REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

2 January 2060
"Aresam" Space Settlement Contract
INTRODUCTION
This is a request by the Foundation Society for contractors to propose the design,
development, construction, and operations planning of the first large space settlement community in
Mars orbit. The need and requirements for the "Aresam" space settlement have been established
through studies performed by the Foundation Society.
Foundation Society experience with its existing space settlements--especially its first large
settlement on Earths moon--has demonstrated that the opportunities enabled by a new site do not
become fully apparent until people live, work, and think in that location. Surveys on Mars have
found a diversity of mineral resources almost as great as on Earth, with superior accessibility to
ores that have not been exposed to millennia of human harvesting. The unique environment on
Mars caused formation of previously unknown compounds and ores, with properties that are still
being investigated and the possibility that new materials capabilities may be discovered. It is
anticipated that there may be opportunities for new products that can establish markets in Earths
neighborhood, despite interplanetary transportation costs.
Although Aresam will be in orbit rather than on the surface of Mars, it will provide the link
between Mars surface operations and the rest of human civilization. All cargo and passengers en
route to the planet will transfer to specialized landing vehicles in Aresams port. All cargo and
passengers leaving Mars will transfer to interplanetary ships through Aresam. Until infrastructure
is established on the planet, Aresam will provide vehicles, food, tools, and other supplies necessary
for human operations on the surface. Mars landing/launch vehicles will be built and based at
Aresam; surface exploration vehicles will be built and supplied from there. Scientists studying
Mars and engineers planning infrastructure development will be based at Aresam. Indeed, the
Foundation Society plans for Aresam to serve as a gateway to Mars; its survey missions will
identify sites for development of major surface settlements, and its port will move the goods and
people that build those future settlements. Aresam will also be the nearest large settlement to
mining operations in the asteroid belt, for which it can serve as a major supply depot.
Because of its remoteness from existing space infrastructure, Aresam will be the most
ambitious project ever undertaken by the Foundation Society, a pioneer in development of large
space projects. The Foundation Society is taking a substantial risk to plan a major investment so
far from its existing operations. Contractors are encouraged to suggest products of sufficient value
to generate profit for the Foundation Society, as a guide to the pursuit of Martian exports that will
enable economic viability of Aresam and future construction on the surface.
Each existing Foundation Society settlement has a unique culture and business base.
Alexandriat is primarily a university town, retirement community, and suburb for executives who
prefer its laid-back culture. Bellevistat is a center for zero-g heavy manufacturing, with a workhard/play-hard culture. Columbiat will open in two years as an orbital commercial and banking
center, and the Foundation Societys headquarters; it will be a cosmopolitan and sophisticated city.
Alaskol mines and refines lunar regolith and offers lunar tourism opportunities; its residents
display the eccentric behaviors and a propensity for innovative fun that are typical in remote frontier
towns. When completed, Balderol will mine more valuable ores in older rocks on the lunar far side.
For planning purposes, the Foundation Society has selected Aresam as the name of this
settlement. The name honors the Greek god Ares, who represented the same entity as the Roman
god Mars.

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FORMAT AND SCHEDULE

For entries from Regions with Semi-Finalist Competitions or selection processes, follow submittal
instructions from the corresponding Regional Coordinators.
For all other entries, THREE single-sided copies and/or originals plus one pdf version of each proposal
must be received by the Foundation Society no later than Wednesday 22 April.
A U.S. Mail postmark of Saturday 18 April or earlier, or international air mail postmark of Wednesday 15
April or earlier, will be accepted as meeting the 22 April proposal submittal deadline.
