Small Bodies Discipline Node

SOL #: 80GSFC27PDSSBDSources Sought

Overview

Buyer

National Aeronautics And Space Administration
National Aeronautics And Space Administration
NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
GREENBELT, MD, 20771, United States

Place of Performance

Greenbelt, MD

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (927110)

PSC

General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Basic Research (AJ11)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
May 28, 2026
2
Last Updated
Jun 2, 2026
3
Response Deadline
Jun 12, 2026, 6:00 PM

Qualification Details

Fit reasons
  • NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
  • Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
  • Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
  • Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps

Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.

Quick Summary

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is conducting market research via a Sources Sought notice for the Small Bodies Discipline Node (SBN) of the Planetary Data System (PDS). This initiative aims to identify capable sources for the long-term preservation and accessibility of planetary mission data, specifically for small bodies. NASA is seeking capability statements and industry feedback to determine the appropriate level of competition and potential small business subcontracting goals. Responses are due June 12, 2026.

Purpose & Scope

This Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes, allowing industry to verify the reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement and promote competition. The SBN's primary objective is to ensure the long-term preservation, accessibility, and usability of planetary mission data, supporting NASA's scientific goals.

Key responsibilities outlined in the draft Statement of Work include:

  • Planetary Science Mission Support: Ingesting, validating, and archiving small bodies data, including designating Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs).
  • Data Archival & Preservation: Implementing NASA PDS Level 3 and 4 requirements, ensuring long-term preservation and public availability in a secure, compliant manner.
  • Cloud Migration: Migrating all Discipline Node data holdings, services, and tools to a NASA-managed cloud environment.
  • Standards & Documentation: Maintaining PDS archiving standards, interoperability, and PDS4 Local Language Dictionaries (LDD).
  • Working Groups: Participating in PDS working groups and supporting NASA Science Mission Directorate data management.
  • Minor Planet Center (MPC) Management: Providing technical and financial management for the MPC.
  • International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) Support: Offering administration and data aggregation support to the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO).

Contract & Timeline

  • Type: Sources Sought / Market Research
  • Product Service Code: AJ11 (General Science And Technology R&D Services)
  • Period of Performance (Draft SOW): December 1, 2026 – November 30, 2029
  • Place of Performance (Draft SOW): University of Maryland at College Park (UMCP) and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)
  • Set-Aside: None specified for this Sources Sought. The Government reserves the right to consider various small business set-asides (SB, SDB, HUBZone, VOSB, SDVOSB, WOSB) based on responses.
  • Response Due: June 12, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
  • Published: June 2, 2026.

Key Requirements & Feedback

Respondents are requested to provide capability statements and informed input on:

  1. Realistic and appropriate Small Business (SB) subcontracting goals.
  2. Barriers limiting SB participation (e.g., certifications, technical requirements, security needs).
  3. Strategies to increase SB participation (e.g., breaking requirements, identifying subcontracting areas, teaming/mentor protégé approaches).

The requirement involves strict adherence to federal and NASA cybersecurity standards, including NIST SP800-53rev5 Federally Mandated and NASA Critical Controls, and NASA-SPEC-2661.Controls v2.0 for IT/OT security control baselines. Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for data accessibility is also required.

Submission Details

Responses must be submitted electronically via email to Candis.Edwards@nasa.gov. Reference 80GSFC27PDSSBD. This is not a Request for Proposal, and no proposals should be submitted. NASA intends to publicize a listing of respondents to facilitate teaming arrangements; firms wishing to opt-out must clearly indicate this in their response.

People

Points of Contact

Carlos E. NateraPRIMARY
Candis EdwardsSECONDARY

Files

Files

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Versions

Version 3Viewing
Sources Sought
Posted: Jun 2, 2026
Version 2
Sources Sought
Posted: May 29, 2026
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Version 1
Sources Sought
Posted: May 28, 2026
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Small Bodies Discipline Node | GovScope