Autonomous Space-Based Situational Awareness Software Development - Starling Mission Follow-On
Key Dates
Due Date
-
Posted Date
-
Agency & Value
Agency
NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER
Contract Value
Not provided
Codes & Classification
Solicitation Number
80ARC026R0004
NAICS
541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Classification Code
AJ12
Additional Details
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has announced a presolicitation notice for the development of autonomous space-based situational awareness software, specifically as a follow-on to the Starling mission. The primary objective of this procurement is to enhance the capabilities of four 6U CubeSats operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by delivering software upgrades that enable advanced autonomous swarm situational awareness and control. The scope of work includes the development and delivery of software functionalities such as resident space object identification and tracking, autonomous orbit determination, swarm geometry maintenance and reconfiguration, onboard conjunction assessment, and multi-satellite autonomous orbit determination utilizing optical sensors. All software solutions must be capable of executing autonomously on-orbit, leveraging the CubeSats’ existing computational resources.
The intended outcome of this effort is to significantly advance the Starling mission’s ability to operate as a coordinated satellite swarm, improving both safety and operational efficiency through enhanced autonomy and situational awareness. The period of performance for this contract will extend from the date of award through January 20, 2027.
NASA/ARC plans to issue a sole-source contract to EraDrive, Inc., under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, citing that EraDrive, Inc. is the only responsible source. EraDrive, Inc. currently holds the proprietary EraDrive autonomy software integrated into the Starling CubeSats and possesses the unique technical data, codebase, and institutional knowledge necessary to perform the required upgrades within the specified timeframe. No set-aside requirements apply to this procurement, and the Government intends to acquire these services as a commercial product or service under FAR Part 12.
The place of performance for this contract is Palo Alto, California. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 541715, which pertains to Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), and Product Service Code AJ12.
Interested organizations that believe they have the capabilities and qualifications to perform this effort are invited to submit their information electronically to Joshua Taggart, Contracting Officer, at [email protected] by 5:00 PM PDT on April 28, 2026. Submissions will be evaluated solely to determine whether the acquisition should be conducted on a competitive basis. The Government reserves the right to make this determination at its sole discretion.
NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable to this acquisition. The Center Ombudsman can be found at the provided NASA procurement website. For further information, contractors may refer to the official notice on SAM.gov (Opportunity ID: 93ceb2271b924ca98c127c9ee3739b9e).
This opportunity is managed by NASA Ames Research Center, a federal office of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, located in Palo Alto, California. The primary point of contact for this procurement is Joshua Taggart, who can be reached via email at [email protected].
Contractors considering this opportunity should note the sole-source nature of the procurement, the specialized requirements for proprietary software integration, and the advanced technical scope focused on autonomous satellite swarm operations. These elements are expected to remain constant throughout the contract lifecycle.