Request for Information (RFI) to Support National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Program Planning

17 Feb 2021

The Space and Missile Systems Center Launch Enterprise (SMC/ECL) plans to implement an RDT&E program for expanded space access, mobility and logistics needs to further strengthen U.S. space dominance. In accordance with Sec 1606 of the FY21 NDAA, which requires full and open competition to award agreements among potential phase three NSSL providers, the Government intends to use the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) to award agreements in FY21.  SpEC enables partnerships with industry to accelerate the development of transformational space access, mobility, and logistics prototypes. For more information on SpEC, please see the following link: https://space-enterprise.org/. Potential interested offerors will need to be part of the consortium in order to participate in the FY21 agreement competition. Interested companies may submit comments on the Government’s intent to Ms. Isabel Shvartsman at isabel.shvartsman@spaceforce.mil and Ms. Kirsten Prechtl at kirsten.prechtl@spaceforce.mil by 5 March 2021.

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10 Nov 2020

The U.S. commercial launch industry is vital to providing our Nation’s warfighters and intelligence community with space-based capabilities. Given the rapidly increasing threat from our nation’s adversaries, the United States Space Force (USSF) is focused on ensuring our National space capabilities retain their technological advantage and maintain U.S. superiority in the space domain. To that end the USSF is considering establishing a Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) program to accelerate the development of transformational commercial space access, mobility, and logistics technologies that can be on-ramped when available. This RDT&E program will play a significant role in the shaping of the next NSSL launch service procurement strategy which will strive to incentivize and leverage industry innovation.

SMC/ECL is requesting information to develop a smart RDT&E strategy that meets existing NSSL requirements and enables future space access, mobility, and logistics capabilities that will support agile operations into, through, and from space. SMC/ECL is in the planning stages of this program and is considering RDT&E investments in technologies that can be implemented within the next three to five years as well as more revolutionary future capabilities which can be realized over the next decade and beyond.

*Please see attached RFI which identifies different response due dates for each round of questions (see Section 3).