ROOSTER 6 Integration Support RFI 10Feb2026.pdf

Request for Information

Cover Sheet

1. Agency/Office: Space Systems Command/SYD 89 Capability Development (SSC/SYD89/SYA)

2. Contracting Office Location: 483 N Aviation Blvd, El Segundo, CA, 90245

3. Type of Solicitation: Special Notice – Request for Information

4. Solicitation Number: RFI ROOSTER-6 Integration & Support

5. Date Posted: 10 FEB 2026

6. Title: ROOSTER-6 Integration & Support Contract

7. Classification Code: 18 – Space Vehicles

8. NAICS Code: 336414

9. Is this a Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action? No

10. Response Date: 27 Feb 26

11. Primary Point of Contact: Capt Abigail Arestides, 310-653-9432

12. Secondary Point of Contact: Mr Peter Vaccaro, ctr, 310-653-9137

13. PCO: Capt Michael A. Kilbourn, 310-653-7334

14.Description: See attached

15. Place of Contract Performance: Integration Contractor Facilities

16. Set Aside: Not a Set-Aside

17. Archiving Policy: 15 days after response date

18. Allow Vendors to Add/Remove from Interested Vendors? Yes

19. Allow Vendors to View Interested Vendors List? Yes

20. Attachments: ROOSTER-6 Integration & Support Contract RFI Description

21. Is this package (attachment) sensitive/secure? No

1 ATCH: RFI Description

RFI Description :

SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS:

Space Systems Command (SSC), SYD-89 Capability Development System Program Manager (SPM)

(SSC/SYD89/SYA) is soliciting information about potential sources for the ROOSTER-6 Integration &

Support Contract, to perform the integration of a secondary payload ring/platform capable of hosting multiple payloads to support national security missions. The integration of payloads will be for mission sets spanning across SSC and potentially other USSF or DoW partners. Missions can vary from experimental/prototyping to operational. These platforms will launch on National Security Space Launch

(NSSL) missions and can include payloads up to the highest classified levels. The Government seeks information on existing integration expertise with the ESPAStar-D platform and integrating multiple mission payloads and associated acquisition/contract structure, technical, cost, and schedule feasibility.

Two types of payloads are expected to be manifested on the platforms furnished to the ROOSTER-6

Integration & Support Contract: 1) on-orbit separable payloads, and 2) on-orbit non-separable payloads.

The two types of payloads intended for integration as well as any encryption devices (if needed) will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). Separable payloads are integrated on to the multi-mission host ring/platform and are deployed days to months after launch. The specific port that the payload will be “fully integrated” into will be on a Northrup Grumman built ESPAStar-D class secondary payload ring. Non-separable payloads are integrated on the host ring/platform and remain with it for the entire mission duration. The term “fully integrated” is used to describe a platform with payloads mounted and integrated into available secondary payload ring ports and fully tested at the system (ring) level.

CAPABILITY REQUIREMENT:

SYD 89/SYA seeks an experienced integrator for this flexible and modular propulsive host satellite ring/platform that will accommodate multiple payloads (separable and hosted) in support of different mission sets primarily in a GEO Orbit. The capability to operate in other orbital regimes is also under consideration. The host ring/platform will have a minimum operational design life of 2 years. These missions will be launched on NSSL missions as part of an Integrated Payload Stack (IPS) that is expected to include other spacecraft or payload adapters. As part of the launch manifest, integrated vehicles must meet all launch safety requirements including coupled loads analysis, thermal analysis, and testing to actual or forecasted launch environments. The propulsive host ring/platform shall at a minimum be capable of hosting six ESPAStar-D Class Payloads. Functional testing of the integrated propulsive host vehicle in a simulated space environment is also expected. Support for workarounds, such as testing with payload mass simulators, is expected to accommodate payloads that will not arrive until processing at the launch site. The propulsive host ring/platform structure is intended for attachment and separation from the launch vehicle Payload Attachment Fitting (PAF) or another payload adapter of the same size. Once separated from the launch vehicle, the multi-mission host ring/platform must support separable payloads until they are deployed into their intended orbits and continue to support non-separable payloads for mission duration.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK REQUIRED:

