Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Innovative Delivery of Effects (RIDE) Supplemental Request for Information (RFI) – Industry Statements of Capability (SOCs)

What the buyer is asking for

Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Innovative Delivery of Effects (RIDE) Supplemental Request for Information (RFI) – Industry Statements of Capability (SOCs): 1. RIDE Overview (Updated): The Space Systems Command (SSC), System Delta 80 (SYD 80), Small Launch and Targets Division (AMX) manages the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP). Supplemental to the previous RFI posted on 25 April 2025 (https://sam.gov/opp/19f4b8b3647940b48fa14134d23249a9/view#contact), RSLP still plans to execute its suborbital and orbital launch services by employing its new RSLP Innovative Delivery of Effects (RIDE) acquisition strategy. RIDE acquisitions will serve as the next generation of RSLP launch service contracts, succeeding the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4), Small Rocket Program-Orbital (SRP-O), and Sounding Rocket Program-4 (SRP-4) programs. RSLP will continue to provide responsive space, experimental, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E), and small operational launch vehicles and targets support to the Department of War (DoW) and other Government agencies using commercial services and excess ballistic missile assets. RIDE acquisitions are intended to support a wide variety of customer-driven requirements that may not traditionally fall within the scope of NSSL requirements, from integration and launch of payloads intended for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond, to suborbital vehicle development, and more. Given the variety of launch missions with varying degrees of complexity that RSLP anticipates supporting, the RIDE acquisition strategy may result in one (1) or more contract vehicles [such as an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, which is currently being considered]. In response to industry feedback captured by RSLP’s first RFI solicitation, Attachment 1 of this RFI contains updated high-level requirements of the RIDE acquisition strategy. These requirements are still subject to change. 2. Background (Unchanged): RSLP has historically launched one-off launch systems for RDT&E type payloads, from unguided lofted trajectories to cis-lunar orbit. In the past, industry offered limited launch service options capable of meeting the wide range of mission performance required. This led to RSLP managing many first-flight vehicles, or vehicles with first-flight items, to meet our customers’ needs. The management of those first-flight vehicles and items shaped the mission assurance practices that RSLP implemented and continues to use today. Our customers, mainly from the RDT&E community with limited budgets, drive mission assurance requirements based on their risk tolerance. A higher level of risk is more often deemed acceptable for the payloads than for the launch vehicles. RSLP recognizes that industry’s capability and capacity have changed greatly over the last 10 years. RSLP is therefore assessing those changes and determining how to best meet the launch service needs of our U.S. Government customers. There is a wide variance in the experience, vehicle heritage, and production and manufacturing processes observed across the commercial launch industry today. This variance offers opportunities to ensure fair competition while providing varying levels of mission assurance across different customer requirement driven missions. 3. RIDE Acquisition Background (Added): RIDE is intended to enable RSLP to provide an encompassing launch service acquisition solution in support of the United States Space Force (USSF), DoW, and other Government customers. In doing so, it is anticipated that RIDE will provide a means to support both Space Transportation Services [as defined in 51 U.S. Code § 50101(4); which are considered inherently commercial in accordance with 51 U.S. Code § 50132] and Space-Related Activity launch services [as defined in 51 U.S. Code § 50101(3); which are—for the purposes of this contemplated acquisition strategy—not assumed to be inherently commercial] required by various programs with various…