Models for central spatial orientation vestibular-visual processing

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center has issued a Special Notice for the development and refinement of models for central spatial orientation vestibular-visual processing. This is a presolicitation notice for a sole source procurement to be awarded to Faisal Karmali of Belmont, Massachusetts for work performed at NASA Johnson Space Center. The government intends to acquire commercial items and services under FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13 procedures, with the work classified under NAICS Code 541330 (Engineering Services). Interested organizations may submit written capabilities and qualifications to contest the sole source determination. The agency reserves the right to proceed with the sole source award regardless of responses received.

The objective of this procurement is to develop computational models that simulate vestibular-visual processing for lunar landing astronauts, incorporating optimal estimation techniques based on sensory signal-to-noise ratios applicable to moon landing scenarios. Interested parties must submit written capabilities and qualifications no later than 1 p.m. Central Standard Time on February 2, 2026, directed to Cara Craft at Cara.s.craft@nasa.gov. Qualifying contractors must demonstrate substantial experience in human experimental studies and dynamic computational modeling, with specific expertise in perceptual thresholds, trial-to-trial variability analysis, Kalman filters, and computational modeling of human motion perception. Contractors should also possess proven expertise in accounting for pathology and aging effects in motion perception, with the ability to explain perception dynamics changes in partial gravity environments where otolith organ g-level sensing varies across mission phases. Oral communications will not be accepted, and interested organizations should reference the NASA Center Ombudsman for questions regarding this acquisition.