80NSSC26R005
Appendix 26A: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION > NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION > NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER
New
Rejected
Quick analysis
NASA SBIR Phase I (Appendix 26A to BAA 80NSSC26R0003) is a small‑business R&D opportunity with proposals due May 21, 2026 (5:00 PM ET).
Available topic excerpts (e.g., lunar/Mars power transfer; in‑situ instruments) do not align with Trace’s documented core strengths in SATCOM, CDS, MPE, and CJADC2.
This is a new agency relationship (NASA Tier 3 in company profile) with no direct, documented Trace past performance at NASA or in SBIR.
SBIR-specific compliance details (e.g., eligibility nuances and performance allocation) could not be confirmed due to partial document access; competitive differentiation appears weak for the example topics.
Scope summary
- Submit SBIR Phase I proposal by May 21, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.
- Total Small Business set‑aside; proposer must meet SBIR small business eligibility requirements (details reside in the BAA/appendix).
- Maximum of two proposal packages per offeror for this Appendix.
- Follow Appendix 26A proposal preparation instructions and evaluation rubric (Attachment 26A.1).
- Address one of the Appendix 26A Chapter 9 technical topics with a feasible Phase I plan targeting TRL 3–5 and delivering, at minimum, a final report; bench‑scale prototype may be encouraged depending on topic.
- Engage NASA SBIR Help Desk before May 20, 2026, 5:00 PM ET if clarifications are needed.
Dimension scores
Total
- 42/100
Technical Fit
- 7/20
Partial topic excerpts emphasize lunar/Mars power transfer and in‑situ instruments (TRL 3–5). These are outside Trace’s documented core strengths (SATCOM/multi‑orbit integration, CDS/NSA TI, MPE/coalition C2, tactical edge). No evidence of a directly matching topic was available in the partial extract.
Past Performance
- 8/20
Trace has relevant space communications past performance (e.g., EMSS EPCC, pLEO; Space Force/DoD) but no documented NASA/SBIR R&D history in the provided materials. Mission area adjacency exists (space), yet agency and mechanism differ.
Vehicles / Contract Access
- 5/10
This is a BAA (open SBIR mechanism), not issued on a Trace‑held prime vehicle. Access is via open SBIR submission rather than a required contract vehicle.
Competitive Position
- 3/15
No incumbent position or stated differentiators (e.g., NSA TI, Starshield reseller) that confer advantage for the example topics. NASA SBIR is broadly competitive and topic‑specialized; provided excerpts do not align with Trace’s differentiators.
Risk
- 7/15
Moderate risk: new agency relationship, early‑stage R&D (TRL 3–5), short timeline, and incomplete visibility into full topic set and SBIR compliance details due to partial document access. No unusual certifications identified in the excerpts.
Strategic Value
- 7/10
Potential to open a new NASA relationship (Tier 3 in company profile) and an SBIR pathway, but strategic value is uncertain without a clearly aligned topic in Trace’s core lanes.
Compliance
- 5/10
Set‑aside is Total Small Business; Trace has ~330 employees. However, SBIR‑specific eligibility and performance‑allocation requirements could not be confirmed from the partial document. Compliance posture therefore remains uncertain.
Concerns
- Topic misalignment with Trace’s documented strengths based on available examples (power transfer, in‑situ instruments).
- New agency relationship (NASA) with no documented SBIR track record for Trace in provided materials.
- Partial document access limits confirmation of eligibility, evaluation criteria, and full topic list.
- Short proposal development window to assemble a credible R&D plan and PI team for a specialized topic.
- Potential SBIR‑specific compliance constraints (e.g., eligibility nuances and work performance allocation) not verified in the partial extract.
Teaming opportunities
- Access to a NASA‑relevant Principal Investigator and topic‑specific R&D expertise (e.g., lunar power systems or in‑situ instruments) if pursuing those areas.
- Laboratory/prototyping capability aligned to the chosen topic’s Phase I deliverables (bench‑scale prototype/design analysis) if required.
- Potential research partner relationships for specialized subtopic needs, consistent with SBIR rules.
Competitive position
- Leverage Trace’s space communications and multi‑orbit integration background if a communications‑relevant topic exists within Chapter 9.
- Emphasize systems engineering rigor, prototype/test discipline, and delivery infrastructure (E&I facility) to derisk Phase I execution, if topic‑aligned.
- Highlight transition path to Phase II/III where Trace’s defense/space integration strengths can scale beyond R&D, contingent on topic fit.
Bid/No bid factors
- Full topic set and evaluation details not fully reviewed due to partial document access.
- Example topics appear outside Trace’s core capabilities, suggesting weak fit.
