U.S. Air Force seeks builder for 22 more GPS III satellites

February 13, 2018  - By
Photo: Lockheed Martin
GPS III SV01 in electromagnetic interference, compatibility and passive intermodulation testing. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

Photo: LMCO

The U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSC) has released its request for proposals (RFP) to build 22 new GPS III satellites, called the GPS III Follow-On Phase 2 contract.

The contract will be awarded to a single bidder, the Air Force Space Command stated in the announcement posted on FedBizOpps.gov. The estimated dollar value of the acquisition is $10 billion including all options.

Phase 2 is planned as a single, predominantly fixed-price incentive-type contract awarded via full and open competition for production of 22 GPS III satellites. Deadline for proposals is April 16. Construction is to begin in fiscal year 2019 (Oct. 1, 2018), with delivery of the first satellite in 2026.

For Phase 1,  AFSC awarded in May 2016 three fixed-price contracts to Boeing Network and Space Systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, which is building the first 10 GPS III satellites. According to the Air Force, “Phase 1 has determined that viable, low-risk, high-confidence sources exist to conduct a full and open competition for Phase 2, the production of 22 GPS III SVs starting in the FY19 timeframe.”

About the Author: Tracy Cozzens

Senior Editor Tracy Cozzens joined GPS World magazine in 2006. She also is editor of GPS World’s newsletters and the sister website Geospatial Solutions. She has worked in government, for non-profits, and in corporate communications, editing a variety of publications for audiences ranging from federal government contractors to teachers.