"One thing I can say for certain is that with regards to ideas, the more the better. And if you can look across the broad space ecosystem and pull in as many ideas as possible, regardless of the size of the vendor that's promoting that idea, you're going to be more successful at it putting solid innovative ideas on the plate."
U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, during his confirmation hearing for Chief of Space Operations
SDA Issues Solicitation to Recompete 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Gamma Variant Space Vehicles
Posted On: March 7, 2025 Responses Due: April 22, 2025
SDA seeks industry submissions to recompete 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Gamma variant space vehicles. This solicitation is for the Gamma (γ) variant of the Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) to be executed by the Advanced Fire Control (AFC) Program. AFC delivers operationally relevant prototypes and integrated ground to inform and influence future Tranches. There is a potential for future mission integration of AFC prototypes into the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) operational architecture.
SDA seeks T2TL Gamma space vehicles with a payload specifically designed to close future kill chains. The Gamma variant will share certain baseline characteristics with the other T2TL variants (Alpha and Beta) outlined in earlier solicitations. Further, SDA expects to make a T2TL-Gamma award to one vendor, subject to available funding, but reserves the right to make no awards or a partial award of less than 10 SVs.
To promote fair and open competition, at the direction of the head of contracting activity, SDA enlisted the support of independent source selection officials from outside the agency who will lead Source Selection activities.
The T2 Gamma solicitation is comprised of unclassified solicitation documents as well as classified material on technical details of payload development.
For information on how to request the classified solicitation documents and for proposal submission instructions, please visit the link below. Responses are due by noon ET on April 22, 2025.
SDA Issues Request for Information for PWSA Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications (BMC3) Multi-Mission Module (M3) Interface
Posted On: March 7, 2025 Responses Due: April 11, 2025
The Space Development Agency (SDA) seeks industry feedback on in-space Battle Management, Command, Control and Communications (BMC3) Multi-Mission Module (M3) interface documentation to inform SDA’s future BMC3 M3 solicitations.
SDA is releasing this request for information (RFI) to assist in the development and refinement of “interface documentation” that will be used to govern the interface between a future Multi-Mission Module (M3) and the SDA spacecraft it resides on.
With this RFI, SDA is soliciting recommendations and modifications to the provided documentation. Through compliance with this documentation, the M3s and their spacecraft interface are intended to allow SDA to apply a modular open system approach (MOSA) to the development of future space edge processing hardware.
The SDA Battle Management Layer will provide the hardware and software framework to host mission-specific processing, algorithms, and applications across the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) layers and systems. Battle Management will continuously address evolving threats and mission needs through on-orbit updates to hardware/firmware with each tranche delivery and on-orbit updates to flight software and mission applications throughout the lifecycle of each tranche.
To learn more about the specific BMC3 challenges and details of the RFI, please visit the link below.
Space Development Agency Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement
Posted On: January 15, 2025 Original Date Offers Due: January 14, 2026
Through this updated Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), SDA is soliciting executive summaries, invited proposal abstracts, and invited proposals for novel architecture concepts, systems, technologies, and capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements for future tranches of the agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), capability layers, or, that enable new capability layers and missions areas to address other emerging or evolving warfighter needs.
SDA is seeking architecture studies, concepts of operations (CONOPS), modeling and simulation, system designs, key technologies, and/or risk reduction prototypes that are responsive to the following focus areas:
• Resilient, Efficient Beyond Line-of-Sight Data Transport and Warfighter Communications
• Advanced/Alternate Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT)
• Advanced Target Custody, Warning, Tracking and Defeat
• Global Battle Management
Although not required, SDA strongly encourages submitting an executive summary in advance of a full proposal to ensure interest and potential funding availability. SDA releases an updated STEC BAA on an annual basis. Because SDA strives to always maintain an active BAA with similar focus areas, proposers are discouraged from submitting uninvited full proposals shortly before the BAA proposal due date simply to meet the submission deadline. They should consider instead submitting an executive summary to the subsequent BAA.
For a detailed description and submission instructions, check out the full BAA.
SDA Issues Special Notice Seeking Iron Dome for America Architecture Studies
Posted On: February 10, 2025 Responses Due: February 28, 2025
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is seeking executive summaries to prepare for 60-day studies on an “Iron Dome for America” architecture and capability. SDA is interested in industry’s perspective on implementing the Iron Dome for America architecture, with particular focus on enhancing the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture’s (PWSA) current contributions to global kill chains and missile defense.
This call for executive summaries falls under SDA Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Focus Area #3; Advanced Target Custody, Warning, Tracking, and Defeat.
SDA Requests Industry Feedback on Tranche 3 Tracking Layer Draft Solicitation
Posted On: January 31, 2025 Responses Due: February 28, 2025
The Space Development Agency is seeking industry feedback for delivery of the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The T3 Tracking Layer will accelerate delivery from low Earth orbit of global, persistent indications, detection, warning, tracking, and identification of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.
