Spacecraft Optical Navigation and Autonomy Modules
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract on a sole source basis to EraDrive, Inc. for Spacecraft Optical Navigation and Autonomy Modules. This special notice is for market research purposes; it is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested organizations may submit capabilities by July 1, 2026, 12:00 PM CDT.
Scope of Work
NASA ARC requires three (3) flight-qualified spacecraft autonomy modules, one optical hardware-in-the-loop stimulator, and one electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) kit, along with integration, test, verification, and validation tooling, and associated nonrecurring engineering and support services. These modules provide vision-based, GPS-independent positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), autonomous onboard maneuver planning, and autonomous optical detection, identification, and orbit determination of resident space objects.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Intent to Sole Source)
- Intended Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price
- Intended Awardee: EraDrive, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Capabilities Due: July 1, 2026, 12:00 PM CDT
- Published: June 16, 2026
- Product/Service Code: 6605 (Navigational Instruments)
Justification for Sole Source
EraDrive, Inc. is identified as the only known responsible source due to their proprietary rights to flight software and algorithms, and demonstrated flight heritage of their GPS-independent optical navigation and autonomy capability aboard NASA's Starling small spacecraft swarm. Award to any other source would require costly redevelopment, revalidation, and unacceptable delays.
Submission Requirements
Organizations interested in demonstrating their capability to meet this requirement must submit a statement electronically to Joshua Taggart (joshua.d.taggart@nasa.gov). The statement should demonstrate:
- An existing, flight-proven optical navigation and autonomy capability providing GPS-independent optical PNT, autonomous onboard maneuver planning, and resident space object detection and orbit determination.
- The rights and technical data necessary to produce and deliver flight-qualified modules without Government-furnished proprietary information.
- The ability to meet the delivery schedule.
Additional Notes
This notice is for market research. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition is solely at their discretion. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.