing environmental justice, 

supporting rural, urban, and coastal 

communities, and addressing equity 

challenges facing underserved 

communities? 

7. What types of data are most needed 

that would assist academic, non-profit 

or philanthropic institutions in 

advancing environmental justice; 

supporting rural, urban, and coastal 

communities; and addressing equity 

challenges facing underserved 

communities? 

8. What other opportunities are there 

for NASA to leverage its data, expertise, 

and missions to address challenges 

facing rural, urban, and coastal areas; 

communities of color; persons with 

disabilities; persons otherwise adversely 

affected by persistent poverty or 

inequality; and other members of 

underserved communities? 

Engagement and Outreach With 

Organizations and Individuals From 

Underserved Communities 

1. How can the NASA Office of Small 

Business Programs (OSBP) improve the 

effectiveness of its outreach events to 

include better representation and 

substantive participation from small 

businesses owned or operated by 

leaders from underserved communities? 

(virtual and in-person) 

2. What can OSBP do to better engage 

underrepresented communities in 

NASA’s outreach and small business 

events? 

3. How can OSBP improve the OSBP 

Mobile App in being more effective in 

providing small business information to 

underrepresented communities? 

4. What organizations should NASA 

partner with to ensure underrepresented 

communities are represented in the 

awarding of NASA grants and 

cooperative agreements? 

5. What products or outreach 

materials are most effective in reaching 

underserved or underrepresented 

communities for grant and procurement 

opportunities? 

6. What mediums would be the best 

to advertise NASA grants and 

cooperative agreements in order to reach 

HBCUs, HSIs and other MSIs and other 

institutions focused on advancing racial 

justice and/or equity for underserved 

communities? 

7. What are some of the workshops/ 

conferences supporting underserved 

communities that could benefit from 

NASA’s presence? What types of 

information would you like to see 

NASA present at these workshops/ 

conferences? 

8. Do you know how to reach a 

contracting/procurement staff member 

to share your capability statement, and 

conduct business with NASA? 

9. What is the best way for NASA to 

reach your members of underserved 

communities when announcing 

available procurement actions? 

10. How should NASA enhance or 

change its communication and outreach 

engagements to ensure that members of 

underserved communities are made of 

aware of procurement opportunities and 

have a fair opportunity to compete for 

such opportunities? 

11. In addition to our normal modes 

of publicizing and sharing information 

about our procurements (e.g., 

Fedbizopps, Industry Days, Public 

Meetings etc.), what other tools should 

NASA use to share information about 

available procurements to reach a wider 

audience that includes businesses, 

institutions and individuals not 

typically engaged with NASA? 

12. What professional associations 

and organizations should NASA contact 

to reach members of underserved 

communities to provide information 

about available procurement 

opportunities that align with their 

capabilities and policy and process 

changes that impact their operations? 

13. What resources or avenues can 

NASA expand upon to bring awareness 

to underrepresented and underserved 

communities and improve their 

participation and outcomes, including 

HBCUs and MSIs? For example, how 

might NASA expand participation 

through the following STMD programs: 

• NASA maintains a portfolio of 

patents with commercial potential and 

makes them available to the public 

through our patent license program. 

Further, NASA’s Software Catalog offers 

hundreds of new free software products 

for a wide variety of technical 

applications. These resources offer the 

opportunity for entrepreneurs to build 

new products and companies, 

generating economic impact and jobs. 

• NASA offers devoted research and 

development funding to small 

businesses and entrepreneurs through 

the SBIR/STTR programs, which also 

offer pathways to directed procurements 

from NASA. 

• NASA offers a host of research and 

development grants to universities and 

other innovators through the Space 

Technology Research (STRG) and NASA 

Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) 

programs, which engage faculty, 

students and university research teams. 

• NASA makes opportunities 

available for public participation in 

NASA research and technology 

solutions to support NASA missions 

and inspire new national aerospace 

capabilities through the Prizes, 

Challenges and Crowdsourcing Program. 

For more information on other STMD 

programs, including technology transfer, 

and funding opportunities, see: https:// 


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31738 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 15, 2021 / Notices 

www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/ 

home/index.html and https://

www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/ 

solicitations. 

Diversity and Equal Opportunity at 

NASA and in the STEM Community 

1. What strategies should NASA 

consider in creating more diverse and 

inclusive workforces and what best 

practices have been established to 

remove or lessen these challenges? 

2. What strategies should NASA 

consider to ensure opportunity and 

accessibility to particular groups, such 

as individuals with disabilities, or 

limited English proficient individuals? 

3. What best practices should NASA 

adopt in conducting outreach to 

members of underserved communities 

including to enhance employment and 

program participation opportunities? 

4. What diversity, equity, inclusion, 

and accessibility (DEIA) strategies 

should NASA implement to broaden the 

applicant pool of historically 

underrepresented and underserved 

students in internships or similar workbased learning experiences (e.g., 

research opportunities, coops, 

externships)? 