Only entries from registered teams are eligible to advance in the Competition. Submit proposals in the
English language, single-sided on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper (or nearest international equivalent), with a 40 page limit,
print 10-point or larger with standard spacing, and all margins one inch or larger--print and image area 6 1/2 by 9
inches (16.5 by 22.8 cm) excluding header, footer, and page numbers. For font size reference, this page is Times
New Roman 10-point text with standard spacing and required margins. Cover page, Proposing Team Data page,
and Appendices A through C are required but do not count against the 40-page limit; table of contents and section
dividers do not count against the 40-page limit. It is advised that clarity, neatness, thoroughness, and organization
of the design description will aid the Foundation Society in recognizing the design's merits. Proposals must at
minimum include seven sections and three Appendices, numbered as follows:
1.0
Executive Summary [brief description of overall design features and merits]
2.0
Structural Design
2.1 External Configuration
2.2 Internal Arrangement
2.3 Construction Process
2.4 and 2.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
3.0
Operations and Infrastructure
3.1 Location and Materials Sources
3.2 Community Infrastructure
3.3 Construction Machinery
3.4 and 3.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
4.0
Human Factors and Safety
4.1 Community Design
4.2 Residential Design
4.3 Safe Access
4.4 and 4.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
5.0
Automation Design and Services [computer and robot systems]
5.1 Automation of Construction Processes
5.2 Facility Automation
5.3 Habitability and Community Automation
5.4 and 5.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
6.0
Schedule and Cost
6.1 Design and Construction Schedule
6.2 Costs
7.0
Business Development (may reference other sections where RFP 7. requirements are met)
Appendix A: Operational Scenario
Appendix B: Bibliography / References: reference ANY art or text not original for this proposal
Appendix C: Compliance Matrix
Due to incompatibilities of computer and software systems, proposals may not be submitted via electronic media
(with ONE pdf exception, defined in separate submittal instructions), e.g., e-mail, website, or CD. Teams may,
however, post artwork and design images for their proposals on websites, within the following guidelines:
(a)
Only drawings, pictorial representations, and artwork (including videos) are to be posted electronically; text
(except captions) and charts/tables must be included in the proposal submitted by mail.
(b)
Drawings associated with different Statement of Work (SOW) sub-sections (e.g., 3.1, 3.2, or 3.3) must be
posted in separate website locations (e.g., different links from a single site).
(c)
The first reference to a website for images in a proposal sub-section (e.g., 3.1, 3.2, or 3.3) will be included
as half of a proposal page--including address for accessing the site, AND a sample image from the site. Reemphasizing, if three sub-sections reference a website, the proposal section will include three half-page images.
(d)
Website images must be accessible by Macs or PCs and not require special software installation.

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STATEMENT OF WORK
1.
Basic Requirements - The contractor will describe the design, development, construction,
and operations/maintenance planning for the Aresam space settlement in Mars orbit.
2.
Structural Design - Aresam must initially provide a safe and pleasant living and working
environment for 12,000 full-time residents; plus an additional transient population, not to exceed
500 at any time, of business and official visitors, and guests of residents; and provide for brief intransit stays for up to 2000 people during two weeks when a cycler settlement is nearby. The
design must enable residents to have natural views of Mars below.
2.1 On exterior design drawing(s), identify large enclosed volumes and their uses, and show
dimensions of major structural components and design features. Identify construction materials for
major hull components. Specify volumes where artificial gravity will be supplied, structural
interface(s) between rotating and non-rotating sections, and rationale for selected rotation rate and
artificial gravity magnitude(s). Identify volumes maintained in pressurized or unpressurized
environments. Specify means of protecting from radiation and debris penetration.
Minimum requirement: overall exterior view of settlement, with major visible features (e.g., solar
panels, antennas), showing rotating and non-rotating sections, pressurized and non-pressurized
sections, and indicating functions inside each volume (e.g., port, residential areas, and agriculture).
2.2 Specify percentage allocation and dimensions of interior down surfaces, with drawings
labeled to show residential, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and other uses. Show orientation of
down surfaces with respect to overall settlement design, and vertical clearance in each area.
Minimum requirement: overall map or layout of interior land areas, showing usage of those areas.
2.3 Describe the process required to construct the settlement, by showing the sequence in which
excavations will be conducted and major components will be assembled. Specify when artificial
gravity will be applied.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) showing at least six intermediate steps of settlement assembly,
and method of initiating rotation for artificial gravity.
