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2026-11-05
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SYSTEM DELTA 84 (SYD 84/MT) MEDIUM EARTH ORBIT MISSILE WARNING / MISSILE TRACKING EPOCH 3 and EPOCH 4, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FA8810-RFI-26-SYD84-E3E4 · DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE · FA8810 SPACE SENSING SSC/SNK

national security defense space aeronautics computing communications ai data science

Closes
2026-12-01 · 26 d
Award ceiling
—
Award floor
—
Program funding
—
Expected awards
—
Cost sharing
No
Posted
2026-09-08
Instrument
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Characterization · gpt-5.4-mini · 2026-09-09

This is a federal sources-sought RFI for industry feedback on a Space Force missile warning/tracking system architecture, acquisition strategy, and technical approach for MEO Epochs 3 and 4 space vehicles, ground segment, and digital engineering integration.

Funds
applied research
University
partner only
physical sciences
substantial
engineering
central
computational data
substantial

⚑ Sources Sought / RFI only; no award described in this notice · Federal contract/OTA acquisition context, not a grant · DoD SAFE access to additional documents is limited to interested vendors in good standing on SAM.gov · Respondents may need to state if they object to release of their RFI response to named firms

0 / 100 IPPRA team judgment

This is a missile-warning / space-sensing acquisition RFI in physical engineering and defense systems, not a social-behavioral or survey/policy/research line for IPPRA. The team’s security work is public opinion and threat perception, not building or evaluating missile-tracking architecture.

JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-09-09

Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules

Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) 75 strong technical depth: central; funds applied research
IPPRA 45 partial portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); social/behavioral work is none; funds applied research; university can only partner, not lead; capped at 45 (limited social-science role)
Tom Love Innovation Hub 45 partial funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content

