Wasn't that what happened in the last time too though?
Yes, there were draft RFPs and feedback before.
So what say the board, will ULA bid around $120 Million firm fixed price?
NASA has selected United Launch Services LLC of Centennial, Colorado, to provide launch services for the agency’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-M (TDRS-M) mission. The mission will launch in October 2017 aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The total cost for NASA to launch TDRS-M is approximately $132.4 million, which includes the launch service, spacecraft processing, payload integration, tracking, data and telemetry, and other launch support requirements.
Quote from: Brovane on 08/03/2016 08:24 pmSo what say the board, will ULA bid around $120 Million firm fixed price? This payload is doable in a 401, right?The cheapest confirmed quote I've seen posted around for an Atlas V launch is this one:https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-next-tracking-data-relay-satellite/QuoteNASA has selected United Launch Services LLC of Centennial, Colorado, to provide launch services for the agency’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-M (TDRS-M) mission. The mission will launch in October 2017 aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The total cost for NASA to launch TDRS-M is approximately $132.4 million, which includes the launch service, spacecraft processing, payload integration, tracking, data and telemetry, and other launch support requirements.I don't have any idea on what ULA will have to pay DoD for the ELC compensation part of the mission (which would be added on the total cost on top of the $132.4 million, if you want to do a straight apples to apples comparison). $120M seems pretty aggressive!
Isn't bidding one bird at a time for launch not very efficient?
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 08/05/2016 05:11 amIsn't bidding one bird at a time for launch not very efficient?Well, it would be somewhat anticompetitive to lock Air Force into a large block buy contract...
Well, it would be somewhat anticompetitive to lock Air Force into a large block buy contract...
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 08/05/2016 05:11 amIsn't bidding one bird at a time for launch not very efficient?Now that there is competition, not necessarily. Sure, in the normal world of contracting services you might get a discount if you purchase more, or make some sort of long term commitment.But this is part of a block of launch contracts that the USAF set aside specifically to be competed, not awarded in one lump amount.
Yes, it is more about assured access to space a competition. The problem with block buys is that once a contractor wins a contract, the other is left out. When you have to few contracts and you are such a huge percentage of the market, it might put one of your suppliers out of business.Since assured access to space is one of the requirements, that's not good. If the guy who lost a contract really needs some revenue, they might even sell a few services at a loss. They will lose some money but will be able to cover payroll.Not to mention that once one of only two suppliers get out of business you are in a monopoly.
LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. --The Air Force announced today the award of the second competitively sourced National Security Space (NSS) launch services contract in more than a decade. Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) was awarded a contract for Global Positioning System (GPS) III Launch Services. This is a firm-fixed price, standalone contract with a total value of $96,500,490. SpaceX will provide the Government with a total launch solution for the GPS-III satellite, which includes launch vehicle production, mission integration, and launch operations and spaceflight certification. The launch will be the third GPS III launch and is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida in February 2019.“The competitive award of the GPS III Launch Services contract to SpaceX directly supports SMC’s mission of delivering resilient and affordable space capabilities to our Nation,” said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force program executive officer for Space and SMC commander.GPS III is the next generation of GPS satellites that will introduce new capabilities to meet the higher demands of both military and civilian users. The satellite is expected to provide improved anti-jamming capabilities as well as improved accuracy for precision navigation and timing. It will incorporate the common L1C signal, which is compatible with the European Space Agency’s Galileo global navigation satellite system and complement current services with the addition of new civil and military signals.The Phase 1A procurement strategy reintroduces competition for national security space launch services. This is the second of nine competitive launch services planned in the FY 2017 President’s Budget Request under the current Phase 1A procurement strategy. The Phase 1A construct was recently extended from FY17 to FY19 to allow the development of new launch vehicles, which added 5 additional competitive launches for a total of 14 competitive launches. The next competitive award for launch services is the Space Test Program (STP) 3 satellite. This award marks another milestone in the Air Force’s ongoing efforts to reintroduce a competitive procurement environment into the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. In May 2015, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) was certified for EELV launches resulting in two launch service providers that are capable to design, produce, qualify, and deliver a launch capability and provide the mission assurance support required to deliver national security space satellites to orbit. The certified baseline configuration of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Launch System to Falcon 9 Upgrade was recently updated for use in National Security Space (NSS) missions. The Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at the Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the U.S. Air Force's center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities. Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
Quote LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. --The Air Force announced today the award of the second competitively sourced National Security Space (NSS) launch services contract in more than a decade. ...
LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. --The Air Force announced today the award of the second competitively sourced National Security Space (NSS) launch services contract in more than a decade. ...
Quote from: Dante80 on 03/15/2017 02:15 amQuote LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. --The Air Force announced today the award of the second competitively sourced National Security Space (NSS) launch services contract in more than a decade. ...This seems to be the counter that matters... other recent DoD awards were not competed.