Space Force previews $200M ground operations support recompete

Space Force has given industry a detailed look at its plan for a potential seven-year, $200 million recompete contract for ground operations and development work focused on experimental systems.

The service branch is seeking to hire an industry partner that can aid the prototyping and operations of satellite ground systems and satellite operations centers. Sustainment and associated support services are included in the scope of work.

The Hybrid Architecture and Development for Experimental Systems contract also is part of Space Force’s efforts to accelerate its posture for launch and on-orbit operations, Space Force said in a Wednesday notice to release the draft solicitation.

HADES will support operations at Space Force’s Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Support Complex at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Also called RSC, this hub is home to Space Force’s main center for research-and-development and command-and-control functions for satellites.

Whomever wins HADES will be responsible for integrating differences in coding between different prototype satellites made by different builders. The idea behind that is to ensure satellites are not lose because of inefficient or conflicting coding or commands.

Science Applications International Corp. captured the current iteration called Engineering, Development, Integration and Sustainment in 2020 at a $655 million ceiling over seven years.

Space Force has obligated $236.6 million in order volume to-date against EDIS to represent 36.1% of the ceiling, according to GovTribe data.

Questions and comments in response to the draft request for proposals are due no later than 6 p.m. Eastern time on March 20, or 4 p.m. Mountain time.