FY26 NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 Industry Day Brief.pdf

This document is an Industry Day briefing for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program, held on August 26, 2026.

NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 is a multi-award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract utilizing Fixed Firm Price (FFP) with a 5-year base period (FY25-FY29) and optional 5-year extension (FY30-FY34). The program procures responsive and reliable launch services to deliver 15,000 pounds to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using medium to heavy lift capabilities. Lane 1 targets risk-tolerant space vehicles requiring only a subset of NSSL requirements and permits multiple launches to meet the 15,000 lbm minimum requirement per launch (minimum 2,200 lbm per launch). No certification is required, and new entrants on-ramp annually with minimum award guarantees for newly on-ramped Launch Service Providers (LSPs). Ordering procedures employ annual task order competitions conducted individually or in blocks. Launch Service Support is fully burdened by offerors with tiered Mission Assurance framework applied. The FY27 On-Ramp RFP is scheduled for release by end of October 2026 with proposals due mid-December 2026, to be submitted through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) Solicitation Module. Current Phase 3 Lane 1 Base Award awardees include SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Stoke, Relativity, and Impulse Space, with on-ramp eligibility and mission award distributions specified by fiscal year through FY29. Participation constitutes consent to disclosure to Space Systems Command/Space Access contractors. Protected GPS M-Code is mandatory for all NSSL missions per SPRD 430 requirements with certified/approved receivers required. The program is controlled by U.S. Space Force Space Access and administered through SYD 80/AMP with contracting team leadership including Contracting Officer Kirsten Prechtl and Contract Specialists Mackenzie Hotan and Nicole Balestreri.