A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifting off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25. Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The U.S. Air Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program Office, part of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise, released a solicitation for the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract.

OSP-4 is a follow-on to the OSP-3 contract that is set to expire in November. OSP-4 will allow for the rapid acquisition of launch services to meet mission requirements enabling launch within 12 to 24 months from task order award on a competitive basis. It is designed to accommodate payloads greater than 400 pounds (lbs). The Air Force projects to procure about 20 missions over the nine year period.

“The OSP-4 contract will build on our Rocket Systems Launch Program’s legacy of success dating back to the early 1960s by supporting Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. government agencies’ small launch efforts for the next nine years,” said Col. Rob Bongiovi, director of SMC’s Launch Enterprise. “In today’s contested space domain, contracts must be flexible and responsive to meet the challenges facing the warfighter. The program balances technology, mission risk, and schedule while leveraging rapidly evolving market forces to cultivate a resilient and affordable launch capability for U.S. government needs,” said Bongiovi.