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Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition: Spacecraft Optical Navigation and Autonomy Modules (Contract 80ARC026C0006)

Awarded

80ARC026C0006Federal

Contract Overview

Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.

AI Contract Overview

NASA Ames Research Center awarded a sole-source, firm-fixed-price commercial contract, number 80ARC026C0006, to EraDrive, Inc. of Palo Alto, California, on September 22, 2026. The contract is valued at 11,925,000 dollars, with a total potential value of 13,000,000 dollars including all options. The period of performance runs from September 23, 2026, through December 31, 2028. This acquisition was conducted under FAR Part 12 and authorized by 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) and FAR 6.103-1, as EraDrive was determined to be the only responsible source capable of satisfying the agency requirements due to its proprietary technology and TRL 9 flight heritage. The scope of the contract includes the delivery of two flight-qualified EraDrive Autonomy Modules, one optical hardware-in-the-loop stimulator, and one electrical ground support equipment kit featuring integration, test, verification, and validation tooling. Additionally, the award covers associated nonrecurring engineering and engineering support services. These modules are designed to provide autonomous onboard maneuver planning, autonomous optical detection, identification, and orbit determination of resident space objects, as well as vision-based, GPS-independent positioning, navigation, and timing. The effort is funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering under its Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program.

General Info

NASA awarded EraDrive $11.9M for autonomous flight modules and support through 2028.

Agency

National Aeronautics And Space Administration → NASA Ames Research Center

NAICS

334511 - Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing

Place of Performance

Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

Correction to JOFOC - Solicitation 80ARC026R0008

justification-and-authorization

Low

NASA ARC JOFOC - EraDrive Autonomy Modules (80ARC026R0008)

justification-and-authorization

Low

AI Contract Breakdown

Uniform Contract Format

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Timeline

1 update

PhaseAwarded

PostedSep 29

Justification (J&A)

Justification (J&A)Oct 20

Justification & Approval published

AwardedOct 22

Contract was awarded

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Organization & Contact Information

AgencyNational Aeronautics And Space Administration → NASA Ames Research Center

Contacts1 person available

OfficeMOFFETT FIELD, CA, 94035, USA

Organization / AgencyNational Aeronautics And Space Administration → NASA Ames Research Center

Office AddressMOFFETT FIELD, CA, 94035, USA

Contacts

Joshua Taggart

contact@example.gov

Full Description

NASA Ames Research Center awarded Contract 80ARC026C0006 to EraDrive, Inc., 221 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94301 (Unique Entity ID PLUQPL2X6CN3), on September 22, 2026, on a sole-source basis.

The contract is a firm-fixed-price definitive commercial contract for two (2) flight-qualified EraDrive Autonomy Modules, one optical hardware-in-the-loop stimulator, one electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) kit with integration, test, verification, and validation tooling, associated nonrecurring engineering, and engineering support services. The modules provide vision-based, Global Positioning System (GPS)-independent positioning, navigation, and timing; autonomous onboard maneuver planning; and autonomous optical detection, identification, and orbit determination of resident space objects.

Award amount: $11,925,000. Total value including all options: $13,000,000. Period of performance: September 23, 2026 through December 31, 2028.

This action was awarded using other than full and open competition under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The acquisition was conducted under the commercial procedures of FAR Part 12.

A notice of NASA’s intent to award this sole-source contract was published to the Government Point of Entry, SAM.gov, on June 16, 2026 and closed July 1, 2026. One capability statement was received in response to that notice, from Rhea Space Activity, Inc. It was evaluated by the technical office and did not establish an alternative source capable of satisfying the requirement within the program schedule.

NASA Ames Research Center is the servicing, awarding, and administering agency under an Economy Act reimbursable interagency agreement with the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, which is funding this effort under its Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program.

The approved Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition is attached. Portions have been redacted in accordance with FAR 6.301.

This notice is for informational purposes only. It is not a request for proposals, and no solicitation will be issued. No response is required.

Correction posted October 20, 2026: This notice as originally published, and Section 10 of the attached Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition, contained a scrivener’s error stating that no capability statements were received in response to notice 80ARC026R0008. One capability statement was received, from Rhea Space Activity, Inc., on June 30, 2026, and was evaluated. It did not establish an alternative source capable of satisfying the requirement within the program schedule. The sole-source determination and the August 11, 2026 approval are unchanged. See the attached correction memorandum.