STEC Call for Proposals - Transport Layer LEO Backhaul Concepts.pdf

Space Development Agency

STEC BAA FA240123S0001

Transport Layer “LEO Backhaul” Capability Concepts Call for Proposals

26 April 2023

Under the Space Development Agency (SDA) Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement, FA240123S0001, posted on SAM.gov on January 17, 2023, SDA is issuing this Call for Proposals. With this Call SDA is soliciting full proposals to perform engineering studies, analyses, and technical trades of a “low-Earth orbit (LEO) backhaul” capability to support high bandwidth data transport via the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

Background

Recognized as the Department of Defense's constructive disruptor for space acquisition, SDA will quickly deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). SDA capitalizes on a unique business model that values speed and lowers costs by harnessing commercial development to achieve a proliferated architecture and enhance resilience.

SDA will deliver a minimum viable product - on time, every two years - by employing spiral development methods, adding capabilities to future generations as the threat evolves.

The operational utility of the PWSA is predicated on the availability of a ubiquitous data and communications Transport Layer provided by a proliferated constellation of relatively small, mass-producible space vehicles (SVs) in LEO. The bulk of SDA’s Transport Layer efforts to date have been focused on delivering DoD’s transport backbone and edge connectivity capability, as characterized by the following four pillars:

1. Low-latency data transport: resilient, Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) - based on-orbit mesh network that connects data product producers and consumers worldwide

2. JADC2 backbone: multi-band, multi-modality connectivity between systems spanning all warfighting domains (maritime, land, air, and space) and in-theater targeting centers.

3. Sensor-to-shooter: space-based implementations of tactical data links that enable direct connectivity with those users without modification of user equipment

4. TACSATCOM: tactical satellite communications, an application-specific transport mission

However, consistent with the USSF Space Warfighting Analysis Center’s (SWAC) Space Data Transport (SDT) force design recommendations, SDA is considering expansion of the Transport Layer to include a “LEO backhaul” capability. This LEO backhaul capability is intended to provide a resilient path to quickly move broadband data between edge and main networks worldwide. The total capacity for an initial LEO backhaul capability is on the order of 500Gbps, with an overall system latency on the order of under 100 msec. Additionally, space-based backhaul services must be able to support between 100-1,000 terrestrial users at the 2-10 Gbps rate, and support between 20,000-40,000 users at the 100-500 Mbps rate. The Government is interested in options that leverage, to the maximum extent possible, existing or planned commercial, optically-interconnected orbital mesh network and ground infrastructure.

The details of how to leverage commercial infrastructure and capabilities are not yet fully determined, and will be part of the intended study scope. SDA envisions and anticipates this capability as a Government-Owned / Contractor-Operated (GOCO) construct whereby SDA buys a variant of a commercial system for exclusive Government use. Operations could occur at a contractor facility, and integration and control of the capability within the broader Transport Layer architecture occurs at the SDA Operations Centers.

SDA also envisions this backhaul capability to be interoperable on orbit with SDA’s current Transport Layer (via select translator sats or optical compatibility through compliance with the SDA optical standard), DoD’s LEO backbone and edge connectivity capability.

Study Scope and Major Deliverables

The purpose of this study is to perform market research on industry capabilities to deliver the contemplated LEO backhaul capability, and inform Government reference designs and potential follow-on acquisition of such a capability. The scope of work is engineering studies, analyses, and technical trades to inform the Government’s technical approach for a Transport Layer backhaul capability. All contracted studies will be a fixed, short duration (90-day) technical effort with the following major deliverables for the Transport Layer backhaul capability objective system:

1. Capability Definition and Driving Use Cases

2. System Architecture and Key Requirements

3. Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

4. Physical and Networking Interoperability with the PWSA Transport Layer and other transport and user systems

5. System Integrated Schedule, Critical Milestones, and Key Dependencies

6. Top Schedule, Cost, and Technical Risks, and Recommended Mitigation Plans

7. Options and Recommendations for Potential Follow-on Acquisitions

SDA is expecting final results for all above deliverables on or before the conclusion of the study performance period, as well as one major interim deliverable not later than (NLT) 60 days into the performance period, with ongoing, regular technical and study progress exchanges in between.

Purpose of Solicited Work

SDA is soliciting FULL PROPOSALS ONLY to perform engineering studies, analysis, and technical trades of the PWSA Transport Layer backhaul services. The purpose of these studies is two-fold:

1) to inform SDA on the technical approach of a Transport Layer backhaul capability, and, 2) to inform and support any follow-on acquisition activities. Specifically, depending on the quality and conclusiveness of all contracted study results as well as Government planning activities, SDA may consider using the results to support justification of an accelerated, limited competition, and/or single award for any follow-on acquisitions and contracts.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

All proposals shall comply with the proposal instructions set forth under the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Space Development Agency (SDA) Broad Agency Announcement, FA240123S0001.

Additional Proposal Instructions and Assumptions

1. SDA encourages proposals to address the Offeror’s technical approach to executing this study. SDA also strongly encourages proposals to include preliminary concepts of the Transport Layer backhaul capability. Moreover, SDA encourages solutions that highly-leverage commercial broadband space data transport capabilities or plans, as well as describe approaches for the Government to leverage such capabilities or plans.

2. Potential offerors shall assume a study period of performance (PoP) of ninety (90) calendar days and an Authority to Proceed (ATP) of 1 July 2023.

3. SDA strongly encourages a draft study report delivered not later than sixty (60) calendar days from ATP and final study report delivered not later than the full ninety (90) calendar days PoP.

4. SDA strongly encourages proposal submissions be received NLT 5:00pm EDT, Friday, 26 May 2023. Proposals submitted to this Call that are received after the above deadline may be reviewed at the sole discretion of the Government.

5. SDA strongly encourages Firm Fixed Price proposals

6. SDA is contemplating multiple awards but the Government reserves the right to make a single award, multiple awards, or no awards at all