On April 21, the United States Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC), System Delta 80 (SYD 80) office for Space Access, issued a sources sought notice to determine the availability and technical capability of launch service providers to meet critical National Security Space (NSS) mission requirements. The government is seeking to identify all qualified sources to assess the industrial base’s capability to meet upcoming mission requirements.
The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program procures launch services for a wide range of U.S. government needs. The NSSL Phase 3 procurement strategy, which was competed under full and open competition, established two lanes for acquiring launch services. The default approach for all missions is Lane 1, which provides for a tiered mission assurance approach and is intended for payloads where the Government can assume a greater degree of launch risk.
However, for the most demanding, least risk-tolerant national security payloads, Lane 2 provides for the highest level of mission assurance. These high-priority missions involve high-value assets that require the use of NSSL-certified launch vehicles to ensure the highest degree of reliability and mission success. The capabilities these missions provide the Nation must be deployed successfully and on time.
In accordance with the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 acquisition strategy, the Space Force awarded three launch service providers capable of meeting the full mission assurance requirements for the nation’s low risk tolerant payloads; of those, only two providers currently possess NSSL-certified launch vehicles.
The Government has an emergent requirement to launch up to 25 high-value NSS assets into highly stressing orbits. These missions are planned for procurement as follows:
- Six (6) missions in Fiscal Year 2027
- Nine (9) missions in Fiscal Year 2028
- Ten (10) missions in Fiscal Year 2029
These missions are deemed critical to national security and carry the highest priority for mission success and low risk posture that requires nothing less than a NSSL-certified launch service provider to apply the NSSL-directed full gamut of mission assurance processes to achieve timely, successful delivery of these national security assets.
Review the NSSL Phase 3 sources sought.
Source: SAM
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