2.4 Aresam is expected to require expanded capabilities during transitions from early exploration
to major surface construction to large-scale operations on Mars. Show design features enabling
expansion, emphasizing reduction of initial construction costs and later operations disruption.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s)/map(s) showing interface(s) and/or other system(s) enabling
future expansion, especially port modifications to accommodate currently unknowable vehicles.
2.5 To enable rapid deployment of Mars surface bases when locations of interest are identified,
create a design for a prefabricated structure to be built at Aresam of materials from Phobos and/or
Deimos that can be transported to the Martian surface inside one cargo container (internal
dimensions 4m x 4m x 9m), can be erected by two spacesuited persons in 10 or fewer hours, and is
provisioned to accommodate up to 4 people for 30 days.
Minimum requirement: drawings of deployed and undeployed prefabricated base configurations,
plus at least one interim configuration illustrating the deployment process.
3.
Operations and Infrastructure - Describe facilities and infrastructure necessary for
building and operating the Aresam space settlement and associated communities.
3.1 Locate Aresam on, in, or attached to either Martian moon, Phobos or Deimos. Identify
sources of materials and equipment to be used in construction, then in settlement operations after
construction is complete (using as much material as possible from Phobos and/or Deimos).
Minimum requirement: table identifying types, amounts, and sources of construction materials.
3.2 Aresam design will show elements of basic infrastructure required for the activities of the
settlement's residents, including (but not limited to):
atmosphere/climate/weather control (identify air composition, pressure, and quantity),
food production (including growing, harvesting, storing, packaging, delivering, selling),
electrical power generation (specify kilowatts), distribution, and allocation for specific uses,
water management (specify required water quantity and storage facilities),
household and industrial solid waste management (specify recycling and/or disposal),
internal and external communication systems (specify devices and central equipment),
internal transportation systems (show routes and vehicles, with dimensions), and
day/night cycle provisions (specify schedule and mechanisms/operations for providing it).

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Define storage facilities required to protect against interruption in production of food (e.g., blight)
or commodities needed for daily life; supply lines for imports may be interrupted for ten months.
Minimum requirement: chart(s) or table(s) specifying quantities required of air, food, power, water,
waste handling, communications devices, and internal transport vehicles.
3.3 Show conceptual designs of primary machines and equipment employed for constructing the
settlement, especially for excavation, assembling exterior structural elements, and interior buildings /
structures. Describe materials, components, and/or subassemblies delivered to the machines, and
how the machines convert delivered supplies into completed settlement structures.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) of primary construction machinery, showing how it shapes
and/or manipulates raw materials or structural components into finished form.
3.4 Describe materials harvesting operations on Phobos and/or Deimos, and refining/processing
of Phobos/Deimos resources to provide construction materials and supplies for Aresam operations.
Minimum requirement: illustration of Phobos and/or Deimos mining base.
3.5 Describe air, food, power, water, and waste systems required for operations of a prefabricated
base as described in Paragraph 2.5.
Minimum requirement: chart or table listing quantities of air, food, power, water, and waste.
4.
Human Factors - Aresam will offer attributes available to residents of Earth's small cities in
developed countries. Provide natural sunlight and views of space outside and Mars below for
residents.
4.1 Aresam will provide services that residents expect in comfortable modern communities (e.g.,
housing, entertainment, medical, parks and recreation), variety and quantity of consumer goods, and
public areas designed with long lines of sight. List major types of consumables, and quantities.
Depict or specify means of distributing consumables (including food) to Aresam residents.
Minimum requirement: map(s) and/or illustration(s) depicting community design and amenities.
4.2 Provide designs of typical residences, clearly showing room sizes; home designs will be no
smaller than 800 sq. ft. and no larger than 2000 sq. ft. Identify source(s) and/or manufacture of
furniture items and appliances. Anticipated demographics of the original population are:
Married adults
40% (average age 38, median age 34)
Single Men
35% (average age 34, median age 36)
Single Women
23% (average age 40, median age 37)
Children (under 18) 2% (average age 10, median age 12)
Minimum requirement: external drawing and interior floor plan of at least four home designs, the
area (preferably in square feet) for each residence design, and the number required of each design.
