# SAM #10302026-01 Air Force RFI for a Cislunar Space System and up to five preliminary design studies **Buyer:** Department of the Air Force **Posted:** November 02, 2026 **Respond By:** November 24, 2026 **Identifier:** 10302026-01 **NAICS:** 541715, 336414, 336419, 336415, 927110 The Department of the Air Force is gathering industry input on a potential Cislunar Space System (CSS) to shape a future acquisition strategy. - **Opportunity:** Request for Information (RFI) for market research only; it is not a request for proposals or a commitment to award. - **Notional capability:** Up to five space vehicles, each with a spacecraft bus and capacity for a Government-provided payload of up to 2,000 kg and 3 × 1 × 1 m. - **Associated capabilities:** Space-vehicle integration and testing; ground mission management and telemetry, tracking, control, and communications; launch and system integration; and operations and maintenance. The RFI references integration with National Security Space Launch (NSSL). - **Industry objectives:** Identify rapid, low-risk commercial or non-developmental solutions requiring minimal non-recurring engineering. - **Potential near-term awards:** The Government may award up to five firm-fixed-price preliminary design study contracts after reviewing market research. - **Schedule objectives:** Initial launch capability is targeted for late calendar year 2029, with initial on-orbit capability in calendar year 2031. The RFI assumes a preliminary-design award in the second quarter of FY2027 for response planning. - **Notice update:** The latest notice lists a revised RFI PDF, “(U) CSS RFI_2026_11_03_Final v2.pdf”; the response-template spreadsheet is unchanged. ### Description

(U) The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is seeking market research information to inform the potential acquisition strategy for a Cislunar Space System (CSS). The CSS will consist of up to five (5) space vehicles (SVs), each of which will require a spacecraft bus, accommodation of a Government-provided payload, SV integration & test, a Ground Segment, including mission management and telemetry, tracking, control and communications, a solution for space launch, system (space vehicle/ground segment/communications) integration, and operations and maintenance (O&M). The Government is notionally interested in procuring up to five (5) SVs to meet DAF mission needs in late CY29. These vehicles may serve as seed vehicles that will inform the acquisition strategy for a potential future proliferated cislunar constellation. The Government is looking for information on industry's ability to provide a rapid, low-risk (minimal non-recurring engineering (NRE)) solution that can accommodate the Government's technical and programmatic objectives.

(U) The Government intends to award up to five (5) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) preliminary design study contracts upon Government consideration of the market information collected with this RFI and all other sources of information relevant to the effort. Failure to respond to this RFI may result in loss of the ability to participate in a subsequent program acquisition.

(U) This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), and industry should not construe the RFI as a commitment by the Government. In accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) provision 15.101, Early Exchanges with Industry, be advised that this is only an RFI and does not obligate the Government to reimburse any cost associated with preparation and/or submission of a RFI response. This RFI does not guarantee that the Government will issue an RFP or award a contract to provide these supplies or services.

[View original listing](https://sam.gov/opp/63178e340c9b4462b8ee648ae861d53e/view)