Automated Celestial Navigation System (ACNS) Production

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS PUBLISHED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SEEKING OR ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS.

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in FAR 15.101(c). The Portfolio Acquisition Executive Mission Systems (PAE MS) is conducting market research for the Automated Celestial Navigation System (ACNS).

ACNS helps to determine vessel position based on optical sighting of celestial objects including stars and resident space objects (RSOs) such as satellites and space debris. Ship's position derived from ACNS shall be used to improve the resilience of the surface ship Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system of systems suite by providing an Alternative Position Source (APS) to support Assured PNT.

U.S. Navy and commercial enterprises leverage a variety of navigation solutions that allow vessels to safely navigate with and without GPS. The U.S. Navy is looking to modernize legacy systems over time. This RFI seeks information on prospective technologies that could be leveraged or developed as enablers for an ACNS solution. This RFI seeks to understand how interested parties would integrate the ACNS with navigation sensors and other ship equipment specifically Global Positioning System-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Service (GPNTS).

PAE MS invites all interested potential sources, including small business concerns, to submit written information sufficient to demonstrate the respondent's ability to fulfill the requirements. For those interested parties that have technologies which may not achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 8-9 by FY 2029, please provide information on current research and development efforts that may address some or all requirements of this RFI beyond FY 2029.

Responses are requested by 13 November 2026. Questions or clarifications related to this RFI may be submitted electronically to Ms. Liz Bonilla-Sotomayor at liz.c.bonilla-sotomayor.civ@us.navy.mil and Ms. Andrea Longo at andrea.t.longo.civ@us.navy.mil. Verbal questions will not be accepted. Questions shall not contain classified information. Please ensure that the subject line of any emails containing responses or questions related to this notice includes the name of your firm and Automated Celestial Navigation System (ACNS) RFI Response (without quotation marks) in the subject line.

Responses are limited to a maximum of fifteen (15) pages in length, excluding the cover page, within a minimum font size of 10 points. Generic capability statements that do not address the information requested in this RFI will be deemed non-responsive without any further communication from the Government. All responsive submissions received by the due date noted in this RFI may be considered by the Government to inform the resulting Request for Proposal.

All information received bearing proprietary markings will be handled in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations. Responses to this notice will not be returned and will be maintained or destroyed in accordance with the Government's records management policy. An acknowledgement of receipt will be provided for all responses received. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within two working days, please notify the points of contact listed in this notice.

All materials submitted in response to this RFI should be UNCLASSIFIED.

Responses to this notice must include the following:

Include a cover page containing the following information:

1. Sources Sought number for this notice (N00024-27-RFPREQ-IWS-6-0002)
2. Company Name
3. Mailing address and physical address (if different)
4. DUNS number
5. CAGE code
6. Business size status (based on NAICS code 334511)
7. Type of small business (if applicable)
8. Facility Security Clearance (FSC) level
9. Name, position, email address, and phone number of point(s) of contact

Interested parties submitting proposed solutions shall include the following in the RFI submission:

Provide System Characteristics:

1. Average position fix accuracy of the proposed system;
2. Operational capabilities across day, twilight, and nighttime conditions;
3. Ephemeris data age for fix accuracy;
4. How quality of each position fix is indicated;
5. Ability of the system to accept data formats sourced from the United States Naval Observatory (USNO);
6. Type of Earth Orientation Parameter (EOP) data format;
7. Average position fix frequency rate (for Stars-Only and Stars-Satellites).

Provide Component Characteristics:

1) What is the current configuration of the proposed system?

2) Sensor volume and physical dimensions;

3) Sensor weight;

4) What environmental Military Standards does your proposed system meet (i.e. MIL-STD-810H CH1 (Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests), MIL-STD-167-1A (Mechanical Vibrations of Shipboard Equipment), MIL-DTL-901E (High-Impact Mechanical Shock for Shipboard Machinery and Equipment), and MIL-STD-461H (Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment)?

Additional Information:

1. Anticipated development timeline if not currently in production;
2. How the solution will be phased over time;
3. Additional technologies that can be leveraged to support a robust ACNS solution;
4. Sensors supported (e.g. radars, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Automatic Identification System (AIS), etc.);
5. Interfaces supported (including physical and digital integration with GPNTS);
6. Projected cost drivers or potential major cost drivers;
7. Projected schedule drivers or potential major schedule drivers;
8. Identification of relevant technology risk areas and any ongoing technology maturation initiatives currently under way;
9. Information concerning your ability at conducting and supporting the full-range of current Model Based Systems Engineering Digital Engineering (MBSE-DE) features to consider in a Contractor-Government partnership with a vision for balancing benefits of digital engineering collaboration against additional upfront and long-term costs and learning curves;
10. The ability to build ACNS based on a government-provided Level III Technical Data Packages (TDPs) and other design specific documentation, if provided.

Please identify any proprietary technology or information integral to your proposed solution that could potentially limit future Government production or sustainment efforts. Comment on your company's willingness to provide Government Purpose Rights for any identified proprietary technology or information.

Identify any obstacles to competition in the areas of production, engineering support, or defined scope of work that would hinder or restrict your company's involvement in a competitive future procurement. In addition, recommend solutions or mitigation paths for the Navy to overcome the obstacles.

This notice is not a request for proposals. Per FAR 15.101(c), responses to this notice do not constitute offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation or obligation on the part of the Government. All information contained in this notice is preliminary in nature and is subject to change.

The Government makes no representations that a solicitation for the requirements described in this notice will be issued. Respondents are wholly responsible for any costs or expenses associated with submitting a response. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice or any further requests for information relating to a response. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice.

The information obtained from submitted responses may be used by the Government in the development of a procurement strategy. Information submitted in response to this notice will become the property of the United States Government. Respondents should properly mark any materials submitted with the appropriate restrictive markings. Information that is proprietary or competition-sensitive may be protected from disclosure under the public records statutes only if properly labeled as such.

Any small businesses that believe they can accomplish this entire requirement should indicate their small business status (see FAR Part 19) in their response.