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Happy Friday!
Obviously our biggest story is that the 20th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium is NEXT WEEK! We're thrilled to welcome so many of you to this event, whether you'll be joining us in Monterey or checking in virtually.
- Please take a minute to shake hands (or elbow bump) with the ARP team. We're also open to selfies, as long as you share them. It's been too long since we've seen your faces!
- We'll send email debriefs of each day of the event with subscribers, but the regular newsletter will take a break on Friday.
Our other top story this week shows concern from lawmakers about the recently announced plan from the Space Force to acquire space launch services in two lanes of contracts.
- HASC ranking member Adam Smith conjectured that the strategy will be biased toward incumbents United Launch Alliance and SpaceX and could discourage emerging commercial startups from investing in new rockets.
The Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability contract (JWCC) is finalizing its first batch of first task orders, which include work on both secret and unclassified requirements.
The NDAA markup schedule for HASC was released yesterday. Subcommittees begin next week, with full committee markup scheduled for May 23.
Bill Greenwalt and John Ferrari have penned commentary criticizing the Air Force's proposal to allow new starts under a continuing resolution using rapid acquisition authorities for MDAPs.
- Also in this piece, the depressing prediction that we are likely looking at a year-long continuing resolution.
The White House released a strategy document proposing national norm-setting standards for critical and emerging technologies including quantum computing, biotech, AI, and communication technologies.
And check out the Politico article on the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which offers some insight into how the 40+ nations supplying Ukraine with weapons and munitions have been coordinating efforts--and the challenges emerging as all countries become more concerned about their own stockpiles and the need to sustain Ukraine's defense capabilities.
- There will be plenty of discussion at the symposium about supporting surge capacity and the latest outreach efforts to get the defense industrial base focused on ramping up production.
We'll see you next week!
20th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium
10-11 May 2023
Monterey, CA
Virtual seats are still available! Join us online for select panels.
Register now.
This Week's Top Story
Lawmakers raise concerns about new plan to procure national security launch services
Sandra Erwin, Space News
Leaders of the House Armed Services Committee are raising concerns about the Defense Department’s plan to procure space launch services beginning in 2025. They are questioning whether the proposed strategy, known as National Security Space Launch Phase 3, gives new entrants a fair opportunity to compete for contracts.
The Space Force in February released a draft solicitation for NSSL Phase 3 launch contracts to be awarded in 2025. The procurement was divided into two tracks: Lane 1 is a multi-vendor competition aimed at medium-size rockets that would fly less-demanding missions. Lane 2 would select two launch providers that fly medium and heavy rockets to any of the orbits where the military and intelligence agencies deploy satellites.
During a House Armed Services Committee hearing April 27, ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) noted that the Space Force plans to select two providers to fly as many as 40 missions projected for Lane 2 and that those two companies will get extra government funding not available to Lane 1 competitors.
“As we talked about yesterday when we met … if you get into one of those contracts for those first 39 launches, you get support money to make sure you’re meeting those more difficult national security missions,” Smith told the chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman.
Lane 2 companies are eligible for “launch service support” funding, a subsidy to cover rocket development or infrastructure expenses unique to NSSL. Additionally, Lane 2 winners qualify for annual incentive fees of up to $20 million and also would be allowed to compete for Lane 1 missions.
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