Starling Space Traffic Monitoring

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has a requirement for NASA intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract to ERADrive, Inc. for software algorithms and services to detect, identify, and track Resident Space Objects using star-tracker cameras on the Starling spacecraft swarm. The contract includes developing and integrating the software for the four-satellite system’s Xilinx Zynq processor and testing its scalability, response time, and capabilities over a 24-month period (May 2025–May 2027). The work leverages the existing on-orbit infrastructure and includes delivering supporting documentation.

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) intends to issue a sole-source contract to acquire software algorithms and related services from ERADrive, Inc. This procurement is justified under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, as ERADrive, Inc. is the only responsible source capable of providing a demonstrated, on-orbit solution for detecting, identifying, and tracking Resident Space Objects using star-tracker cameras on the Starling spacecraft swarm’s Xilinx Zynq processor, with no other sources offering a comparable, operational system compatible with the existing infrastructure.

The Government intends to acquire a commercial product or service using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Joshua.D.Taggart not later than 5:00 CT p.m. on March 31, 2025. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this acquisition on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at : https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf