Sweden Launch Vehicle and Spaceport Assessment Request for Information (RFI)

Space Systems Command (SSC) International Affairs Office (SSC/IA) Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA Launch Vehicle and Spaceport Assessment Request for Information Primer: SSC/IA received a Letter of Request (LOR) for Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) from a partner nation (PN). As the primary POC for Space Foreign Military Sales (FMS), it is incumbent upon SSC/IA to respond to the LOR for LOA with Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs for the defense articles and services specified in the LOR. As a result, SSC/IA is conducting market research to respond to the partner nation’s request. PLEASE NOTE: Responses to LORs for P&A are non-promissory and therefore there is no guarantee that this Request for Information (RFI) will result in a Request for Proposal (RFP). SSC/IA anticipates similar requests from other partner nations and may repurpose the market research garnered from this RFI to respond to future LORs for LOA. The LOR for LOA response provided to the partner nation does not guarantee the sale of the services in question. 1. Background SSC/IA is seeking industry quotes for acquisition technical assistance for assessing the requirements and interfaces of a launch system and a contractor designed, developed and operated spaceport that includes facilities for launch, launch integration, space vehicle processing and integration, providing mission assurance, and day-of-launch activities for the PN’s ongoing military modernization effort. SSC/IA is currently building a response to an official Letter of Request (LOR) for Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to provide the PN with a “Total Package Approach” cost for their planning purposes. SSC is seeking specific technical studies information described in sections 6 and 7 of this document. The timeframe associated with acquiring the referenced technical assistance projects potential contract award in 2025 with a required 18-month period of performance, as requested by the PN in their LOR for LOA. RFI responses shall include information that allows SSC/IA to assess your ability to help develop a spaceport and provide launch mission assurance for the PN. This includes providing the technical background that demonstrates deep knowledge and experience as it relates to the entirety of launch site development, build, and mission integration. This should include experience and knowledge of launch system facilities, processes/procedures, safety requirements (flight and ground), logistics (e.g. international shipping), security (physical and cyber), radio frequency (RF) communications and tracking, and other pertinent information that describes your ability to provide the technical assistance requested. Finally, any tools to manage requirements, provide mission assurance analysis, develop/manage and execute plans should be included. 2. Use of Non-Government Advisors The Government intends to use U.S. Government personnel to review the RFI responses. The Government reserves the right to use contractor personnel, including, but not limited to, SSC Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) and Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors. Contractor support will be bound by an appropriate Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to protect proprietary and sensitive information. Additional NDAs will not be required as responses to this RFI will be considered an implicit acknowledgment and acceptance that non-Government advisors will be assisting the Government in the review process. 3. Guidelines for All Submissions THE RFI IS MARKET RESEARCH AND WILL NOT RESULT IN AN AWARD The cost of preparing the RFI responses is not an allowable direct charge to any Government contract. All interested vendors are requested to provide: Statement of the vendor’s capability to provide the technical assessment of a launch vehicle and spaceport described below ROM cost to provide services/supplies, ROM schedule to provide services/supplies. Label and portion-mark RFI responses appropriately; the overall classification of an RFI response should not exceed NATO SECRET. Provide an initial plan on how ITAR will be addressed. Include a cover sheet with company name, address, date, RFI response POC with an email address and phone number. SSC will not consider unnecessary brochures or proposals. SSC will welcome proficiency demonstrations, use cases, and lessons learned. RFI responses will use 8.5 x 11-inch portrait format pages with single-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font with 1" margins. The landscape format is acceptable for charts and graphs only. RFI responses shall not exceed thirty pages. RFI responses must be delivered as either a PDF or Microsoft Word document. RFI responses may be submitted electronically via NIPR to the SSC point of contact listed below. RFI responses are due no later than 1700 PDT on 02/14/2025 to the SSC point of contact listed below. Mr. Keith Brandner, Contracting Officer, [email protected] Ms. Melina Monroy-Szita, Contract Specialist, [email protected] 4. Next Steps Once the RFI responses are received, assessed for feasibility and affordability, SSC/IA will reach out to the PN. If a virtual one-on-one is requested by the Government for clarification of any responses, the Government Contracting Office Representative(s) will contact the submitters POC listed on the cover sheet to schedule a virtual meeting. 5. Concepts Criteria For each Study Area, address to the best extent possible: Requested Criteria Expertise to accurately assess what is being requested Additional information needed form either the U.S. Government or PN Associated Risks Concepts Cost Details 6. Initial Study Overview The PN is requesting technical assistance across multiple disciplines to include but not limited to; mechanical and electrical engineering, systems engineering (requirements derivation, verification and validation planning), launch site processes/procedures, safety (ground and flight), logistics (to include international shipping, RF communications, facility requirements (related to launch vehicle (LV), space vehicle (SV) and LV/SV integration), ground support hardware and LV to launch site interfaces. The assessment is intended to be used by the PN to understand feasibility, requirements (Interface Control Document-type information between LV/SV and spaceport), and risks of standing up a spaceport capability to launch PN National Security payloads. The study shall also include support of meetings and discussions as well as the delivery of a report, and other supporting documentation. 