Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Range Operations and Requirements Branch Request for Information - Management and/or Operational Concepts for a National Spaceport with the spaceports collocated with the current Eastern and Western Ranges
1.1 Headquarters Air Force Space Command Range Operations and Requirements Branch, AFSPC/A3/6RR is seeking information on Management and/or Operational Concepts for a National Spaceport with the spaceports collocated with the current Eastern and Western Ranges. Space Launch Ranges must evolve into globally competitive National Spaceports that utilize agile and rapid acquisition methodologies, challenge stagnant policies, update governance documentation, and establish interagency agreements to meet future demands.
1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential respondents to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement.
1.0 Background
Air Force Space Command seeks to transform its current ranges into flexible and agile sites utilized for both National Security and Commercial space launch missions. Currently Air Force space launch ranges are operated within a government, and more specifically, military construct and existing authorities provided in Title 10 USC. Commercial industry activity and US government space policy will continue to drive access to these Department of Defense facilities, while national security requirements drive operational, prioritization, and access restrictions.
The Eastern Range located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL and the Western Range located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, are national assets serving two major functions--long Range missile testing and operational Spacelift. They are part of the Major Range and Test Facility Base construct; a set of test installations, facilities and Ranges that support Department of Defense Test & Evaluation programs. They are also Spaceports, providing passage to and from space supporting U.S. national security, commercial, and civil space missions. As the U.S. commercial space launch industry expands, the capabilities of our ranges will also need to expand to support and exploit the resulting increased launch throughput. National Spaceports is an enabler of our nation's space commerce while guaranteeing unfettered space access for warfighting, human spaceflight, and other national interests. It is a connected system of federally operated launch facilities that consolidates management and operations into a coordinated forum.
2.0 Need
HQ AFSPC A3/6RR is looking for inputs describing a national spaceport operational and management construct to inform strategic planning to transition from today's launch ranges to the National Spaceport construct of the future. Inputs should address common space launch functions such as scheduling, commodity management, resource management, etc. Special emphasis should be placed on explaining how National Security equities would be satisfied within proposed construct. HQ AFSPC seeks to partner with other federal and state government entities and industry partners to chart out a path to establish the world's premier spaceports.
3.0 Requested Information
4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper.
4.2 White papers are due no later than 11 Oct 19. Responses shall be limited to 10 pages for and submitted via e-mail only to the Primary Point of Contact and Secondary Point of Contact listed below:
Primary Point of Contact: Chief, Range Operations and Requirements Branch, Lieutenant Colonel Peter J Schmick, email peter.schmick@us.af.mil, 719-554-3981
Secondary Point of Contact: Range Operations and Requirements Branch, Mr. John Mann, email john.mann.17@us.af.mil, 719-554-2524
All communications and questions associated with this request shall be submitted via email to the primary and secondary Point of Contacts.
4.3 Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
In order to review RFI responses, PROPRIETARY information may be given to Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) and/or Systems Engineering and Technical Advisor (SETA) contractors working for the Government. Non‐government support contractors listed below may be involved in the review of any responses submitted.
Each of these contractors is contractually prohibited from disclosing such information outside the
performance of their Government contract. If respondent takes exception to this, respondent must
explicitly state so in their response.
4.4. The white paper shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum:
4.4.1. Industry Name, mailing address, Point of Contact, phone number, and e-mail of designated point of contact.
4.4.2. Respondents shall submit an electronic copy of their Spaceport Whitepaper in PDF format to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contact. Hard copy responses will not be accepted. The response is limited to 10 pages. Page size shall be 8.5" x 11". Font is Times New Roman. Font size shall be 12 pt. The Government will not accept company literature or marketing materials.
5.0 Industry Discussions
HQ AFSPC A3/6RR representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential respondents. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential management construct and/or operations for future national spaceports.
6.0 Questions
All communications and questions associated with this request shall be submitted via email to the primary and secondary Point of Contacts listed in section 4.2.
7.0 Summary
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to describe an OPERATIONAL AND/OR MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCT FOR A NATIONAL SPACEPORT. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. HQ AFSPC has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
Peter J Schmick, Chief, Range Operations and Requirements Branch, Phone 719-554-3981, Email peter.schmick@us.af.mil - Mr. John Mann, Range Operations and Requirements Branch, Phone 719-554-2524, Email john.mann.17@us.af.mil
