Sources Sought
Rendezvous, Proximity Operations (RPO) Threat Response (RTR) VICTUS Responsive Launch Space Vehicle (SV)
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. SYD89-26-RPO-RLSV
Due in 11 days
AI summary Beta
The U.S. Space Force (Space Systems Command, Space Safari program) is asking industry for information, not offers, about a future small spacecraft that can launch on short notice and meet up with other objects in orbit. It is market research for a program planned for FY29 and beyond. Place of performance is listed as California.
Watch out for
- Heavy security and clearance expectations. The anticipated requirements include NSA Type-1 encryption and (as objectives) integration in a SCIF or SAP facility, which a small business without clearances may not be able to meet.
capacity to meet the stringent security demands of this program
- Demanding spaceflight experience. Respondents are asked to show flight heritage (actual vehicles operating in orbit) by early 2027, which favors established spacecraft makers.
having at least two (2) LEO vehicles or one (1) GEO vehicle successfully
- Response is costly and unpaid. A 15-page paper or 20-slide deck plus a detailed ROM cost estimate is required, at your own expense, with no promise of a later contract.
does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in
- Incomplete responses are not evaluated. Every Section 2 item and every Section 2.3 question plus the ROM must be answered, so skipping parts means the whole response is ignored.
Incomplete responses will not be evaluated.
- Time zone wording differs. The notice amendment says 1200 PST while the RFI document and the SAM.gov deadline field point to Pacific daylight time (UTC-7); confirm with the contracting officer before relying on the exact hour.
submissions are due 19 October 2026 at 1200 PST
- Controlled documents needed first. The interface documents referenced in the requirements are CUI and only released after you prove eligibility by email, which takes time before the 19 October deadline.
Read from the notice and 2 attachments.
- RFI for future RPO Threat Response VICTUS Responsive Launch SV_v2-5.pdf
- ReleasedRFI_VersionHistory.pdf
Full brief
What they want
- Written RFI response (white paper or slide deck) answering all of Section 2 and the Section 2.3 questions
- Capability statement: relevant experience, technical capabilities, past performance and existing products
- Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate by major cost driver, with assumptions and any Government-furnished dependencies
- Security posture details: DD Form 254 capability, facility clearance level, cleared people and secure facilities (unclassified only)
- Flight heritage since 1 Jan 2021 and planned flights through 1 Jan 2028
- Space vehicle architecture: block diagram, mass list, power list and bill of materials with long-lead items marked
- Digital engineering / model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and ability to use Government digital models
- Feedback on which requirements in Section 2.2 are hardest or riskiest, and alternative approaches
- Place of performance
- CA, USA
- How they'll choose
- Not an award. This is a Request for Information. Responses are only checked for completeness; the Government says it will not evaluate incomplete responses.
- Offers due
- 19 October 2026 at 1200 Pacific time (the notice response deadline field shows 2026-10-19T12:00:00-07:00, i.e. PDT)
- How to submit
- Email to the contracting officer, Brandon Villalpando (brandon.villalpando@spaceforce.mil), with CC to technical POC Michael Allen (michael.allen.119@spaceforce.mil) and SSC.SYD89.SpaceSafari@spaceforce.mil. DoD SAFE can be used for file transfer if needed (ask the Space Safari mailbox for a link). Classified annexes go through authorized channels (CORE preferred) with an unclassified email notice.
- Page limits
- White paper: max 15 pages, minimum 11 pt font, 1 inch margins, PDF. Slide deck: max 20 pages, PDF. Choose one format.
What to include when you submit
- Answer all of Section 2 information and the mandatory Section 2.3 questions in full
- Include a ROM estimate broken down by NRE, software, hardware, integration, testing and recurring support, plus technical, schedule and program assumptions
- Identify any Government Furnished Property or Government Furnished Information dependencies
- Fill in the company information table: name, address, CAGE/UEI, point of contact, business size and NAICS, socioeconomic status
- Include a capability statement covering experience, capabilities, past performance and existing products
- Mark every page that contains proprietary or business-sensitive data
- Attach MBSE files if applicable
- Security answers must be unclassified; classified detail may go in a separate annex
You must have
- No set-aside. Anyone may respond, but the Government asks for business size and socioeconomic status in the response.
- To receive the controlled Government-furnished documents (Handle 2.0 ICD, SLIS, PLUG, all CUI Distro C), you must email your company name and CAGE code and affirm your company is eligible for CUI Distro C and your IT system can hold them.
- The RFI asks about your current security clearances and facilities (DD Form 254, facility clearance, cleared staff, SCIF/SAPF space). These are questions, not stated pass/fail gates for the RFI, but the future program may need them.
Describe your organization's current capability to receive and execute a
- Flight heritage the Government wants to see: at least two LEO vehicles or one GEO vehicle operating by 1 Jan 2027 [O1] or 1 Oct 2027 [O2]. Respondents must address their ability to meet it.
having at least two (2) LEO vehicles or one (1) GEO vehicle successfully
Not in the notice text
- Whether any future solicitation will be issued, and its contract type, value, period of performance or set-aside status
- Contents of the Handle 2.0 ICD, SLIS and PLUG documents, which are only available on request
- Launch interface control document is still to be determined (TBD)
- How responses will be used beyond refining the acquisition strategy
Is this a fit for your business?
Create a free accountFedReady checks notices like this against your business profile, tracks deadlines, and alerts you to new matches. Creating an account is free.
Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 19, 2026, 7:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 1, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- SYD89-26-RPO-RLSV
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8819 Sda and Combat Power SZK-La
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 541715
- Product/service code
- 1555
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Place of performance
- CA, 90245
- Contracting contact
- Brandon Villalpandobrandon.villalpando@spaceforce.mil310-653-9492
- Versions
- 5 (amended since first posted)
Full notice text from SAM.gov
The purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research and identify capable industry partners, innovative approaches, and potential solutions for Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPO-D) spacecraft designed for responsive launch and tasking in FY29 and beyond. Specifically, this RFI seeks to gather technical capabilities, clearance levels, and facility security parameters. The collected information will refine the Government’s acquisition strategy and shape future program requirements. See attachment for RFI. AMENDMENT: Version 2.4 is uploaded to clarify submissions are due 19 October 2026 at 1200 PST. AMENDMENT: A revision table is added for clarity.
Similar open opportunities
- STAR-FISH CALL 017 - Secure By DesignThe Air Force Research Laboratory (Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, NM) is asking for white papers under its STAR-FISH research announcement, CALL 017, Secure by Design…
- Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Virtual Software (VSW)The Army (ACC-APG Orlando, for the Simulation program office) is asking industry for solutions to the Synthetic Training Environment Virtual Software, a soldier training…
- Restorative and health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST)ARPA-H, a federal health research agency, is seeking proposals for its REST program on objective, home-based, closed-loop sleep technologies that detect sleep patterns and…
- 2025 Army Geospatial Center (AGC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)The Army Geospatial Center (part of the Army Corps of Engineers, Alexandria, VA) is running an open Broad Agency Announcement that invites research ideas on many geospatial…
- Lunar Enabling Infrastructure Accelerator (LEIA) -Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) NextSTEP-3 Appendix A - Final SolicitationNASA Glenn Research Center is soliciting proposals under the NextSTEP-3 Broad Agency Announcement (Appendix A, LEIA) to mature five lunar infrastructure technologies toward TRL…