The U.S. Space Force has released the second round of draft requests for proposals incorporating industry feedback from the first draft solicitations and describing the “dual-lane” approach to acquisition under the third phase of the National Security Space Launch program.
Space Systems Command said Friday over 20 vendors participated in an industry day in February and that it accepted more than 1,900 industry comments on its first draft FRPs.
SSC noted that Lane 1 is a multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year base ordering term and a five-year option and covers task orders for launch services can be competed on an annual basis.
The first lane includes an opportunity to on-ramp emerging providers each year, incorporates tiered mission assurance and is meant for more risk-tolerant space vehicles launching to commercially addressable orbits.
Under Lane 2, the service will select three awardees for firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery requirements contracts, which have an ordering period of five years. This lane covers launch services, mission unique services, special studies, fleet surveillance and early integration studies.
“Based on industry feedback and the need to increase resiliency in the face of the pacing challenge from countries like China, we refined our strategy to fortify assured access to space by ensuring that the Government has three launch providers capable of meeting all NSSL requirements by the end of Phase 3,” said Col. Douglas Pentecost, deputy program executive officer for the service’s Assured Access to Space.
“We are confident that this approach will secure launch capacity, enable supply chain stability, increase our resiliency through alternate launch sites and streamlined integration timelines, and enhance affordability for the most stressing National Security Space missions,” added Pentecost.
SSC intends to release the final RFPs by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 with plans to award the Lane 1 base IDIQ contract by the third quarter of FY 2024 and Lane 2 IDQ contracts by the fourth quarter of FY 2024.
Comments on the draft solicitations are due July 28, according to a notice published Thursday.