Payloads may have greatly differing mission sets, which will create a wide range of different requirements for each. Generally, however, the integration to the propulsive host ring/platform to the payloads should include structural, maneuver, power, software, and data/communication links required to monitor and sustain the non-separated spacecraft and perform hosted payloads’ on-orbit mission. To integrate payloads into the host ring/platform the Government expects the following general work requirements:

• Contractor will fully integrate separable and non-separable payloads into the host platform

• Contractor will support standard space vehicle environmental testing of the integrated host ring/platform

• Contractor will support launch and early on-orbit operations, including anomaly resolution

• Ability to support payloads at various classification levels up to and including TS/SCI and SAP, to include personnel, facilities, security, communication systems, processes, etc

• Ability to support late manifested payloads (less than L-12 months)

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS:

A. Capability Concepts:

SYD 89/SYA is seeking capability statements from interested contractors who can provide system integration and on-orbit support expertise for the Government’s payload integration requirements to the

ESPAStar-D Class secondary payload ring. We are interested in industry capabilities for a flexible and rapid payload integration for late in the integration-to-host cycle (less than 12 months before final checkout and launch). Multiple late payload arrivals, late changes in the payload manifest and/or payload changes in location on the host are anticipated. Therefore, concepts that accommodate payload integration as close as possible to the launch date are of interest.

1. Probable Program Milestone dates:

o RFP release in early Summer 2026 o Contract award in early Fall 2026 o Pre-Integration Payload Compliance assessments starting early FY27 o Initial Payload Manifest Review late FY27 (L-24mo) o Special Studies including draft on-orbit operations plan early FY28 o Final Payload Manifest Review late FY28 (L-12mo) o Space Vehicle & Payload Integration complete mid FY29 o ILC for ROOSTER-6 late FY29, On-Orbit Ops FY30

2. Full Integration & Testing, both non-separable and/or separable payloads

3. Projected timelines for the following efforts:

o Full Payload AI&T o Launch Vehicle I&T

4. Identify any contractor space satellite production and integration heritage o Commercial o Government

▪ DoW

▪ Other

5. Payload integration o Ability to support late manifested payloads (less than L-12 months) o Ability to support payloads at various classification levels up to and including TS/SCI and SAP, to include personnel, facilities, IT systems, processes, etc. Provide a synopsis of your security approach.

o Ability to work with ground-to-space communications systems and contractors o Ability to work with Space Access System Program Office and their launch contractors

6. If applicable, please provide a potential list of teaming partners and their status as a relevant defense contractor

Additionally, SYD89/SYA is complying with the OSD Digital Engineering Strategy by implementing a program digital engineering approach. This approach includes facets for digital engineering such as digital models, providing contractor model data to the government and associate contractors (to ensure mission integration), a contractor digital engineering environment that permits government access and analysis as well as gov’t-contractor IPT collaboration, use the concept of digital twin to support the program office activities of manifest planning and management, product line development and management (e.g., configuration management), and initial and residual operations. The model and digital twin will be used to conduct analysis for safety, loads analysis, thermal analysis, launch environments, space environment, with overall goals of improved interface standardization. The government seeks information on the contractor’s ability to meet the digital engineering approach. Provide a description of your digital engineering process from models to final test data, that your company have used or would use to verify that a late arriving payload meets the structural, thermal, and power requirements of the integrated stack.

B. Budget and Contracting Structure

Limiting cost is a continuing priority for the Government in this acquisition. The estimated cost for integration and on-orbit support will include some, if not all, of the costs listed in the table below.

Table 1: Work Breakdown

# Efforts

1 Pre-Integration Interface Requirements Review

2 Payload Integration: for simple and complex payloads (include special studies breakout)

3 Launch Vehicle Integration Support (to a standard NSSL vehicle)

4 Ground, Operations/Anomaly Support, & Sustainment (on-orbit support for year 1 and year 2)

C. Small Business Opportunities:

The Government would like to encourage small business participation in the performance of this effort and request insight into how your company would creatively utilize small business in the performance of this effort.

a) Provide an assessment of potential subcontracting opportunities.

b) Do you have any recommendations to increase small business participation under the ROOSTER-

6 effort?

c) Does your company hold any socio-economic designations (8a, WOSB, SDVOSB, etc.)?

d) Is there a more appropriate NAICS code to advertise the ROOSTER-6 effort to maximize industry competition?

