Sustaining Engineering Support on the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument

NASA/GSFC has a requirement for engineering support on the operation and performance of the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, particularly the Sample Manipulation System (SMS), which is currently operating aboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars.

This support includes management of the on-board Sample Manipulation System (SMS) and sample heating ovens, as well as the operations and maintenance of a ground-based engineering testbed with components identical to those currently operating on the surface of Mars).

Continued expertise is required for the nominal operations of the SMS during Mars sample analysis as well as for trade-off analyses involving fast sample transfers in a contaminated environment, required because of an on-board anomaly involving N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) a derivatization reagent fluid.

Expertise is required for (1) continued instrument operations on Mars; (2) development of operational scripts to be used with the SAM instrument; (3) testing of new operational scripts; (4) development of operational workarounds during the MSL extended mission; and (5) support of end-of-life analyses. NASA/GSFC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire the services from Honeybee Robotics LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Origin through 10 U.S.C.

3204(a) (1), as implemented through FAR 6.302-1 “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” This requirement is for the operation of unique and complex electromechanical hardware that was designed and developed by Honeybee Robotics and has been operated on the surface of Mars remotely by a team of scientists and engineers from Honeybee Robotics for over 10 years.

The Sample Manipulation System (SMS) is a complex electro-mechanical device operating as part of an instrument payload on the surface of Mars, the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) payload, and is a highly specialized piece of equipment. It is a unique, one-time custom-built component designed to provide mission-unique functions, serving as a rotating array of processing and containment chambers for Mars surface samples that are distributed to specific pre-determined experiment units on-board the Mars Curiosity rover.

The SMS was designed, built, tested, and provided to NASA by Honeybee Robotics, in close collaboration with NASA personnel. The SMS development required highly specialized labor skills, leveraging exclusive knowledge and unique capabilities to construct a complex mechanism capable of operating in the Mars environment. The required operational Sustaining Engineering support needs to build on all previous SMS work, which makes Honeybee Robotics uniquely qualified.

The Sustaining Engineering support cannot be acquired through a new contractor, as a new contractor could not possibly acquire a full working knowledge of the SMS given its operational complexities and nuances.

The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial product or commercial service using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort electronically via email to Dona Vanterpool (dona.d.vanterpool@nasa.gov ) not later than 4:00pm EST on June 19th, 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