Hq, Space and Missile Systems Center, SMC/PK, 155 Discoverer Blvd, Suite 1516, Los Angeles AFB, CA 90245-4692

B -- COMMERCIAL SPACE OPPORTUNITIES STUDY DUE 121898 POC Technical POC: Lt Nathan Thern, Voice (310) 363-1632, DSN 833-1632, facsimile (310) 363-6442, EMail: nathan.thern@losangeles.af.mil. Contracting Officer POC: Mr. Norman Harrison, Voice (310) 363-6871, DSN 833-6871 WEB: click here to download a copy of the series of questions, http://www.afbmd.laafb.af.mil/csos. E-MAIL: click here to RSVP your intent to attend via e-mail, nathan.thern@losangeles.af.mil. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). The Developmental Planning Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC/XR), Los Angeles AFB, is seeking industry recommendations and comments in developing a comprehensive strategy for integrating commercial space (ground segments and space segments) ventures into both the near-term and future Air Force space architectures. For the purposes of this RFI, all commercial space ventures are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, communications, launch, navigation, remote sensing, and satellite command and control. As part of the market research for any potential follow-on acquisition activities, the Commercial Space Opportunities Study (CSOS) Team invites industry to provide informational comments on the proposed migration of satellite services to the civilian sector. Based on CORONA direction, and given the number of current studies exploring the potential of the growing commercial space industry, this effort will focus on developing an actionable implementation plan. CORONA is an Air Force executive (4 star) meeting that reviews what direction the Air Force should take. The CSOS Team, will provide the CORONA leadership with a prioritized list of current and future Air Force activities that present commercial infusion opportunities. The CSOS Team will consider industry comments in generating these recommendations for the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (SAF/AQ) presentation to senior Air Force leadership at the annual CORONA conference in June 99. The team will present details of the operational effectiveness, cost, risk, and benefits of various options for each opportunity identified in order to establish a time-phased investment strategy. Commercial options are anticipated to occupy a continuum ranging from simply adopting commercial acquisition processes and using commercial subsystems, to buying/leasing/operating commercial systems, procuring commercial services directly, and outsourcing to commercial vendors. Other options are likewise encouraged. The CSOS Team has commissioned five separate panels to look at the following areas: 1) Remote Sensing, Surveillance and Meteorology, 2) Launch Services, 3) Navigation, 4) Communication, and 5) Range and Satellite Command and Control. A series of questions will be placed on the CSOS web site. The address is http://www.afbmd.laafb.af.mil/csos and the site will be activated by 13 Nov 98. While the panels will use this series of questions as a starting point, submittals are not bounded by them. We have attempted to ask open-ended questions in hopes industry will provide this office with the best alternatives to traditional methods in acquiring space-based services and products. Foreign sources will be considered. All persons and firms having relevant input to the questions are invited to reply. All replies will be reviewed by the panels and considered for potential future solicitation. Based on our intention to incorporate commercial practices, we anticipate any follow-on acquisition activities will use FAR Part 12 -- Commercial Items. An Industry Briefing will be held on 19 Nov 98, from 0900-1730hrs, at the Fort MacArthur Community Center, Garden Room, 2400 Pacific Ave., Building 403, San Pedro, CA. All study panel leads are expected to be present. Please RSVP your intent to attend by noon, 16 Nov 98. RSVPs should be Emailed to 1st Thern at: nathan.thern@losangeles.af.mil. This Email should include the full name of attendee, company being represented, full address and phone information, and citizenship. The Air Force requests no more than 60 pages, including attachments, be submitted in response to this RFI. The data provided should be unclassified. If possible, text is requested to be no smaller than 12 point; electronic submittals are encouraged and can be submitted to the following e-mail account: nathan.thern@losangeles.af.mil. Additionally, information on uploading and downloading your data will be posted on the CSOS web site. A single hardcopy is requested for all submittals. Submittals may include commercial literature which illustrates replies to the questions as an attachment and need not be included in the page count. Follow-up discussions are welcome. Submitters may provide competition-sensitive or proprietary data. Such data will be protected as required. Note that the Government's review team will be supported by both The Aerospace Corporation and ANSER Corporation. This is not a request for proposal and it shall not be construed as a commitment by the government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. The government will not pay for the information requested herein. This announcement shall remain open until 18 Dec 98. All information in support of this study is due 18 Dec 98. Industries wishing to present this information to the study panel may do so; however, notification of this intent is also due 18 Dec 98. The date of these presentations will be finalized and announced at the 19 Nov 98 Industry Briefing. Any contract announcement action(s) following as a result of this RFIwill be available via the SMC Contracting Bulletin Board, http://www.laafb.af.mil/SMC/PK/CBD/cbd.htm. Please correlate replies with the assigned question numbers (e.g., 3d). We request that mailed replies be sent to 1st Lt. Nathan Thern by 18 Dec 98 at: SMC/XRIC, 180 Skynet Way Suite 2234, Los Angeles AFB, El Segundo CA 90245-4687. Technical clarification may be obtained, by phone or EMail, from Major Freeda Ostis, Chief, Commercial Space Opportunities Team, SMC/XRI, Voice 310-363-1103, DSN 833-1103, facsimile (310) 363-6442, Email: freeda.ostis@losangeles.af.mil; or, 1st Lt Nathan Thern, Voice (310) 363-1632, DSN 833-1632, Email: nathan.thern@losangeles.af.mil. Clarification to the RFI should be directed to Mr. Harrison, SMC/XRB, 310-363-6871.***** Posted 11/09/98 (W-SN269813). (0313)

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