Scott Nicholas
The U.S. Air Force seeks a contractor to provide satellite and secondary payload launch services for the military branch’s future Space Test Program-3 mission.
The Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center will accept responses to its request for proposals on the STP-3 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle contract through Dec. 2, according to a notice posted Thursday on FedBizOpps.
Space News reported Friday the branch sought bids from SpaceX and United Launch Alliance for the planned mid-2019 launch of an experimental blast-detection satellite along with a half-dozen smaller spacecraft that will join the mission.
“Through this solicitation for STP-3, we hope to promote healthy competition in order to foster innovation while securing assured access to space,” Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, SMC commander.
The branch noted the period of work performance will commence from the authority to proceed to an initial launch capability of June 2019 with a possible extension of up to two months.
