The USAF Space and Missile Systems Center has awarded three Global Positioning System (GPS) III Space Vehicles (SVs) 11+ Phase 1 Production Readiness Feasibility Assessment contracts.
 
The three contracts are firm, fixed-price contracts not to exceed $6 million, with a base contract of $5 million, plus two $500,000 options. The periods of performance are 26 months for the basic contract, and six months each for the two options, for a total possible period of performance of 38 months.
 
SMC’s GPS Directorate will award one GPS III Phase 1 Production Readiness Feasibility Assessment contract to each of the following offerors:

1) Boeing Network and Space Systems
2) Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
3) Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

“Industry told us they were ready to compete for the GPS III space vehicles. We look forward to working with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman to assess the feasibility of a follow-on, competitive production contract,” said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Space and Missile Systems Center commander and Air Force program executive officer for space.
 
The scope of these contracts include insight into each of the contractor’s readiness efforts in preparation for the Phase 2 competition for production SVs and includes access to design artifacts as well as a demonstration of navigation payload capability. GPS III SV11+ will use the current GPS III SV01-08 requirements baseline with the addition of a redesigned Nuclear Detonation Detection System Government Furnished Equipment hosted payload, a Search and Rescue/GPS GFE hosted payload, a Laser Retro-reflector Array GFE hosted payload, Unified S-Band compliance capability, and a regional military protection capability. No changes are allowed to the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System or Military GPS User Equipment interfaces.
 
Operated by U.S. Air Force Space Command, the GPS constellation provides precise positioning, navigation and timing services worldwide seven days a week, 24-hours a day.