Sources Sought Notice for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Emerg...

1. Notice Type: Sources Sought The purpose of this announcement is to identify sources and request industry feedback regarding a potential solicitation/acquisition. The United States Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC), System Delta 80 (SYD 80) office for Space Access, is issuing this 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. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY . This Sources Sought is being issued for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation (Request for Proposal or Request for Quotations) or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This Sources Sought does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Furthermore, the Government is not, at this time, seeking proposals. Respondents to this notice are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred by responding to this notice. All costs associated with responding to this notice will be solely at the expense of the responding party. Submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel and support contractors bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements. Intellectual or other privileged information contained in responses to this Sources Sought will not be distributed outside of the Department of War or United States Government employees from other Government agencies who are working with SYD 80 on this notice. The Government has entered into contracts with the following companies: The Aerospace Corporation; Alpha Omega Group LLC; Astrion LLC; Auria;  Boecore, Inc.; Boyle Enterprises; Figueroa & Associates, LLC; Integrated Data Services, LLC; KBR Wyle Services, LLC; Liona Enterprises Inc.; ManTech International Corporation; Nowinski Engineering & Integration; Nynth Company California LLC; OMNI Consulting Solutions LLC; Quantum Space LLC; SAVI, LLC; Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC); Stellar Solutions; Tecolote Research, Inc.; Tyton LLC; and Wallender & Associates. These companies support the program office by performing technical reviews, systems engineering and integration analyses, cost estimation, and other advisory services. Submission in response to this notice constitutes consent to disclosure of information to these companies. U.S Commercial Provider. In accordance with RFO 9.104-1(g), the company must comply with the U.S Commercial Provider definition in accordance with the Commercial Space Act of 1998, Title II P.L 105-303. 2. Background 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. 3. Requirement 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. The key technical challenges for these missions include, but are not limited to, the following representative reference missions: Direct insertion of a 8,000 lbm payload to a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO 1.5). Direct insertion of a 20,000 lbm payload to a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO Direct 1). Ability to perform multi-manifest missions, requiring the capability to co-locate a