4.3 Designs of systems, devices, and vehicles intended for use by humans outside of artificial
gravity volumes will emphasize safety. Show spacesuit designs, with stowage and donning/doffing
procedures, and airlock designs for exiting/entering the settlement from unpressurized volumes.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) showing examples of handrails, tethers, cages, and/or other
systems enabling safe human access to any location on or in low-g settlement areas.
4.4 Resident choices and immigration are expected to cause rapid demographic shifts in Aresam.
Show examples of flexible housing and community design to respond to anticipated changes.
Minimum requirement: floor plan of at least one home design conversion between single and
multiple occupancy.
4.5 Show interior configuration of a prefabricated base as described in Paragraph 2.5.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) of base structure interior floor plan and amenities.
5.
Automation Design and Services - Specify numbers and types of computing and
information processing devices, multi-function personal electronic tools, servers, network devices,
and robots required for Aresam's facility, community, and business operations. Describe types and
capacities of data storage media, data security, and user access to computer networks. Show robot
designs, clearly indicating their dimensions and illustrating how they perform their tasks.
5.1 Describe use of automation for construction. Consider automation for transportation and
delivery of materials and equipment, assembly of the settlement, and interior finishing.
Minimum requirement: drawings showing automated construction and assembly devices--both for
exterior and interior applications (e.g., homes)--and illustrating how they operate.
5.2 Specify automation systems for settlement maintenance, repair, and safety functions, including
backup systems and contingency plans. Robots required for emergency external repairs must

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survive and accomplish tasks during solar flare activity. Describe means for authorized personnel to
access critical data and command computing and robot systems; include descriptions of security
measures to assure that only authorized personnel have access, and only for authorized purposes.
Minimum requirement: chart or table listing anticipated automation requirements for operation of
the settlement, and identifying particular systems and robots to meet each automation need.
5.3 Describe automation devices to enhance livability in the community, productivity in work
environments, and convenience in residences. Emphasize use of automation to perform maintenance
and routine tasks, and reduce requirements for manual labor. Provide for privacy of personal data
and control of systems in private spaces. Describe devices for personal delivery of internal and
external communications services, entertainment, information, computing, and robot resources.
Minimum requirement: dimensioned drawings of robots and computing systems that people will
encounter, and diagram(s) of network(s) and bandwidth requirements enabling connectivity.
5.4 Aresam residents will require access to data repositories on Earth, which will not be instantly
available due to communication time delays between Earth and Mars. Describe access processes to
Earth-based Internet/website data, both for retrieving and posting information.
Minimum requirement: table describing or images showing Internet user experiences on Aresam;
include user messages to identify delays, and methods to create appearances of instant access.
5.5 Provide robotic assistants for deployment of prefabricated base design as described in
Paragraph 2.5, conducting materials harvesting operations on Phobos and/or Deimos as described
in Paragraph 3.4, and refining/processing of raw materials.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) of robotic base deployment; show how robots move,
manipulate, and secure components.
6.
Schedule and Cost - The proposal will include a schedule for completion and occupation of
Aresam, and costs for design through construction phases of the schedule.
6.1 The schedule must describe contractor tasks from the time of contract award (15 May 2060)
until the customer assumes responsibility for operations of the completed settlement. Show
schedule dates when Foundation Society members may begin moving into their new homes, and
when the entire original population will be established in the community. Show planned progress
in increments no larger than monthly.
Minimum requirement: durations and completion dates of major design, construction, and
occupation tasks, depicted in a list, chart, or drawing.
6.2 Specify costs billed per year of Aresam design through construction in U.S. dollars, without
consideration for economic inflation. Estimate numbers of employees working during each phase
of design and construction in the justification for contract costs to design and build the settlement.
Minimum requirement: chart(s) or table(s) listing separate costs associated with different phases of
construction, and clearly showing total costs that will be billed to the Foundation Society.
7.