Description

SPACE SYSTEMS COMMAND (SSC) System Delta 84 (SYD 84/MT) MEDIUM EARTH ORBIT MISSILE WARNING / MISSILE TRACKING EPOCH 3 and EPOCH 4 **UPDATE** 8 September 2026** The Government has made an update to the Response Date. The Updated Response Date is: 1 December 2026. The Inactive Policy will remain as "15 Days after Response Date." **UPDATE** 21 August 2026** The Government has made available via DoD SAFE transmissions the following documents to interested vendors (in good standing on SAM.GOV) who have contacted the Government POCs in this RFI: (CUI) MEO Epoch 3&4 Industry Day Briefing 07_22_2026 (CUI) Epoch 3&4 Market Research RFI CUI Industry Day Q&A Document 08_20_2026 (CUI) Instructions for the Release of Attachments to MEO Epoch 3&4 Market Research RFI 08_20_2026 Additionally, the Primary Point of Contact (Contracting Officer/Agreements Officer) has been updated, to Capt Kerry Kearschner, USAF. Email: kerry.kearschner@spaceforce.mil. The following companies were added to the list of entities/contractors supporting SSC/SYD 84 and its affiliated government organizations: The Tech7 Company and Galaxia If the respondent disagrees with the release of its RFI response to any of the aforementioned firms, the respondent must clearly state this restriction in the cover letter accompanying the RFI response. **END OF UPDATE** Description SSC requests industry feedback on a Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) layer Epochs 3 & 4 (E3&4) production feasibility that will support MWT Full Warfighting Capabilities (FWC). The government is seeking industry feedback to inform the MEO E3&4 acquisition strategy and technical approach. The MEO MWT architecture is being incrementally developed in capability-based deliveries called Epochs. Each Epoch is expected to include at least one competitive award and allows for insertion of new technology and innovative solutions in response to progressive or updated warfighter requirements to ultimately meet Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) capability needs. This RFI requests industry feedback and approaches to support delivering a MEO MWT E3&4 capability. The government encourages capability providers to offer responses for individual or multiple elements of the system architecture: Epochs 3 & 4 Space Vehicles (E3&4 SVs) - delivery, integration, and operations MEO Ground - ground segment with facilities and sites to operate the entire MEO MWT constellation with respect to Command and Control (C2) Digital Engineering Integration in alignment with Government Digital Engineering vision Contract Type The government is intending to use only Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type with an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement. Feedback on this approach is welcome. Small Business Consideration The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). The small business size standard is 1,000 employees. Participation from small and small disadvantaged businesses is encouraged. SSC's Small Business points of contact can be reached at smallbus@spaceforce.mil or by phone at (310) 653-1108. Small Business Opportunities The government would like to encourage small business participation in the performance of this effort and requests insight into how your company would incentivize Small Business participation. Provide an assessment of potential subcontracting opportunities. Do you have any recommendations to increase small business participation under this effort? Is there a more appropriate NAICS code to advertise this effort to maximize competition in industry? Instructions to Responders To receive the full RFI and additional supporting documentation, please send an email to the government POCs with the subject line “MEO Epochs 3 & 4 RFI – (company name)”. Include your organization’s pertinent information below: Submitter's Name and Parent Company Mailing Address/Facility: Street address, city, state, and nine-digit zip code Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Point of Contact (POC) POC Telephone number and email address Prime or Sub Role If Prime, identify how your firm will meet requirements set forth in 10 U.S.C. §4022 (A, B, or C) If sub, identify what capacity your firm will support and potential prime partnership (if known) CUI information can/will only be sent to company POCs listed in the SAM.Gov database. To receive the classified information, please include in the initial contact a SIPR, JWICS or comparable email address where these documents can be sent. Requesting organizations must possess a facility clearance of at least SECRET, which will be verified prior to data release. The government is also willing to physically distribute content to requesting organizations (or divisions/sectors of organizations) without electronic classified means of communication once properly cleared by our security team and proper arrangements are made with our POCs below. Format For Response SSC will endeavor to respond to all requests in the order they are received. All email responses to this RFI must include the subject line “MEO Epochs 3 & 4 RFI – (company name)”. All responses to this RFI should be provided as instructed in the RFI. Contact the POCs identified below for more information. (U) Government Representatives: Mr. Jack Barnett – jack.barnett.5@spaceforce.mil Ms. Lorene Avendaño – lorene.avendano.ctr@spaceforce.mil Mr. Archie Daquioag - archie.daquioag.2.ctr@spaceforce.mil Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. The government encourages interested parties to submit the information requested for the applicable elements listed in the RFI by 31 October 2026 to the government points of contact listed. Please monitor SAM.Gov for further updates. DISCLAIMERS AND NOTES 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 (Prototype) Proposal (RPP/RFP) or a promise to issue an RPP/RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised 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. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RPP/RFP. The government will acknowledge receipt of all submissions but is under no obligation to provide feedback or integrate respondents’ contributions. All information in response to this RFI marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. The government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with applicable regulations. (U) SSC/SYD 84 and its affiliated government organizations have entered into contracts with the following entities: AirIn Technologies, Inc. Alpha 2, Inc. Alpha Omega Group (AoG) Altus LLC Amentum Services, Inc. (formerly CENTRA) Anduril Astrion Bryce Space & Technology, LLC Booz Allen Hamilton Custom Analysis LLC Emolbi, LLC Exigo ExoAnalytics Full Rev LLC GoLion Company Integrated Enterprise System Engineering Solutions (IESE) John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) KBR MMAX, Inc. MTSI Parsons Corporation PL Consulting, Inc. Qualis Corporation SAVI LLC Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) Sigmatech, Inc. Space Systems Integration, LLC Space Engineering and Acquisition Systems (Space EA Systems) Stellar Solutions Strategic Analysis, Inc. Strategic Engineering Solutions, LLC Tecolote Research TEC Solutions, LLC The Aerospace Corporation The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA The MITRE Corporation The Stacia Group, LLC QuantiTech Services These companies support the government’s Space Force program office by performing technical reviews, systems engineering and integration analyses, cost estimation, and other advisory services. The government hereby notifies respondents that it will provide all responses to its support contractors for their services to the U.S. Space Force. If the respondent disagrees with the release of its RFI response to any of the aforementioned firms, the respondent must clearly state this restriction in the cover letter accompanying the RFI response. Foreign firms are advised they will not be allowed to participate in this acquisition at the prime contractor level; however, provided they are eligible to do business with the U.S. Government, they may be eligible to participate at the subcontractor level. The research and test data produced under a resultant contract may contain Military Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S. Sec 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, U.S.C., App. 2401, et seq.). Request certification and registration from the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC), Federal Center, 74 North Washington, Battle Creek, MI 49016-3412 as soon as possible.

Eligibility

Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: No Set aside used. Notice type: Sources Sought. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE / FA8810 SPACE SENSING SSC/SNK.

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