6.1 Assessing Commercial Launch Provider Provide assessment of the commercial launch to meet the mission requirements of the PN’s National Security Space using U.S. Space Force evaluation criteria. Part of the assessment includes recommended tailoring of said evaluation criteria that aligns with the goals and requirements of the PN. The assessment shall include assessment of vehicle performance, the launch company’s processes and procedures, its ability to follow and adhere to its internal standards, capability of meeting the foreign regulations and certifications, accommodate PN’s satellites and meet their mass and orbit performance. Additionally, the assessment should include any identified risks with the priority on technical but also identification of any cost and schedule risks/concerns that may be evident. Assessment includes identification of items that require a change to the standard commercial vehicle that derive from sources such as the PN’s mission objectives, logistics, foreign certifications/regulations and launch site interfaces. Finally, an assessment of the launch contractor to meet both physical and cyber security requirements imposed or unique to the PN. 6.1.1 Launch Vehicle to Launch Site ICD: Provide an assessment of the LV to Launch Site ICD (or equivalent document(s)) to ensure at the system level the PN can execute a launch of a National Security Space asset from the launch site. 6.1.2 Communications: Assess the RF concept to ensure that the system meets the PN’s requirements as well as any required regulatory requirements. This may include, but not limited to, launch vehicle telemetry collection, flight safety (if autonomous flight safety is not used), and space vehicle separation (if required). Additionally, does the launch vehicle provider have a plan that will meet the PN’s security requirements for communications, Information Technology (IT) equipment as well as Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) equipment. 6.1.3 Launch Site Systems: Provide an assessment based on the ICD, ground support equipment, and ground handling processes and procedures that all equipment meets requirements, capable of being certified and has proper interfaces. Assessment should also include launch vehicle and expected space vehicle commodity requirements such as liquid nitrogen, hydrazine, kerosene, liquid oxygen, etc. The launch site systems includes both the payload processing facility and launch pad. 6.2 Launch Vehicle Safety Assessment Transportation - Provide an assessment of the launch vehicle transportation plan to include general ability to meet international shipping requirements, physical security of hardware while in transit and on launch site transportation and handling. Identify items that have elevated risk such as systems that have not been tested to meet UN shipping requirements (e.g. batteries) or other items that may require modifications needed to ensure safe transport into the launch site. In addition, provide an assessment of the shipping hardware to ensure that it is capable of shipping the launch system to include compatibility with shipping methodology as well as protecting hardware during shipment. Flight – Assess the launch vehicle provider’s approach to flight safety and identify any short falls that introduce risk. If applicable, recommend areas for tailoring to reduce new/additional qualification. 6.3 Requirements Recommendations Work with the PN to understand their objectives and risk tolerance for the National Space assets. Based on that, and the assessment of the launch provider and their launch solution, recommend and prioritize requirements to ensure the launch solution will meet the PN’s mission objectives. It is recognized that this is a challenging task as the most efficient approach is to utilize the standard launch vehicle that is offered, using the requirements defined in a user’s guide for space vehicles to design to, and making changes introduces risks. Provide your recommended approach, such as accept a launch provider’s baseline system and respond to mission unique requirements as needed, or other solutions. 6.4 Safety Documentation Support the development of safety documentation that meets the PN’s and launch authority requirements. This may include identify the U.S. Government / U.S. Space Force test, evaluation, and system safety documentation that would be applicable to the PN’s activities. This may also include recommending tailored approaches to said documents. If no existing documentation exists in the U.S. Government for the PN’s specific use case (i.e. launch site location, launch vehicle operating conditions), provide a recommendation of the documentation required. 6.5 Launch Pad Sustainment Cost Analysis Provide an assessment of the launch site sustainment costs. Provide recommendations where efficiencies may be achieved as well as identifying any items missed to support the PN’s funding forecast. Based on the PN’s mission concept, assess any unique capability needed and the associated sustainment. Examples might be, but not limited to, pad spares, redundant capability, automated tools and other hardware/software. 6.6 Launch Readiness Verification Process Support the development of a launch readiness/certification process (aligned to the terminology of the PN) that meets the risk acceptance of the PN. Recommend applicable U.S. Space Force Launch Readiness Verification (LRV) requirements and procedures for both launch vehicle and spacecraft and recommend tailoring to the PN’s requirements. 6.7 Site Surveys Support on-site surveys of the PN’s launch pad, range, and associated facilities. 6.8 Requirement Definition Support Provide to the PN general technical assistance and support in their requirements definition generation for their PN National Space missions. 6.9 Space Training Provide a catalog of space training courses available through the U.S. Government or other means for PN to participate in and gain a better understanding of space knowledge and operations 6.10 Technical Interchange Meetings Support Technical Interchange Meetings, planning conferences, review meetings, and other relevant meetings to be defined by the PN. PN is requesting 20 meetings per year (4 in-person, either in the U.S. or in the PN’s territory, and 16 virtual). 7. Requirements Mapping Study Develop a requirements matrix or other traceability tool that enables the ability to verify and validate requirements.