Combined Orbital Operations Logistics Sustainment (COOLS)

The Department of the Air Force, through the Space and Missile Systems Center, intends to award a sole source contract for the Combined Orbital Operations Logistics Sustainment (COOLS) program to Lockheed Martin Corporation Space Systems Company. This contract will provide sustaining engineering and logistics support for key satellite communication systems including Milstar, Defense Satellite Communications System III (DSCS III), and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), covering multiple frequency bands and data rates. The support includes satellite payload and bus sustainment, system engineering, integration and testing, configuration management, security engineering, help-desk services, and technical advisory, all essential for maintaining and extending the operational life of these critical multi-billion dollar space assets. The services will be performed at various locations including sites in California, Colorado, Wyoming, deployed mobile locations, and overseas. A thorough market research process identified Lockheed Martin as the only capable provider able to fulfill the full scope of the technical and sustainment requirements due to their proprietary knowledge and ownership of Milstar system data and expertise. Attempts to divide the requirement to foster competition were deemed impractical and inefficient. The contract is planned for an initial one-year base period with up to four one-year option periods and will utilize cost-type contract vehicles such as Cost Plus Incentive Fee and Cost-Plus Fixed Fee. Although this notice serves only to inform and solicit interest, no competitive proposals will be requested as the procurement will proceed under the sole source authority. The anticipated solicitation release is January 2014 with award expected by the end of that year. Points of contact for this procurement effort are provided for further inquiries.