5. What DEIA strategies should NASA 

implement to increase the participation 

of historically underrepresented and 

underserved students in internships or 

similar work-based learning experiences 

(e.g., research opportunities, coops, 

externships)? 

6. What barriers or challenges do 

institutions or organizations face in 

recruiting diverse students from 

underserved communities to apply to 

and participate in internships or similar 

work-based learning experiences (e.g., 

research opportunities, coops, 

externships)? 

7. What barriers or challenges do 

institutions or organizations face in 

retaining diverse students from 

underserved communities who apply to 

and participate in internships or similar 

work-based learning experiences (e.g., 

research opportunities, coops, 

externships)? 

8. What DEIA strategies should NASA 

use to implement virtual internships or 

similar work-based learning experiences 

(e.g., research opportunities, coops, 

externships)? 

9. What skills and competencies are 

intentionally being developed through 

internships and similar work-based 

learning experiences (e.g., research 

opportunities, coops, externships)? 

10. What barriers or challenges do 

institutions or organizations face when 

collecting data or performing 

assessments to understand the outcomes 

of DEIA strategy implementation for 

internships or similar work-based 

learning experiences (e.g., research 

opportunities, coops, externships)? 

11. What types of data collection, 

analysis, and reporting mechanisms 

should NASA use to assess the 

effectiveness and outcomes of 

internships or similar work-based 

learning experiences? 

12. Does your institution or 

organization have any affinity groups or 

committees to support diverse 

populations access STEM/internships/ 

work-based learning experiences? How 

does your organization or institution 

define diversity? 

13. Does your institution offer any 

formal training to internship/workbased learning mentors around biases, 

anti-racism, or general DEIA? 

IV. Written Comments 

Written responses should not exceed 

20 pages, inclusive of a 1-page cover 

page as described below. Attachments 

or linked resources or documents are 

not included in the 20-page limit. Please 

respond concisely, in plain language, 

and in narrative format. You may 

respond to some or all questions listed 

in the RFI. Please ensure it is clear 

which question you are responding to. 

You may also include links to online 

material or interactive presentations but 

please ensure all links are publicly 

available. Each response should 

include: (1) The name of the 

individual(s) and/or organization 

responding; (2) policy suggestions that 

your submission and materials support; 

(3) a brief description of the responding 

individual(s) or organization’s mission 

and/or areas of expertise; and (4) a 

contact for questions or other follow-up 

on your response. Please note that this 

RFI is a planning document and will 

serve as such. The RFI should not be 

construed as policy, a solicitation for 

proposals, or an obligation on the part 

of the government. Interested parties 

who respond to this RFI may be 

contacted for a follow-on strategic 

agency assessment dialogue, discussion, 

event, crowdsource campaign, or 

competition. 

V. Review of Public Feedback 

NASA will use the public’s feedback 

to help initiate strategic plans, consider 

reforms, and execute reports as required 

by the Equity E.O. NASA will also use 

the public’s feedback to consider 

reduction of administrative burdens 

more broadly. This notice is issued 

solely for information and programplanning purposes. Public input 

provided in response to this notice does 

not bind NASA to any further actions, 

to include publishing a formal response 

or agreement to initiate a recommended 

change. NASA will consider the 

feedback and make changes or process 

improvements at its sole discretion. 

NASA will continue a dialogue with 

industry and stakeholders to stay 

connected and engaged on barriers and 

challenges that impact members of the 

underserved communities. To that end, 

NASA will hold a public meeting on 

June 29, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 

p.m. Please register at https://

www.nasa.gov/mission-equity to hear 

and participate in discussions 

specifically about the barriers and 

challenges faced by members of 

underserved communities and 

recommendations for improving our 

practices and processes to advance 

racial equity and support underserved 

communities. As we get closer to the 

date for this event, additional 

information will be provided. Questions 

may be provided in advance; and we 

will do our best to address all questions 

during the event. 

Nanette Smith, 

Team Lead, NASA Directives and 

Regulations. 

[FR Doc. 2021–12668 Filed 6–14–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7510–13–P 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION 

[NRC–2021–0121] 

Monthly Notice; Applications and 

Amendments to Facility Operating 

Licenses and Combined Licenses 

Involving No Significant Hazards 

Considerations 

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission. 

ACTION: Monthly notice. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 189.a.(2) 

of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 

amended (the Act), the U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission (NRC) is 

publishing this regular monthly notice. 

The Act requires the Commission to 

publish notice of any amendments 

issued, or proposed to be issued, and 

grants the Commission the authority to 

issue and make immediately effective 

any amendment to an operating license 

or combined license, as applicable, 

upon a determination by the 

Commission that such amendment 

involves no significant hazards 

consideration (NSHC), notwithstanding 

the pendency before the Commission of 

a request for a hearing from any person. 

This monthly notice includes all 

amendments issued, or proposed to be 

issued, from April 30, 2021, to May 26, 


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