FORMAT FOR RESPONSE:

All replies to this RFI must reference RFI ROOSTER-6 Integration & Support. Submit only unclassified information. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary.

Please provide your response on company letterhead to the Points of Contact (POC) identified below in this RFI. A response to the RFI is requested via email no later than, Friday, 27 Feb 26, 4:30p.m. (Los

Angeles, CA local area time).

Responses to the questions shall include a cover page with the following:

• Submitter's Name and Parent Company, if applicable

• Mailing Address: Street Address, City, State, NINE-Digit zip code

• Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code

• Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Identification Number

• Point of Contact (POC)

• POC Telephone number and email address

Interested offerors/vendors having the required capabilities to the requirements above are asked to submit a Statement of Capabilities (SOC) limited to 15 pages or less indicating the ability to perform the effort described herein. Pages shall be single-spaced, 8.5x11 inches with at least 1-inch margins all sides, 10 font or larger. It is not sufficient to provide only general brochures or generic information. No engineering or technical drawings will be welcomed or reviewed if submitted. Responses must include the following:

1. Company information (see above)

2. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate for the following efforts:

a. Special Studies

b. Payload integration to include AI&T

c. Launch vehicle integration support

d. On-orbit support

3. Summary of space integration and on-orbit support heritage

4. Recommended Contract Type and CLIN structure

In your response, please follow the same naming convention used in the RFI; for example, if responding to a question under paragraph B, please preface your response with ‘B’. Please note all material provided in response to this notice shall be unclassified. Any proprietary information shall be clearly identified.

The Government will take all necessary steps to protect and safeguard any confidential/proprietary information provided. The Government will NOT be held responsible for any proprietary information that is not clearly marked.

SMALL BUSINESS CONSIDERATION

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 336414 – Guided

Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing or 541712 – Research and Development in Guided Missile and

Space Vehicles. The small business size standard is 1250 employees for each code. Participation from small and small disadvantaged businesses is encouraged. SSC's Small Business point of contact is Mr.

Aaron Parra. He can be reached at smallbus@spaceforce.mil or by phone at (310)-653-9883.

DISCLAIMERS AND NOTES

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation (Request for Proposal or Request for Quotations) or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the

Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Furthermore, the Government is not, currently, seeking proposals. Responders are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party's expense.

All information received in response to this RFI, that is marked PROPRIETARY, will be handled accordingly. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any mailto:smallbus@spaceforce.mil proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

The Space Force will not be obligated to pursue any acquisition alternative because of this RFI.

Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation if one is issued.

SSC has entered contracts with The Aerospace Corporation, Astrion, KBR, A2 Systems Engineering Inc., Tecolote Research, Integrity Applications Incorporated. These companies support the Space Force program office by performing technical reviews, systems engineering and integration analyses, cost estimation, and other advisory services. Respondents are hereby notified that all responses will be provided to our support contractors for their services to the U.S. Space Force. If respondents disagree with the release of its RFI response to any of the firms, respondents must clearly state this restriction in the cover letter accompanying the RFI response.

Foreign firms are advised that they will not be allowed to participate in this acquisition at the prime contractor level. The research and test data produced under a resultant contract may contain Military

Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S. Sec 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, U.S.C., App.

2401, et seq.). Request certification and registration from the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC), Federal Center, 74 north Washington, Battle Creek, MI 49016-3412 as soon as possible.

POINTS OF CONTACT

Direct all inquiries to the points of contact below:

Primary:

Capt Abigail Arestides

ROOSTER-6 Program Manager

SYD 89/SYA

abigail.arestides.2@spaceforce.mil

Secondary:

Peter Vaccaro, ctr

SYD 89/SYA

ROOSTER-6 Support peter.vaccaro.ctr@spaceforce.mil mailto:abigail.arestides.2@spaceforce.mil mailto:peter.vaccaro.ctr@spaceforce.mil