Business Development - Aresam will host various commercial and industrial ventures,
which may change with time. The basic design must be sufficiently flexible to add compatible
business types with little configuration change. The original configuration must, however,
accommodate three major business pursuits:
Transportation Node and Port
- Docking, warehousing, and cargo-handling capability to transfer freight between
spacecraft, including cargo associated with large-scale Mars surface development and
industrial enterprises planned for Mars and the asteroids
- Terminal facilities to handle passenger traffic in transit to and from the Mars surface
- Refueling and provisioning services for visiting ships
- Base and repair depot for a fleet of Mars surface landing / launch vehicles
- Rescue and hospital services for asteroid mining operations
- Vehicles spending time on the Martian surface and operating on the surface of
Phobos or Deimos will accumulate dust on exterior and interior surfaces; show
method(s) for preventing dust from entering enclosed areas in Aresam
- Medical and quarantine services assure treatment and isolation of serious illnesses
Manufacturing center for elements of Mars and Phobos / Deimos infrastructure
- Products will include launch/landing and surface vehicles, tools, machinery, robots,
and prefabricated transportable bases as described in Paragraph 2.5

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- Identify sources of materials for vehicle, robot, and prefab base construction
- Describe manufacturing processes to be conducted in pressurized, non-pressurized,
rotating, and non-rotating volumes of Aresam
- Illustrate a representative scene from a production line
- Show how vehicles and robots intended for surface operations will be transported
- Show how food and other commodities will be transported to the surface of Mars
Research center for development of commercial products from Mars resources
- Provide laboratory(ies) for assay of and experiments with materials collected on
Mars; laboratory types to include:
- materials refining and processing
- manufacturing in 38% of Earths gravity
- research to produce solar panels for use on Mars
- medical research into compounds that may act as catalysts for cures
- Provide capability to quickly begin production for product(s) identified as having
commercial potential
- Describe cost criteria for selecting commercially viable products: value of products
on Earth vs. transportation costs from Mars
- Although surveys have not found life on Mars, more ambitious exploration of the
planet may find life; labs must be configured to enable quarantine if materials
hazardous to humans are identified
8. Appendices - although required to be included in the proposal, will NOT count against the
40-page proposal limit.
A. Operational Assessment - describe the timeline of experiences of typical Mars-bound
passengers in Aresam, from the time they arrive at a docking bay in the settlements port, to the time
they depart in a shuttle to the Martian surface. Stay times at Aresam can vary from three days to
one (Earth) month.
B. Bibliography / References - Any text or image that is not an original creation specifically
for this proposal (e.g., artwork from a website, book, magazine, journal, or prior proposal) must be
specifically referenced to source materials listed here.
C. Compliance Matrix - Include a table that lists each requirement in the SOW, and specifies
the page in the proposal where that requirement is addressed.
EVALUATION STANDARDS
Evaluation of each design presentation considers four general categories of factors:
A. Thoroughness - Design meets depth and diversity of requirements in the entire SOW.
Graphs, tables, drawings, and compliance matrices aid evaluation of this factor.
B. Credibility - Design addresses requirements, safety, physical laws, and cost/schedule in a
believable manner. Errors, impossibilities, omissions, and illogic are penalized.
C. Balance - Proposal places equal emphasis on four technical areas: structural design,
operations, livability, and automation. Proposal is organized in a logical, easy-to-follow manner.
D. Innovation - Design demonstrates original thinking to address SOW requirements.
Technologies are applied and combined in unique and creative ways.
ADDENDA
Proposals may suggest alternate names for this community, within the Foundation Society's
established naming convention that requires the name to begin with the letter "A" (first settlement at
an "am" location) and end with the suffix "am" (settlement is in orbit around Mars).
If a proposal is submitted that has more than the allowed 40 pages (excluding cover page,
registration page, table of contents, section dividers, and Appendices A through C) only the first 40
pages will be reviewed and judged.
Drawings and/or maps included in the proposal must show dimensions consistently in
English (feet/miles) or metric (meters/kilometers) notation, except when specified by the SOW.