This Request for Information (RFI) is in support of additional market research by the Department of the Air Force (DAF), United States Space Force (USSF), and Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45) to identify potential sources to lease Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida. Due to the unique attributes of SLC-37 and the goal of maximizing assured access to space in support of national security objectives, the DAF, USSF and SLD 45 are committed to ensuring the best use of this property.
The USSF seeks to issue a lease under 10 U.S.C. § 2667 to a space launch company to construct launch, recovery, and other associated space transportation infrastructure and to conduct launch and reentry activities at SLC-37. Commercial use of CCSFS real property advances U.S. space capabilities and provides launch and launch support facilities in furtherance of U.S. policy to launch national security and other DoD payloads into space. The DAF will execute a lease after completion of the required environmental planning documentation and issuance of a record of decision.
This action will also further Congress’s grant of authority to the Secretary of Defense, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2276, Commercial space launch cooperation, to:
(1) Maximize the use of the capacity of the space transportation infrastructure of the Department of Defense by the private sector in the United States;
(2) Maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the space transportation infrastructure of the Department of Defense;
(3) Reduce the cost of services provided by the Department of Defense related to space transportation infrastructure at launch support facilities and space recovery support facilities;
(4) Encourage commercial space activities by enabling investment by covered entities in the space transportation infrastructure of the Department of Defense; and
(5) Foster cooperation between the Department of Defense and covered entities.
SLC-37, one of the largest launch sites at CCSFS, is in the northern portion of the station and is capable of supporting super-heavy class launch vehicles. The DAF seeks to enhance its ability to deliver greater mission capability, expand efficient access to space, and enable cost-effective delivery of cargo to space. The DAF also seeks to expand launch program portfolio diversity and capabilities through the lease and improvement of SLC-37, which was most recently used for United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy program. SLC-37 will likely need substantial modification to accommodate a new launch program.
The DAF is interested in responses from companies that can demonstrate they meet the following requirements:
Launching a super-heavy class vehicle
The USSF does not currently have a super-heavy launch capability at CCSFS. As SLC-37 has unique attributes that can support super-heavy launch vehicles, maximizing mass to orbit per launch is a priority. For purposes of this RFI, “Super-heavy” is defined as a lift capability of greater than 50,000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO). To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should provide a list of any launch vehicle with a super-heavy lift capability to LEO that you intend to launch from SLC-37 within five years of the date of this RFI.
Sufficient financial maturity
A launch service provider must have the financial maturity to bring the proposed launch vehicle into operations at SLC-37 within five years of the date of this RFI. This includes building the necessary pad infrastructure in accordance with Government safety, environmental, security, and other applicable requirements, and developing the launch vehicle and associated manufacturing and logistics tail. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should provide documentation of current financial resources and funding status and provide inputs on modifying, developing, reusing or demolishing the existing SLC-37 infrastructure to support super-heavy launch and recovery operations at SLC-37 within five years.
Increase launch diversity at CCSFS
The DAF is seeking to increase the number of launch vehicles that operate on CCSFS to provide resilience in the event of a vehicle or infrastructure anomaly, factory work stoppage, supply chain disruption, or other launch impediment. With more requests than available pads, SLD 45 seeks to bring new launch vehicles to CCSFS rather than providing second pads to any launch vehicle currently operating at CCSFS. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should address whether your intended vehicle for SLC-37 currently has a launch site on CCSFS.
Maximize the benefit to the space industry and U.S. economy
Launch services are foundational to the health of the space economy; therefore, commercial operations from SLC-37 should maximize the benefit to the space industry and the U.S. economy. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should describe any unique capabilities of the intended launch vehicle (e.g., point-to-point delivery, payload return, survivability, reuse, crew transport) and the associated benefits for DoD, the space industry, and the U.S. economy.
Highest technical maturity
SLD 45 intends to allocate SLC-37 to a launch provider with a launch vehicle that is technically mature enough to begin operating from SLC-37 within five years to best utilize the site and ensure it does not sit idle. Categories of maturity to be considered will include: National Security Space Launch certification, successful missions, test flights, production and design. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should submit a schedule of projected milestones showing how the intended vehicle will be operational on SLC-37 within five years from the date of this RFI.
Maximize productivity while limiting adverse impacts
Proposed launch operations must strike an appropriate balance between maximizing productivity while also limiting adverse impact to other launch operations to capitalize on return on investment for the Government and protect the public and preserve critical national resources. The DAF will consider the impact of the launch vehicle’s proposed operations on other operations at CCSFS in order to minimize disruption to missions at other launch complexes while operating at the highest rate of productivity possible. The DAF will assess the impact of the launch vehicle’s explosive arcs and CONOPS on other CCSFS launch complexes, processing facilities, and transit routes. For vehicles that use LOX/LNG propellant, the SLD 45 Safety Office will define the explosive arcs for consistency. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should provide: projected launch rate, mass to orbit per launch, quantities of fuels needed, explosive arcs and hazard areas, including explosive siting maps in work or approved, mitigation alternatives for anticipated impacts to neighboring operations and transportation routes, and projected launch rates across all the company’s launch sites on CCSFS.
Please address in writing your company’s interest in leasing SLC-37 and your company’s ability to meet the DAF requirements by December 12, 2024 at 1700 EST. Please email your response to Erin White, SSC SLD 45 at the following address: erin.white.7@spaceforce.mil
Please include specific details regarding your company’s ability to fulfill each of these requirements and explain how your company will demonstrate compliance. Limit your response to 15 pages, use 12 point New Times Roman font with one inch margins on each page.
The DAF is also interested in hearing industry feedback regarding its requirements, which are subject to change.
Please also include the following information in your submission:
The deadline for submitting any questions to this RFI is 72 hours from date and time posted on Sam.gov. Responses to questions on this RFI will be posted through the Sam.gov Contract Opportunities website.
This RFI is issued solely for informational and planning purposes. No funds are available to fund the information requested. The information in this notice is current as of the publication date but is subject to change and is not binding to the Government. Oral submissions of information are not acceptable.
The Government does not intend to award a lease or any form of a contract based on this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Information submitted in response to this RFI will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.
