LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE - EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The U.S. Air Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Office at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, part of Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center Launch Enterprise Office, awarded a multiple award, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQ) Contract known as the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4) to Aevum, Firefly Black, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Rocket Lab USA, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., United Launch Alliance, VOX Space, and X-Bow Launch Systems.
OSP-4 allows for the rapid acquisition of launch services to meet mission requirements for payloads greater than 400 pounds, enabling launch to any orbit within 12-24 months from task order award. The Air Force expects to procure approximately 20 missions over the nine-year ordering period. The RSLP will compete each mission among the IDIQ awardees.
OSP-4 is a follow-on to the very successful Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3) contract that is set to expire in November of this year.
“The OSP-3 contract was very successful and served the Launch Enterprise well,” said Lt Col Ryan Rose, Chief of SMC’s Small Launch and Targets Division at Kirtland Air Force Base. “I have no doubt OSP-4 will be equally successful and showcase industry’s innovation while decreasing the time it takes to deliver critical assets to space as the Center accepts more risks to produce greater rewards for the Launch Enterprise.”
“The Orbital Services Program-4 contract will build upon the Rocket Systems Launch Program’s legacy of success dating back to the early 1960’s by supporting Department of Defense and U.S. Government Agencies small launch efforts for the next nine years,” said Col. Rob Bongiovi, Director of SMC’s Launch Enterprise at Los Angeles Air Force Base. “The contract will preserve, stimulate or enhance the competition pool by conducting yearly on-ramps. The small launch market is very dynamic and SMC is looking to partner with emerging launch providers to cultivate a resilient and affordable launch capability,” he added.
SMC released the solicitation on August 14 and proposals were due on August 29. OSP-4 was awarded in just over three months, demonstrating the innovation and speed in SMC’s acquisition and contracting practices. Awardees are now eligible to compete for task orders, such as the first mission Space Test Program-S28. “The Space Test Program-S28 task order is the first OSP-4 mission and will provide orbital launch services for Space Experiments Review Board payloads, demonstrating advanced technology for the warfighter,” said Lt Col Rose. SMC released the STP-S28 task order solicitation to qualified OSP-4 bidders on October 1.
The Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California, is the U.S. Air Force's center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. SMC’s portfolio includes space launch, global positioning, military space vehicle communications, defense meteorological space vehicles, range systems, space vehicle control networks, space-based infrared systems, and space situational awareness capabilities.
###
Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an e-mail to smcpa.media@us.af.mil.
Get the latest Los Angeles Air Force Base news at www.losangeles.af.mil
on Facebook @SpaceandMissileSystemsCenter, on Twitter @AF_SMC or #SpaceStartsHere
Space and Missile Systems Center – Building the future of military space today.