The Air Force is aiming for May 31 to release the final Hosted Payloads Solutions (HoPS) request for proposals (RFP), according to a service spokesperson.
HoPS aims to provide Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (AFSMC) and other government agencies with a capability for hosting government payloads on commercial spacecraft to meet mission objectives, according to a notice posted on Federal Business Opportunities.
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| Air Force Space Command Director of Requirements Maj. Gen. Martin Whelan discusses hosted payload issues April 10 at the 29th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo. Photo: Air Force. |
An AFSMC development and planning directorate spokesperson said Monday an updated RFP package is undergoing the standard AFSMC review process before being released to industry and media through FBO. The Air Force previously released a draft RFP package for industry April 12.
The spokesperson said AFSMC took X-band capability out of the draft RFP because it was just a sample mission to test an offeror’s ability to answer key programmatic and technical questions for hosting a government payload on a commercial spacecraft. The spokesperson said due to current policy issues with respect to communication payloads and frequency allocation, industry was confused on how to demonstrate a successful approach to hosting such a payload.
Due to that confusion, the spokesperson said AFSMC decided to change payloads for the sample mission. The spokesperson said the change in payload will prevent offerors from having to address policy issues while demonstrating their technical knowledge in key mission areas. The spokesperson did not specify yesterday what other payload was used for the sample mission.
The basic HoPS indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract is intended to establish a pool of candidates to maximize hosted payload opportunities to the government, according to the FBO notice. HoPS awardees will compete for subsequent commercial firm-fixed price studies and future mission delivery orders over the five-year ordering period at an estimated value not to exceed $500 million.
The Defense Department is pursuing hosted payloads as a strategy to obtain capability during an era of budget tightening, but some steps forward have caused confusion for industry. The head of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Gen. William Shelton, said in November the service needed clarification of previously-issued guidance on obtaining military satellite communications (SATCOM) services from commercial providers via hosted payloads using military spectrum. The Sept. 26 policy, signed by Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO) for C4 and Information Infrastructure Capabilities Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert Wheeler, at first discussed spectrum issues, but the thrust of the guidance discussed challenges in working with commercial satellite operators (Defense Daily, Nov. 16).
The news of the final RFP release was welcomed by commercial satellite operators. Philip Harlow, president and chief operating officer (COO) of commercial satellite operator XTAR, said yesterday in a statement the HoPS program is the forerunner to wide adoption of the hosted payload model, which he believes will bring critical force-enabling technology to the front line warfighter both quickly and efficiently.
“XTAR looks forward to helping DoD shape policy that will address government concerns and streamline broad use of all hosted payload types to support vital operational requirements,” Harlow said.
Don Brown, vice president of business development and hosted payload programs at commercial satellite operator Intelsat General, said yesterday in a statement the RFP will be a culmination of an enormous amount of work by AFSMC and will be a milestone in the evolution of military space systems acquisition.