GEP-as-a-Service Development Roadmaps

The Space Development Agency is issuing a Request for Information on commercial Ground Entry Point (GEP) leasing services to support the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture space vehicles, with responses due October 14, 2026. No set-aside applies. The RFI seeks industry capability assessment for GEP-as-a-Service development roadmaps targeting Tranche 3 onboarding in fiscal years 2028–2031, with capability to support Tranche 2, 3, and 4+ constellations.

Respondents must demonstrate technical capability to support space vehicles at 1000 km altitude across 12 orbital planes with 9 satellites per plane, including greater than 98% availability and 14 Gbps total downlink capacity. mil-Ka band RF frequency operations are required. Commercial providers must detail existing and planned global antenna footprints with particular emphasis on high-latitude zones (greater than 70 degrees North/South) for high-inclination vehicles and mid-latitude zones (35–45 degrees North/South) for low-inclination vehicles, specifying antenna sizes, Gain-to-Noise-Temperature ratios, and polarization capabilities.

Response sections address technical capabilities and notional GEP architecture; schedule, timeline, compatibility, and testing methodologies; spectrum, licensing, and regulatory considerations; cybersecurity and information assurance compliance including NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2; and commercial business models with Service Level Agreements and cost drivers. Respondents must address mil-Ka-band RF compatibility testing, digital IF interoperability standards, facility clearance levels, mission data isolation, SLA metrics, preemption rights for government missions, and rough order of magnitude cost estimates. NAICS 517810 applies with a $40 million size standard. Submissions are directed to ussf.pentagon.sda.mbx.sn-26-0018@mail.mil. As of October 8, 2026, a Questions Log with restricted access for authorized respondents has been added to the RFI; controlled documents are distributed directly to vetted and approved organizations upon request.