EAGLE Payload Processing Facility

This announcement is a Notice of Intent to award Sole Source by the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Advanced Systems and Development Directorate (AD), Contracting Office (ADK), Kirtland AFB, NM. This Notice of Intent does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the Government to further evaluate capability briefs, release a competitive solicitation, or award a contract. The Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program (STP) program intends to issue an RFP to Astrotech Space Operations (ASO) for Payload Processing of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Augmented Geosynchronous Laboratory Experiment (EAGLE) spacecraft for a duration of six weeks. This will be a sole-source action, and the RFP will be issued no earlier than fifteen (15) days after publication of this Notice of Intent solely to the prospective source identified above. The statutory authority for this action will be contracting by Other than Full and Open Competition, 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. A facility at the launch site for the EAGLE spacecraft and associated payloads is required. This facility will be required to meet a host of technical and security requirements as outlined in the EAGLE payload processing facility requirements document (PPRD). Generally this activity includes physical integration of hardware, spacecraft fueling, system checks, physical facility security, and legal and environmental compliance. The procurement of a launch site payload processing facility for the EAGLE space vehicle and associated payloads is a new order without an existing contracting vehicle. EAGLE is a one-of-a-kind experimental space vehicle and the procurement of a payload processing facility is a one-time action and as such there is no acquisition history. For previous spacecraft, STP has integrated the spacecraft, or the launch vehicle provider or space vehicle provider has been responsible for Payload Processing Facility (PPF) as part of their contract. This spacecraft differs in that it is government built, and the SMC Launch Enterprise Directorate (SMC/LE) launch vehicle contract being utilized for this mission does not have provisions for spacecraft processing. The EELV contract does require the launch provider, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) in this case, to provide a processing facility for the integrated payload stack, which in this case is ASO in Titusville, FL. This is the driving factor for a sole source acquisition of ASO facility use. Processing of a spacecraft and the associated integrated payload stack (IPS), which contains all mission spacecraft, separation systems, adapters, and launch vehicle specific hardware is a process which must occur at the launch site, in this case Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). The facility requirements for the processing, outlined in the attached PPRD require a facility capable of housing class 1.3 explosives, supplying and storing hydrazine, performing hazardous spacecraft fueling operations and movement with hydrazine, provide facilities with external and internal 24/7 security for separate TS/SCI programs, have access to the United Launch Alliance mission support equipment (MSE) and be large enough to house the primary spacecraft, EAGLE spacecraft and associated payloads, and integrated payload stack hardware in a vertical configuration, all in a continuous class 10,000 clean room environment. The only facility at CCAFS capable of meeting all of these requirements is ASO's Building 9 in Titusville, FL. Environmental compliance is another key reason ASO is utilized by ULA and the prime spacecraft provider. One of the standard services provided by ASO is assured compliance with applicable laws to include environmental and safety laws, of particular concern with hydrazine fueling operations. The government program team determined that three facilities exist in the CCAFS area that could support the necessary SV and LV integration activities. These include the East Processing Facility (EPF) on CCAFS, owned by the US government, the Payload Pocessing Facility on CCAFS, owned by Space Exploration (SpaceX), and ASO, owned by Lockheed Martin. The team first examined the PPF owned by SpaceX and immediately determined the facility was unsuitable for this mission as it is owned and operated by ULA's direct competitor. Analysis of the SpaceX launch schedule also indicates this facility will be unavailable during the required dates. The EPF was considered for use, however the EAGLE and primary spacecraft teams determined their security requirements could not be met by this facility. While modifications could be performed they would require MILCON that is not currently planned or budgeted and could not be completed in time to support the mission. Lastly, the additional transport between facilities presents unacceptable technical and cost risks to the program, as EAGLE will ultimately require final integration with the payload stack and encapsulation at ASO. This notice of intent is for informational purposes only, and is not a request for competitive proposals. Any persons or companies interested in this notice may respond to the requirement(s) and submit their capabilities to the Procurement Contracting Officer; Major Edgar A. Alonso-Bernal via e-mail at edgar.alonsobernal@us.af.mil. The capabilities statement may address why the company believes that the sole-source contract justification is not valid. Parties (to include small and small disadvantaged businesses) may identify their interest and technical capability, and submit information for consideration by the agency in regard to future requirements the USAF may have. Please keep the responses to 15 one-sided pages or less, with 1-inch margins on all sides, and in Times New Roman 12-point font. This announcement constitutes the only notice for this sole-source EAGLE PPF contract.