Justification_and_Approval Astrotech PPF IDIQ Redacted.pdf

This is a Department of the Air Force Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition document for a sole source contract award valued between $10 million and $100 million.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is awarding a stand-alone, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract on a sole source basis to Astrotech Space Operations, LLC for payload processing services supporting the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) program. The estimated contract value is approximately $99 million using FY26 and FY27 Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) funds. Services include comprehensive facilities support for preparation, integration, testing, and post-processing data review of satellite payloads at three launches from the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, and four launches from the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The anticipated contract type is firm-fixed price (FFP) for processing facility services supporting no fewer than seven launches total.

The justification cites 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as statutory authority, establishing that only one responsible source can meet agency requirements. SDA conducted extensive 2025 market research including Requests for Information (RFIs) and a competitive solicitation (FA240126R0001) issued February 18, 2026, which was subsequently cancelled April 14, 2026. The market research determined that Astrotech is the sole provider with required facilities on both ranges, the necessary schedule availability to support on-time launches, and the unique technical capabilities to meet mission needs within the critical timeframe. Approvals were obtained from Legal Review (June 6, 2026), the Competition & Commercial Advocate (July 8, 2026), and the Contracting Officer (July 7, 2026). SDA committed to monitoring emerging commercial competitors to promote full and open competition for future Payload Processing Facility requirements.