The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command has released a solicitation to seek additional launch providers as part of the second on-ramping process to the fourth iteration of the Orbital Services Program.
OSP-4 is a potential $986 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with an ordering period that will run through October 2028 and is being implemented as part of the Rocket Systems Launch Program, SSC said Friday.
According to the command, OSC-4 is designed to facilitate the rapid procurement of services to launch payloads of approximately 400 pounds or more within a year or two years. Task orders under the IDIQ contract can be tailored to meet the demanding timelines for Tactically Responsive Space missions and other requirements.
“The OSP-4 contract has been a valuable arrow in the quiver of the Space Force’s full spectrum launch arsenal since 2019, serving as a complement to the National Security Space Launch program,” said Lt. Col. Justin Beltz, chief of SSC’s Small Launch and Targets Division.
“There have been both opportunities and challenges in the small launch industry over the past couple of years, which make it more important than ever that we bring in emerging industry solutions. OSP-4 launches like last year’s groundbreaking VICTUS NOX mission highlight how impactful these capabilities can be,” Beltz added.
The Space Force initially awarded the IDIQ contract in 2019 and conducted the first on-ramp in 2021.
The 10 launch providers on the OSP-4 contract are ABL Space Systems, Aevum, Astra, Firefly Aerospace, Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Relativity Space, Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB), SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and X-Bow.
