The U.S. Space Force has issued two solicitations for the third phase of the National Security Space Launch program.
The service has adopted a dual-lane approach to acquisition under NSSL Phase 3 to ensure assured access to space and meet warfighter needs, according to solicitation notices published Wednesday.
Under the first lane, the service plans to compete and award multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a basic ordering period of five years and one five-year option term. The ordering period for the firm-fixed-price IDIQ contracts is expected to run from fiscal year 2025 to FY 2034.
For Lane 1, Space Systems Command said in a news release published Thursday it is interested in more risk-tolerant space vehicles launching to commercial orbits.
SSC will conduct an on-ramping process for emerging vendors and systems by reopening the Lane 1 solicitation on an annual basis and will use a launch service task order tiered MA framework to address the risk posture of each mission or bundle of missions.
For the second lane, SSC intends to award three FFP indefinite-delivery requirements contracts with a five-year ordering term covering launch services, special studies, mission unique services, fleet surveillance, launch services support and early integration studies.
In Lane 2, the top two launch service providers will use the 60/40 share ratio to split about 42 missions between FY 2025 and FY 2029. The third best value launch provider will get up to seven Lane 2 missions starting in FY 2026.
“If the Government determines there are fewer than 3 awardable offerors, the Government may award fewer than 3 contracts,” the notice reads.
Under NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2, the contractor should have the capability to perform at least eight national security launch missions a year. This lane will require higher performance, SSC-certified space vehicles launching payloads to more stressing orbits.
Proposals for the two solicitations are due Dec. 15.
SSC plans to award the Lane 1 IDIQ contracts by spring 2024 and Lane 2 IDR contracts by fall 2024.
“By the end of the Phase 3 we will have at least three providers fully capable of meeting all NSSL requirements, as well as a full complement of launch service providers using systems designed for more risk-tolerant space vehicles launching to traditionally commercial orbits,” said Col. Douglas Pentecost, deputy program executive officer for the service’s Assured Access to Space.
In 2020, the Space Force awarded NSSL Phase 2 contracts to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).
