Sounding Rocket Program 4
Active Master IDIQ Awarded
- Federal agency
-
Space and Missile Systems Center
- Awardees
- 5
- Task orders
- 16
- Obligated
- $519,596,534
Vehicle facts
- Opportunity
-
- Sounding Rocket Program-4 RFP Amendment Special Notice · FA881816R0022 · Posted Feb 18, 2016
- FA881823R0002 Solicitation number
- Agency
-
- Space and Missile Systems Center Air Force Space Command, Department of Defense
- Combined task order value
-
- $591,793,348 Current, with exercised options
- $597,704,484 Potential, with all options
- Last date to order 88% complete
- Shared ceiling 59% used
- $877,000,000.00
- Predecessor
- Sounding Rocket Program 3
IDV award and task order details come from SAM.gov/FPDS.
About this vehicle
The Department of the Air Force Space Command Space and Missile Systems Center awarded a Master IDIQ for suborbital launch services of ballistic targets and orbital launch services for small payloads (0–400 lb) to low earth orbit under the Sounding Rocket Program–4 (SRP-4) on November 16, 2018, with ordering authority through November 15, 2027—approximately 1 year 3 months remaining. The vehicle is unrestricted and available to all qualified contractors; no set-aside applies.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation dominates the vehicle, holding 9 of 16 task orders representing $590.2 million of the $598.3 million combined potential value (98.6% concentration by potential value). Space Vector, LLC holds three orders valued at $7.9 million; five other contractors split the remainder at minimal scale. The Air Force Space Command Space and Missile Systems Center funds 12 orders totaling $333.6 million; the broader Department of the Air Force and DOD Washington Headquarters Service fund the remaining four orders totaling $262.7 million.
Task orders range from $39 thousand minimum-award studies to $149.5 million ceiling values. Major orders include the Green Wave mission ($149.5 million ceiling, obligated $142.7 million, through September 2026), Red Ruby ($173.6 million ceiling, obligated $171.9 million, through August 2026), ICBM DEM VAL EFT-2 ($73.2 million ceiling, obligated $22.7 million, through April 2027), and the most recent Alpha Flight Test Vehicles launches ($38.9 million ceiling, obligated $4.5 million, awarded March 25, 2026, through June 2028). Pricing structures are typically Cost Plus Incentive for major launch missions and Firm Fixed Price for studies and smaller development efforts.
The vehicle has obligated $497.6 million (83% of combined potential value), leaving approximately $100.7 million unobligated. Task-order activity has been volatile—three orders in 2020, one in 2021, two in 2023, five in 2024, and one through March 2026—reflecting episodic mission demands rather than sustained procurement rhythm. The vehicle succeeds Sounding Rocket Program 3, awarded March 19, 2008.
Description
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Launch Systems Enterprise, Experimental Launch and Test Division (SMC/LEX), Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), Kirtland AFB, NM, has awarded a Master IDIQ for suborbital launch services of ballistic targets, and orbital launch services for small (0-400lb) payloads to low earth orbit under the auspices of the Small Rocket Program (SRP)-4.
IDV awards
Latest task orders
Show all 16
Top awardees by obligations
| Rank | Awardee | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $511,511,356 | 98% |
| 2 | Space Vector, LLC | $7,925,861 | 2% |
| 3 | Kratos Space & Missile Defense Systems, Inc. | $40,000 | <1% |
| 4 | Aerojet Rocketdyne Coleman Aerospace Inc. | $40,000 | <1% |
| 5 | Orbital Sciences LLC | $39,991 | <1% |
| 6 | Corvid Technologies, LLC | $39,326 | <1% |
"Minimum guarantee only" marks awardees whose obligations here are just the minimum order their contract guarantees.
Top funding agencies by obligations
| Rank | Funding agency | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Force | $376,924,182 | 73% |
| 2 | Washington Headquarters Service | $142,672,352 | 27% |
Obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $58,855,118 |
| FY2025 | $74,189,120 |
| FY2024 | $78,408,582 |
| FY2023 | $107,045,309 |
| FY2022 | $71,896,461 |
| FY2021 | $79,000,545 |
| FY2020 | $17,833,789 |
| FY2019 | $32,367,605 |
Quick answers
What is the Sounding Rocket Program 4 contract vehicle?
Sounding Rocket Program 4 is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle run by Space and Missile Systems Center (Air Force Space Command), awarded on November 16, 2018.
Which companies hold Sounding Rocket Program 4?
5 companies hold Sounding Rocket Program 4's IDV awards, one each. The latest went to Corvid Technologies, LLC on January 29, 2024. The awardees whose task orders obligated the most are Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Space Vector, LLC and Kratos Space & Missile Defense Systems, Inc.
How much has been spent through Sounding Rocket Program 4?
16 task orders have been placed under Sounding Rocket Program 4, obligating $519,596,534. Their combined current value, with exercised options, is $591,793,348.
What is the shared ceiling of Sounding Rocket Program 4?
Sounding Rocket Program 4's shared ceiling is $877,000,000; its task orders have used 59% of it.
Which agencies use Sounding Rocket Program 4 the most?
The departments whose task orders under Sounding Rocket Program 4 obligated the most are Air Force ($376,924,182) and Washington Headquarters Service ($142,672,352).
How much was obligated through Sounding Rocket Program 4 in fiscal year 2025?
Task orders under Sounding Rocket Program 4 obligated $74,189,120 in fiscal year 2025.
What came before and after Sounding Rocket Program 4?
Sounding Rocket Program 4 succeeded Sounding Rocket Program 3.
On GovTribe
See this vehicle's full record
- Every IDV award and task order
- Funding by agency, awardee, NAICS and set-aside
- Teaming partners on this vehicle
- Ask GovTribe AI about this vehicle