Concepts & Courses of Action - Space Launch Ranges

***************WORD DOCUMENT OF THE BELOW IS ATTACHED*************** 1 Description 1.1 Statutory authority to support commercial launch providers with services, facilities, and infrastructure must be updated to match the contemporary situation on Space Force ranges. Authority to plan for reliable and predictable access to the government's space transportation infrastructure and services must be directed in law and supported by appropriate policy. Current law constrains the United States Space Force's (USSF) ability to support the growing commercial space launch industry. These constraints risk the USSF launch ranges at Vandenberg AFB (VAFB) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) being the throttle that limits growth of an industry of vital national interest. The DoD and the intelligence community rely on commercial launch services to place national security assets in space. The government and industry are co-dependent; commercial launch services occur primarily on federal ranges. Despite this dependency, the USSF is constrained from planning and actively including commercial needs in development of installation and services supporting launch activity. The Space Force can only support private space companies with facilities and services - otherwise not needed for public use (51 USC - 50913). 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 USSF is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents 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. The Government plans to utilize this information to assist in future planning efforts related to funding policy and execution strategies. 2 Requested Information 2.1 Headquarters Space Operations Command Range Operations and Requirements Branch, HQ SpOC S3/6RR, is seeking inputs from Eastern and Western range stakeholders on concepts and courses of actions addressing real or perceived funding and authority limitations on the space launch ranges. HQ SpOC recognizes the need to address these authorities with the potential incoming increased launch tempo and cadence to ensure continued support to all range customers. HQ SpOC continues to strive toward reliable and predictable access for launch services, infrastructure, and range instrumentation in support of the entirety of the support needed for the space launch ranges. 2.2 HQ SpOC/S3/6RR requests industry feedback, in the form of a white paper on any or all of the following questions: 2.2.1 How does industry propose the USSF structure a mutually beneficial cost sharing fund? 2.2.2 Should the government pursue a special purpose funding mechanism, such as a cost sharing fund, what feedback should the government consider for parameters of agreements to add to the fund? 2.2.3 What benefits does industry foresee from a cost sharing structure? 2.2.4 Please provide examples of instances where government support/funding was unavailable to support your company's requirements. 2.2.5 What recommendations does industry have to alleviate or address real or perceived constraints to government support to commercial space launch operations? 2.2.6 What changes to law or policy are necessary to ensure the government can provide reliable and predictable services to support industry growth? 2.2.7 What future program considerations should the government take into account that may require government funding? 2.2.8 Does industry believe the government should restructure or readdress its real property authorities? 2.2.9 What tangible benefits does industry foresee from explicit real property authorities? 2.2.10 In what ways does industry feel the government in unresponsive to your program's needs? 2.2.11 Are there any other recommendations industry has to transition current range funding mechanisms and/or processes to be more business-like? 2.3 The HQ SpOC/S36RR team is seeking industry's ideas, recommendations, and solutions to better inform future industry-government partnerships with required operational and funding authorities. HQ SpOC continues to identify better ways to grow launch range capabilities with business-like practices, enabling responsive government support and maximizing the Nation's Assured Access to Space capability. Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper addressing any or all of the questions above. Respondents should follow the instructions in section 3 for parameters of the white paper. 3 Responses 3.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper containing two sections. Section 1 shall include administrative information. There is no page count limitation for Section 1. Section 2 shall include responses to the questions above in section 2 of this RFI. Section 2 of the respondents white paper shall be limited to 10 pages, single-sided, in 12-pont font in Times New Roman. 3.1.1 Section 1 of the white paper shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum: 3.1.1.1 Name, mailing address, contractor CAGE code, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact. 3.2 White papers in Microsoft Word for Office 2000 compatible format are due no later than 16 June 2021, 1000 MDT. Responses shall be limited to 10 pages, single-sided, and submitted via e-mail to the Primary Point of Contact (POC), Joseph Willard, Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO), at joseph.willard@us.af.mil and the Secondary POC, Nicole Pilato, Acquisition Program Manager, at nicole.pilato.2@spaceforce.mil. 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.