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 Bo