SAM #26-18

WNGSS satellite communications sustainment and modernization

The U.S. Space Force is planning a sole-source contract to sustain and modernize military satellite communications systems. - Government buyer: United States Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC). - Procurement: Wideband and Narrowband Global SATCOM Sustainment (WNGSS) indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. - Systems supported: Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) satellite constellations and associated ground systems. - Services requested: Full life-cycle engineering, sustainment, cybersecurity, modernization, and operational enhancements, including: - 24/7 satellite anomaly analysis, fault isolation, and recovery, with engineering reachback. - Telemetry and orbital analysis, maneuver planning, collision avoidance, and end-of-life disposal. - Engineering and software maintenance for the Global SATCOM Configuration and Control Element (GSCCE), satellite flight software, Satellite Simulator (SATSIM), operational databases, and engineering tools. - Transition support for new space vehicles and hosted payloads. - OEM and vendors: The notice refers to an incumbent OEM but does not identify it by name. No vendors or specific product part numbers are named. - Notable requirement: The notice cites the incumbent’s proprietary technical data, software, and infrastructure, and insufficient Government data rights, as reasons the work is planned as a sole-source acquisition. - Estimated value: Approximately $945.9 million if the option is exercised. - Ordering period: Five-year base period with one ten-year option.

Description

The United States Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC), intends to award a sole-source Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to The Boeing Company (CAGE: 18600), P.O. Box 92919, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2919, for the Wideband and Narrowband Global SATCOM Sustainment (WNGSS) effort.

The anticipated contract will have a five-year base ordering period and one ten-year optional ordering period, with a total estimated ceiling of approximately $945.9M ($480.6M base and $465.3M option) if all options are exercised. This IDIQ contract will provide the critical, full life-cycle engineering, sustainment, cybersecurity, modernization, and operational enhancement support for multiple Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) constellations.

The scope of this requirement includes, but is not limited to:

Space Vehicle & Constellation Sustainment: 24/7 real-time anomaly analysis, fault isolation, and recovery; factory reachback engineering; telemetry trending; orbital analysis; maneuver planning; collision avoidance (COLA); and end-of-life (EOL) disposal for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) satellite constellations. Ground Command & Control Support: Sustaining engineering, software maintenance, and enhancement for the Global SATCOM Configuration and Control Element (GSCCE) ground system. Software, Database, & Simulation Sustainment: Maintenance and updates for satellite flight software, the Satellite Simulator (SATSIM), operational databases, and engineering tools. Pre-Handover & Transition Support: Support for the transition of new space vehicles (e.g., WGS-11, WGS-12) and hosted payloads (e.g., Protected Tactical SATCOM Prototype [PTS-P]) from development into the operational sustainment baseline.

Statutory Authority: This acquisition is being conducted on a sole-source basis under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements."

Justification for Sole Source: The Boeing Company is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the WGS satellites, UFO satellites, and critical components of the GSCCE ground system. Boeing possesses unique qualifications and exclusive ownership of the proprietary data, software, and specialized infrastructure required to perform this sustainment effort. The Government does not possess sufficient data license rights for the technical data packages (TDPs), flight software source code, or high-fidelity satellite simulators (SATSIM) to permit a competitive acquisition. This proprietary data, which was developed at private expense, includes detailed design documentation for the Boeing 702HP and 702MP satellite platforms, simulators, and ground control software. Boeing has repeatedly declined the Government’s requests to sell the necessary data rights.

Without access to this OEM-owned data, no other contractor can perform the required engineering and sustainment without introducing substantial duplication of cost to the Government and unacceptable delays and risk to on-orbit assets critical to national security. Market research confirmed that Boeing is the only contractor fully capable of satisfying all of the requirements of this acquisition without a break in critical service to the warfighter.

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