Global Broadcast Service

The Global Broadcast Service (GBS) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program under IC Acquisition Category that provides worldwide satellite broadcast capabilities for the Department of Defense. The system enables the transmission and reception of high-bandwidth data, including intelligence, weather, and other mission-critical information to deployed forces. GBS represents a significant communications infrastructure investment that supports military operations through transportable and fixed ground receiving stations.

The program's contract awards primarily focus on the procurement and maintenance of Transportable Ground Receive Suites (TGRS), Portable Receive Suites (PRS), and associated support services. Contract values range from small purchases of a few thousand dollars to major awards exceeding $70 million, with performance periods typically spanning 1-5 years. Key contractors include Raytheon Company, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Aqyr Technologies (a division of Antenna Research Associates). The Air Force Space Command Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force Materiel Command serve as the primary contracting authorities. Most contracts are awarded without set-aside designations, though some Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III actions are present. Primary places of performance include Colorado Springs, Colorado, and various military installations. Contract types are predominantly firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery orders, often issued under major IDIQ vehicles such as NETCENTS and OASIS.