Request for Information (RFI) for a Cislunar Space System (CSS)
Updated
Special Notice from the Department of the Air Force, for work in Alexandria, Virginia. Due Nov 24, 2026, 12:00 PM (UTC-5), 21 days left.
| Solicitation number | 10302026-01 |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of the Air Force |
| Office | Dept of the Air Force |
| Notice type | Special Notice |
| Set-aside | None |
| Trade (NAICS) | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715) |
| Product or service code | 1555 |
| Place of performance | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Posted | Nov 2, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Nov 24, 2026, 12:00 PM (UTC-5) (21 days left) |
| Add the deadline to | Google Calendar · Apple / Outlook (.ics) |
Bid documents (2)
- (U) CSS Request for Information 437 KB
- Atch 1 to CSS Request for Information Summary Response Template 22 KB
Paid members download every document from this page, or buy this bid alone.
Federal prevailing wage rates for this place: Virginia Davis-Bacon and SCA wage determinations.
Description
(U) The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is seeking market research information to inform the potential acquisition strategy for a Cislunar Space System (CSS). The CSS will consist of up to five (5) space vehicles (SVs), each of which will require a spacecraft bus, accommodation of a Government-provided payload, SV integration & test, a Ground Segment, including mission management and telemetry, tracking, control and communications, a solution for space launch, system (space vehicle/ground segment/communications) integration, and operations and maintenance (O&M).
The Government is notionally interested in procuring up to five (5) SVs to meet DAF mission needs in late CY29. These vehicles may serve as seed vehicles that will inform the acquisition strategy for a potential future proliferated cislunar constellation. The Government is looking for information on industry's ability to provide a rapid, low-risk (minimal non-recurring engineering (NRE)) solution that can accommodate the Government's technical and programmatic objectives.
(U) The Government intends to award up to five (5) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) preliminary design study contracts upon Government consideration of the market information collected with this RFI and all other sources of information relevant to the effort. Failure to respond to this RFI may result in loss of the ability to participate in a subsequent program acquisition. (U) This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), and industry should not construe the RFI as a commitment by the Government.
In accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) provision 15.101, Early Exchanges with Industry, be advised that this is only an RFI and does not obligate the Government to reimburse any cost associated with preparation and/or submission of a RFI response. This RFI does not guarantee that the Government will issue an RFP or award a contract to provide these supplies or services.
Contracting contact
- Shelby C. Sommer · [email protected]
- Joseph DeRienzo · [email protected]
As published on the official notice. Ask questions in writing and before any questions deadline the notice sets.
Is your business small enough?
For NAICS 541715, a business counts as small if it has no more than 11 employees (SBA size standard, with exceptions in the notes). This notice is set aside, so only businesses under that size, or in the named program, can bid. SBA table, current as of Oct 15, 2026.
Companies that win this kind of work
Federal contractors paid for research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences work, who also hold Air Force contracts (last 12 months): possible competitors, or partners to team with.
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC $1.9 billion in this trade
- Lockheed Martin Corporation $1.8 billion in this trade
- Raytheon Company $1.7 billion in this trade
- The Aerospace Corporation $1.1 billion in this trade
- Booz Allen Hamilton Inc $791.0 million in this trade
About the buyer
The Department of the Air Force awarded $83.4 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were The Boeing Company, The Boeing Company and Raytheon Company. See what Air Force is buying now.
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences contracts right now
There are 268 open government contract opportunities in this trade (NAICS 541715), 47 posted in the last 7 days; 31% are set aside for small businesses. The agencies buying the most are Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Most of the work with a stated place is in Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia. A notice in this trade gives a median of 58 days from posting to deadline; this one gives 22 days.
All open research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences contracts
Coming up in this trade
Planned contracts from the agencies' procurement forecasts, often months before a solicitation. Plans can change.
Recent awards in this trade
- Yale Univ NEW Haven $8.6 million · Department of Veterans Affairs · Oct 29, 2026
- ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. $2.9 million · Environmental Protection Agency · Oct 29, 2026
- SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE San Antonio TX $19.9 million · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Oct 29, 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM Madison WI $1.8 million · Department of the Army · Oct 22, 2026
- The Sherwin-Williams Company $497,806 · Department of the Army · Oct 21, 2026
From the award notices agencies publish.