Active Solicitation · NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

    AUTONOMOUS SPACE-BASED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT - STARLING MISSION FOLLOW-ON

    NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
    Sol. 80ARC026R0004PresolicitationMOFFETT FIELD, CA
    Open · 5d remaining
    DAYS TO CLOSE
    5
    closes Apr 28, 2026
    POSTED
    Apr 13, 2026
    Publication date
    NAICS CODE
    541715
    Primary industry classification
    PSC CODE
    AJ12
    Product & service classification

    AI Summary

    NASA requires software development services for the Starling mission, focusing on autonomous swarm space situational awareness for CubeSats. The contractor will enhance software for object tracking and orbit determination. This is a sole-source contract to EraDrive, Inc., which holds the proprietary software. Interested parties may submit qualifications by April 28, 2026.

    Contract details

    Solicitation No.
    80ARC026R0004
    Notice Type
    Presolicitation
    Posted Date
    April 13, 2026
    Response Deadline
    April 28, 2026
    NAICS Code
    541715AI guide
    PSC / Class Code
    AJ12
    Primary Contact
    Joshua Taggart
    State
    CA
    ZIP Code
    94035
    AI Product/Service
    service

    Description

    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

    Key dates

    1. April 13, 2026Posted Date
    2. April 28, 2026Proposals / Responses Due

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    Frequently asked questions

    AUTONOMOUS SPACE-BASED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT - STARLING MISSION FOLLOW-ON is a federal acquisition solicitation issued by NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION. Review the full description, attachments, and submission requirements on SamSearch before the response deadline.

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