SATELLITE ADVANCED SCHEDULING TOOL (AST)

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT AND IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS

The Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) is the United States Space Force’s acquisition office focused on rapidly delivering advanced systems that equip Guardians for space warfighting. Space RCO intends to issue a sole source contract to Stottler Henke Associates, Inc (SHAI), 1650 S Amphlett BLVD STE 300, San Mateo, California, 94402-2516 (Cage Code: 0K501). The NAICS Code is 541715 – “Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)”, with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees.

The Space Force Satellite Control Network (SCN) is managed by Mission Delta 31, 22d Space Operations Squadron. 22 SOPS facilitates all satellite support requests through a scheduling system called Advanced Scheduling Tool (AST). All tactical satellite ground systems requiring SCN support must be authorized users in order to schedule satellite support time. The purpose of this contract action is for the AST developer, SHAI, to add Space RCO’s Acme Ground System—the fundamental software under the Rapid, Resilient Command and Control (R2C2) program—as an authorized user, so SCN scheduling products such as Satellite Acquisition Tables, Program Action Plans, Computer Schedule Changes, Manning Schedule Changes, Two-Line Element Set, etc. (SAT/PAP/CSC/MSC/TLE/etc.) can be submitted. The SHAI team will also establish Acme's automated connection to the AST system to enable access to the Goddard Mission Services Evolution Center (GMSEC) message bus allowing for the submittal of Computer Schedule Change (CSC) and Manning Schedule Change (MSC) for automated SCN schedule modifications (ADDs, DELs, and MODs). AST will provide Acme with request submission confirmation, request modification confirmation, request deletion confirmation, and any other needed confirmations via GMSEC bus messages. The SHAI team will supply the needed hardware, AST User Hub and AST Headless workstation, as well as connect this equipment into the existing AST network. The SHAI team will also supply a virtual instance of AST in the Acme developers environment to be utilized for development and testing.

The Acme Ground System requires access to the SCN to accomplish its fundamental purpose of providing tactical command and control for Space RCO and any Mission Partner (MP) client satellites, to enable space superiority and/or meet MP requirements. Without the ability to connect to the SCN via AST, the Acme effort will be rendered mission-ineffective, and critical USSF and MP missions will incur indefinite and unacceptable delays. The highest priority need date of NLT 1 July 2026 necessitates the sole source action. In accordance with RFO 6.103-1 (10 USC 3204(a)(1)), SHAI has demonstrated being the only responsible and capable of meeting the Space RCO requirement.

This notice of intent is published for informational purposes only and is NOT a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation document will be posted for the requirement. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. The Government shall not reimburse interested sources for any information provided. No request for capability briefings will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested vendors must respond to this notice on or before 1000 MST, 03 April 2026 to the Point of Contact listed on this announcement.

A Sole Source Justification will be attached to the subsequent Notice of Award in accordance with applicable regulation.