- SBIR‑specific eligibility/performance requirements not confirmed in available excerpts.
- Strict two‑proposal cap limits optionality across diverse topics.
- Imminent deadline compresses time to validate topic fit and assemble compliant team.
Documents
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https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/
Open link
https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/
Open link
Restricted: Unreadable
Summary
Document could not be reviewed because access is restricted or controlled. Analysis continues using other available evidence.
Links.txt
Links.txt
No current live SAM.gov attachment matches this stored row.
Summary
Contains a single pointer to NASA's SBIR/STTR program page; no solicitation text, requirements, or attachments are included in this file. Reviewers must follow the provided URL to obtain the full SBIR Phase I solicitation and details.
- File contains URL to NASA SBIR/STTR landing page: https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/
- This file is only a pointer — it does not include scope, deliverables, set-aside documentation, NAICS, due date, or evaluation criteria; those must be retrieved from the linked site.
- Because the link targets NASA's SBIR/STTR program, the opportunity is part of the SBIR/STTR process (SBIR Phase I per opportunity title) and will be a small-business set-aside; full eligibility, topic descriptions, and submission instructions live on the linked page.
NASA 2026-2027 SBIR STTR BAA Appendix 26A-I SBIR.pdf
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NASA 2026-2027 SBIR STTR BAA Appendix 26A-I SBIR.pdf
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Partially reviewed: Too large
Summary
Partial review (selected sections only; full PDF marked too large) of NASA FY26-27 SBIR Phase I appendix to BAA 80NSSC26R0003. Confirms this is the SBIR Phase I funding opportunity with proposals due May 21, 2026 (5:00 PM ET), program-level constraints (max two proposals per offeror), help-desk deadline (May 20, 2026), and that Chapter 9 contains the technical research topics; selected topic extracts include Mars/Lunar Power Transfer and In-Situ Instruments subtopics with TRL and deliverable expectations.
- Funding opportunity: NASA SBIR Phase I (Appendix 26A to BAA 80NSSC26R0003); originally issued April 21, 2026.
- Proposal due date: May 21, 2026 by 5:00 PM ET (explicit in document).
- Set-aside: Opportunity context indicates Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5) and NAICS 541715 (SBIR/STTR NAICS).
- Submission limits: NASA will not accept more than two (2) proposal packages from any one offeror for this funding opportunity (section on Multiple Submissions).
- Help Desk: Deadline for guaranteed Help Desk response is May 20, 2026 by 5:00 PM ET (questions may not be answered after that).
- Contents and attachments: Appendix includes proposal instructions, evaluation rubric (Attachment 26A.1), clauses/certifications (26A.2), and Chapter 9 research topics.
- Example technical topic (LIVEP.2.S26A): Mars and Lunar Power Transfer Technology Development — Lead Center GRC; Participating Center KSC; scope includes low-mass transmission cables, robust lunar connectors, optical and mmWave power beaming approaches.
- Topic TRL and deliverables (LIVEP.2.S26A): Expected TRL at completion 3–5; Phase I deliverables: concept/analysis/design, bench-scale prototype encouraged, final report required; Phase II: hardware prototypes, test results, digital models.
- Topic priorities and gaps: Document states no demonstrated lunar/Mars wired or wireless power transmission to date and highlights near-term need (<5 years) and critical environmental challenges (extreme temps, regolith/dust).
- Another topic example (INSTALG.1.S26A): In Situ Instruments and Instrument Components for lunar/planetary science — Lead Center JPL; Participating ARC, GSFC, MSFC, GRC (selected section begins topic description).
- Processing limitation: PDF was partially reviewed — only sections 1 and 13 were extracted; full text (55 pages / 55 shown) not reviewed due to file size.
Technical details
Entry: sync
Review status: Up to date
Logical upstream opportunity: 46060
Notice lineage:
- 46a543e71a884d66aa03c6b9e32b011e (posted 2026-04-21) - current
Last synced: 2026-04-21T19:02:58.429797+00:00
Last analyzed: 2026-04-21T19:05:04.831854+00:00
Latest package fingerprint: bee4a4d7536f7144ce22fcbbcfaf3e97c31cdc1605939d51e69b2797c65edb9b
Latest package notice: 46a543e71a884d66aa03c6b9e32b011e
Latest package documents: 3
Evidence limitations- https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/: restricted (unreadable)
- NASA 2026-2027 SBIR STTR BAA Appendix 26A-I SBIR.pdf: partially reviewed (too large)
- Only partial document evidence was available from the upstream package.
- 2026-04-21T19:02:58.431541+00:00: 46a543e71a884d66aa03c6b9e32b011e with 3 docs
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