JOFOC for Sustaining Engineering Support on the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument
Awarded Limited / Sole Source Justification Posted
- Solicitation number
- 80GSFC26C0002JOFOC
- Agency
- Goddard Space Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Contract number
- 80GGSFC26C0002 Federal contract award
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Place of performance
- Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Tamika Seaforth tamika.r.seaforth@nasa.gov (301) 286-4830
- Maria McNamee maria.l.mcnamee@nasa.gov (301) 286-8109
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center issued this Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) on December 3, 2025, to support the sole-source award of sustaining engineering support for the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument aboard the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover. The contract, designated 80GGSFC26C0002, was awarded to Honeybee Robotics LLC on October 2, 2025, and covers critical engineering services including instrument operations, operational script development, testing, troubleshooting, workarounds, and end-of-life analyses. NASA justified the sole-source approach based on Honeybee Robotics' unique expertise as the original developer of the SAM Instrument's Sample Manipulation System and the company's irreplaceable knowledge of the instrument's complex mechanisms; NASA conducted market research and published a synopsis on Sam.gov from May 29 to June 18, 2025, during which no alternative vendors expressed interest. The contract structure includes a 12-month base period with four one-year option periods, though the specific award value is redacted in the published justification document. NASA emphasized that utilizing another vendor would risk mission performance, increase potential operational anomalies, and compromise scientific research opportunities for the ongoing Mars exploration mission.
Notice text
This post provides the Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) supporting the sole source award of sustaining engineering support of the SAM instrument to Honeybee RObotics LLC. This notice is being posted as required by FAR 6.301. A copy of the Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) is attached to this notice.
Awarded contract 80GGSFC26C0002 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2025-10-02.
Attachments
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 80GSFC26C0002 SAM-SMS JOFOC_Redacted.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| JOFOC for Sustaining Engineering Support on the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument | Limited / Sole Source Justification | |
| Sustaining Engineering Support on the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument | Pre-Solicitation |
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