The T3 Tracking Layer will also accelerate delivery of a missile defense capability. The T3 Tracking Layer is anticipated to include the procurement and deployment of a minimum of 54 space vehicles (SVs) with infrared (IR) sensors in six orbital planes. Additional prototyping of satellites and sensor payloads may also occur under this Other Transaction in order to inform requirements and constellation design. The fully deployed Tracking Layer is estimated to include more than 100 SVs in low Earth orbit across multiple planes.
Each Tracking Layer SV and communications system will be interoperable with all PWSA SVs, to include Transport Layer SVs and will operate and be integrated through a common ground system. As a result, the T3 Tracking Layer will provide low-latency data to in-theater weapon systems to ensure kill chain closure against stressing adversary weapon systems.
Overall, SDA’s T3 programs will provide sustained capability with advances over Tranche 2 in capabilities such as coverage, sensitivity, and accuracy of missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities; coverage, resilience, and capacity of tactical data links; position, navigation, timing (PNT) resilience, accuracy of PNT solutions, and distribution of PNT solutions to users; and mission and network management performance and responsiveness enabled by autonomy—all delivered through a spiral development model, just two years after the generation before.
To view the draft solicitation and instructions on how to request the full info package, visit the link below.
SDA Seeks Industry Input on Optical Communication Terminal Standard Update
Posted On: January 24, 2025 Responses Due: February 4, 2025
The Space Development Agency (SDA) seeks industry feedback on releasing an intermediate Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) Standard between v3.1.0 and v4.0.0 to reduce risk in the upcoming Tranche 3 solicitations of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This request for information (RFI) will inform SDA consideration for an additional revision (v3.2.0) to its OCT Standard to publish alongside OCT standard v4.0.0. OCT Standard v3.2.0 would include critical updates from v3.1.0 and new requirements defined in v4.0.0 not specific to the burst-mode waveform implementation. SDA intends for v3.2.0 to be the standard of record for Tranche 3, with a smaller, select number of Tranche 3 optical terminals compliant with v4.0.0. As such, SDA strongly encourages industry vendors to provide feedback on v3.2.0 via responses to this RFI.
All responses received to this RFI are solely for information and planning purposes and may or may not be used to support future solicitations or standards.
For a detailed description and submission instructions, check out the full RFI.
SDA Requests Industry Feedback on Tranche 3 Transport Layer Upsilon Variant Draft Solicitation
Posted On: January 23, 2025 Responses Due: February 10, 2025
The Space Development Agency (SDA) released a draft solicitation for the Tranche 3 (T3) Transport Layer Upsilon (T3TLυ) space vehicle variant of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This draft solicitation seeks industry input ahead of the final solicitation to select space industry builder-operator teams that will partner with SDA to jointly develop and operate the T3TLυ space vehicles (SVs) and mission as part of the PWSA. The Government plans to purchase a constellation of approx. 40 T3TLυ SVs, divided into four orbital planes of ten SVs each, intended to be awarded to two vendors, subject to available funding.
SDA seeks input on a solution for PWSA T3 Transport involving the T3TLυ SVs that will include optical communication terminals (OCTs) to support in-plane and cross-plane crosslinks, links to terrestrial OCTs (ground, air, and maritime), and crosslinks to compatible SVs external to the Transport Layer.
SDA’s Tranche 3 programs will provide sustained capability with advances over Tranche 2 in capabilities such as coverage, sensitivity, and accuracy of missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities; coverage, resilience, and capacity of tactical data links; PNT resilience, accuracy of PNT solutions, and distribution of PNT solutions to users; and mission and network management performance and responsiveness enabled by autonomy.
To view the draft solicitation and instructions on how to request the full package, use the link below.
SDA to Host By-Invite Industry Day for HALO Pool Vendors and Prospective Payload Providers to discuss Tranche 2 Demonstration and Experimentation (T2DES) Europa Prototype Order
Posted on: December 20, 2024 Industry Day: February 10-11, 2025 Responses to Special Notice Due: January 22, 2025
The Space Development Agency, in conjunction with Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, will host an industry day for Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO (HALO) pool members and invited potential payload providers February 10-11, 2025 in Lexington, Mass.
The industry day will focus on the draft prototype order for the upcoming Tranche 2 Demonstration and Experimentation Program (T2DES) Europa demonstration. Industry day events will include an overview of the Europa mission, tour of MIT Lincoln Lab testing facility, industry/teaming networking opportunities, and potential one-on-ones with SDA staff.
HALO pool members will receive industry day details through official vendor communication channels. U.S. companies interested in providing payloads for T2DES Europa should read carefully and respond to the special notice at the link below. Responses to the special notice are due January 22, 2025 by 5 p.m. ET. Payload providers selected to provide presentations will be notified no later than February 5, 2025.
SDA Publishes Request for Proposals for Tranche 3 Program Integration
Posted On: December 13, 2024 Responses Due: January 31, 2025
The Space Development Agency (SDA) released a final request for proposals for the Tranche 3 Program Integration (T3PI) effort of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This solicitation seeks industry proposals to provide systems engineering and integration activities supporting the T3 program, which will extend the PWSA through the acquisition and integration of the next generation of space vehicles (SV) and associated ground segment (GS) elements.
