Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition: Spacecraft Optical Navigation and Autonomy Modules (Contract 80ARC026C0006)
Updated
Justification from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for work in Palo Alto, California.
| Solicitation number | 80ARC026C0006 |
|---|---|
| Agency | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| Office | NASA Ames Research Center |
| Notice type | Justification |
| Set-aside | None |
| Trade (NAICS) | Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511) |
| Product or service code | 6605 |
| Place of performance | Palo Alto, California |
| Posted | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Not stated |
Official notice and attachments
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.
Contracting contact
- Joshua Taggart · [email protected]
As published on the official notice. Ask questions in writing and before any questions deadline the notice sets.
Is your business small enough?
For NAICS 334511, a business counts as small if it has no more than 1,350 employees (SBA size standard). This notice is not set aside, but the size decides your small business status on it. SBA table, current as of Oct 15, 2026.
Notice history
- Sep 29, 2026: Special Notice
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