AI-Driven Design Automation for Astrophysics Instruments

The contract seeks the development of an AI-driven system capable of converting natural language specifications, model-based systems engineering inputs, and CAD data into manufacturable designs for astrophysics instruments, with the explicit goal of achieving at least a fivefold improvement in design speed. Human-in-the-loop oversight is mandatory throughout the process to ensure design accuracy, compliance with mission requirements, and safe transition from concept to production. The system must integrate and interpret diverse technical inputs seamlessly, enabling rapid iteration and validation while maintaining the integrity of complex astrophysics component specifications. This is a small business set-aside subcontract under NAICS code 541715, managed by the NASA Shared Services Center on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The opportunity was posted on April 29, 2026, with a firm response deadline of May 21, 2026, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. Performance is expected to support NASA’s astrophysics instrumentation development goals, though the precise location of performance is not specified. Interested parties must respond as a qualified small business entity under the SBA’s Total Small Business Set-Aside criteria, with no additional set-aside preferences indicated.