Sierra Space prototype root modules HANDIVEG

Sierra Space is developing a prototype reusable space crop rooting module named HANDIVEG, designed to integrate with NASA’s Ohalo III system aboard the International Space Station. This procurement covers the full fabrication of the prototype, including parts, labor, fabrication processes, testing, technical reviews, and certification, ensuring it meets rigorous spaceflight standards. The HANDIVEG module is a critical component in advancing sustainable crop production in microgravity, supporting Ohalo III’s mission to validate key technologies such as precise water delivery, optimized growth volume, and operational efficiency for space-based agriculture. Ohalo III acts as a testbed to gather data that will directly influence the design of future long-duration space farming systems, making this prototype a foundational step toward enabling food production during deep space missions. The contract is set aside entirely for small businesses under SBA guidelines and falls under the NAICS code 541715, reflecting its classification as research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. The procurement is managed by NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with performance expected to occur in support of ISS operations, though specific geographic details are not provided.