Proposals must facilitate the delivery of T3 Tracking, T3 Transport, and T3 Custody Layer, integration with the PWSA ground and user segments, and advancement of the operational PWSA. The T3 Custody Layer is an envisioned future layer of the PWSA that would add the capability of continuous custody of target tracks.
SDA’s T3 programs will provide sustained capability with advances over Tranche 2 in capabilities such as coverage, sensitivity, and accuracy of missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities; coverage, resilience, and capacity of tactical data links; position, navigation, and timing (PNT) resilience, accuracy of PNT solutions, and distribution of PNT solutions to users; continuous custody of target tracks and mission and network management performance and responsiveness enabled by autonomy.
To view the RFP and instructions on how to request the full package, visit the link below.
SDA Requests Industry Feedback on Tranche 3 Integration Draft Request for Proposals
Posted On: Nov. 8, 2024 Responses Due: Noon ET, Nov. 25, 2024
The Space Development Agency (SDA) released a draft request for proposals for the Tranche 3 (T3) Integration effort of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This draft RFP seeks industry input ahead of selecting a vendor to provide systems engineering and integration activities supporting the T3 program, which will extend the PWSA through the acquisition and integration of the next generation of hundreds of space vehicles (SV) and associated ground segment (GS) elements.
SDA seeks input on a solution that provides a PWSA T3 Program Integration effort involving systems engineering and integration activities necessary to facilitate the delivery of T3 Tracking, T3 Transport, and T3 Custody Layer, integration with the PWSA ground and user segments, and advancement of the operational PWSA.
SDA’s Tranche 3 programs will provide sustained capability with advances over Tranche 2 in capabilities such as coverage, sensitivity, and accuracy of missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities; coverage, resilience, and capacity of tactical data links; PNT resilience, accuracy of PNT solutions, and distribution of PNT solutions to users; and mission and network management performance and responsiveness enabled by autonomy.
To view the draft RFP and instructions on how to request the full package, use the link below.
SDA Posts Tranche 3 Industry Planning Notice
Posted On: October 2, 2024
The Space Development Agency (SDA) released a planning notice for Tranche 3 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This top-level solicitation timeline allows industry to plan to compete for upcoming acquisitions, in addition to supporting improved and more focused proposal responses.
SDA’s Tranche 3 programs will provide sustained capability with advanced improvements over Tranche 2 plus future warfighting applications. This includes advances in coverage, sensitivity, and accuracy of missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities; coverage, resilience, and capacity of tactical data links; PNT resilience, accuracy of PNT solutions, and distribution of PNT solutions to users; and mission and network management performance and responsiveness enabled by autonomy.
To view the notice and instructions on how to request the full information package, use the link below.
SDA participates in the DoD Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Starting in October 2021, SDA began leveraging the DoD SBIR 22.4 Annual Program Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and the DoD STTR 22.D Annual Program BAA. These programs are competitive opportunities to encourage domestic small businesses to engage in research and development with the DoD. SDA will use the SBIR/STTR program to enhance future tranches and to inform the overall architecture of spiral development projects to demonstrate warfighter capability via proliferated low Earth orbit. Through a competitive awards-based program, SDA's SBIR/STTR efforts will enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. SDA will post updated small business opportunities under the DoD Annual SBIR and STTR BAAs throughout the year as we identify specific technical topics for industry consideration and will consider partnering with other organizations such as DARPA or Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), based on their research interests and the quality of small business proposals. The annual BAAs close Dec. 31, 2022.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) views small businesses as critical contributors to the performance of research and development supporting national security through space and is soliciting small business participation in the advancement of the Proliferated Warfare Space Architecture.
On November 28, SDA announced SDA24-P001 the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Advanced Capability Development Open Topic under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs, inviting submissions of innovative research proposals supporting the advancement of the PWSA. We have several focus areas, including developing the optical communication terminal technology, integrating commercial sensing to the Transport Layer, In-space processing, generic BMC3 solutions, cyber, networking, and high performance clocks. Each of these has a team of subject matter experts working at SDA to develop and build the industrial base, and seeking new and innovative technology that will help support the warfighter and their mission.
The topic was posted publicly earlier in November as a preview for interested parties. Full topic descriptions for SDA24-P001 are available on DSIP at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login and SDA SBIR instructions and topic descriptions are available under the DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual listing at https://media.defense.gov/2023/Nov/08/2003337722/-1/-1/0/SDA_SBIR_244_R1.PDF.
IMPORTANT DATES:
November 28, 2023: Topic opens, begin submitting proposals in DSIP
December 28, 2023: Topic Q&A closes to new questions at 12:00 p.m. ET
January 10, 2024: Topic closes, full proposals must be submitted in DSIP no later than 12:00 p.m. ET