Space Force Awards ULA, SpaceX Contracts for NSSL Services

The Air Force, in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office, has awarded United Launch Alliance and SpaceX contracts for National Security Space launch services.

ULA and SpaceX will perform their work under firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirement contracts, the Air Force announced.

“This is a groundbreaking day, culminating years of strategic planning and effort by the Department of the Air Force, NRO and our launch service industry partners," said William Roper, the Air Force's acquisition executive and a three-time Wash100 awardee.

Roper added that the awards mark the Air Force's transition off of Russian RD-180 engines. The awards are Phase 2 procurement contracts for launch orders from fiscal year 2020 through 2024. 

According to the Air Force's press release, Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center will order services from ULA and SpaceX annually.

ULA will receive a requirements contract for about 60 percent of launch orders, and SpaceX will receive a requirements contract for about 40 percent of launch service orders over the performance period. 

The Air Force said the acquisition builds on the savings the NSSL program has secured since the 2013 Phase 1 Block Buy award. 

According to the service, NSSL's total life cycle cost reduction has reached $22B since the program rebaseline in February 2013. The program has also reportedly returned about $7B in procurement funds to the Air Force and the NRO.

The Air Force added that it achieved the said savings by creating innovative acquisition strategies, economically buying launch services and fostering strong competition within industry.