Autonomous Space-Based Situational Awareness Software Development - Starling Mission Follow-On

Project ID: 80ARC026R0004 FederalOpportunitiesPresolicitation

Overview

Agency	Ames Research Center
Deadline	04/28/26
Posted	04/27/26
Estimated Value	Not Provided
Set Aside	None
NAICS	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
Location	Palo Alto, CA 94304 United States

Description

Primary Latest Change

Posted: April 13, 2026, 2:16 p.m. EDT 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

Current (Newest Update)

Posted: April 26, 2026, 8:29 p.m. EDT 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

Contacts