Autonomous Space-Based Situational Awareness Software Development - Starling Mission Follow-On
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
A later notice was posted: the Limited / Sole Source Justification from .
- Solicitation number
- 80ARC026R0004
- Agency
-
Ames Research Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- PSC
- AJ12 General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Applied Research
- Place of performance
- Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
NASA Ames Research Center is procuring software development services to support the Starling formation-flying mission, specifically to develop and deliver autonomous swarm space situational awareness and control capabilities for four 6U CubeSats operating in Low Earth Orbit. The software must enable resident space object identification and tracking, autonomous orbit determination, swarm geometry maintenance and reconfiguration, onboard conjunction assessment, and multi-satellite autonomous orbit determination using optical sensors, with all functionality executing autonomously on-orbit using the CubeSats' existing computational resources. NASA/ARC intends to issue this as a sole-source contract to EraDrive, Inc. under FAR 6.302-1 based on their exclusive possession of proprietary technical data, codebase, and institutional knowledge of the currently integrated EraDrive autonomy software. However, interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to Joshua Taggart, Contracting Officer, at joshua.d.taggart@nasa.gov by 5:00 PM PDT on April 28, 2026, and such submissions will be evaluated to determine whether the Government should conduct the acquisition on a competitive basis, with the final decision remaining solely within the Government's discretion. The determination regarding competitive versus sole-source acquisition will be made at NASA's sole discretion following review of any submitted capabilities statements.
No set-aside designation has been applied to this procurement. EraDrive, Inc. is identified as the incumbent contractor holding the proprietary EraDrive autonomy software currently integrated into and operating on the Starling CubeSats. The period of performance extends from the date of award through January 20, 2027, providing a compressed timeline for delivery of the software upgrades. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice. The solicitation does not indicate whether FAR Part 12 commercial acquisition procedures will be utilized, and the notice references applicability of NASA Clause 1852.215-84 regarding the Ombudsman process for acquisition-related disputes or concerns.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
NASA/ARC has a requirement for software development services in support of the NASA Starling formation-flying mission. Specifically, the contractor shall develop and deliver software upgrades enabling autonomous swarm space situational awareness and control for four 6U CubeSats in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including resident space object identification and tracking, autonomous orbit determination, swarm geometry maintenance and reconfiguration, onboard conjunction assessment, and multi-satellite autonomous orbit determination using optical sensors. All software shall execute autonomously on-orbit using the CubeSats' existing computational resources. The period of performance is from date of award through January 20, 2027.
NASA/ARC intends to issue a sole-source contract to acquire these services from EraDrive, Inc. under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 (only one responsible source). EraDrive, Inc. holds the proprietary EraDrive autonomy software currently integrated into and operating on the Starling CubeSats. No other source possesses the technical data, codebase, or institutional knowledge required to perform this effort within the available performance window.
The Government intends to acquire a commercial product or service using FAR Part 12.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Joshua Taggart, Contracting Officer, at joshua.d.taggart@nasa.gov not later than 5:00 PM PDT on April 28, 2026. Such capabilities and qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf
Update #1 ·
NASA/ARC has a requirement for software development services in support of the NASA Starling formation-flying mission. Specifically, the contractor shall develop and deliver software upgrades enabling autonomous swarm space situational awareness and control for four 6U CubeSats in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including resident space object identification and tracking, autonomous orbit determination, swarm geometry maintenance and reconfiguration, onboard conjunction assessment, and multi-satellite autonomous orbit determination using optical sensors. All software shall execute autonomously on-orbit using the CubeSats' existing computational resources. The period of performance is from date of award through January 20, 2027.
NASA/ARC intends to issue a sole-source contract to acquire these services from EraDrive, Inc. under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 (only one responsible source). EraDrive, Inc. holds the proprietary EraDrive autonomy software currently integrated into and operating on the Starling CubeSats. No other source possesses the technical data, codebase, or institutional knowledge required to perform this effort within the available performance window.
The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial product or commercial service using FAR Part 12.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Joshua Taggart, Contracting Officer, at joshua.d.taggart@nasa.gov not later than 5:00 PM PDT on April 28, 2026. Such capabilities and qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Space-Based Situational Awareness Software - Starling Mission Follow-On | Limited / Sole Source Justification | |
| This notice | Pre-Solicitation |
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