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Contracts · Space

Naval Research Laboratory plans full and open competition for space electronics prototypes

The planned contract would have a five-year ordering period. NRL estimates about 531,280 labor hours, subject to change.

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) plans full and open competition for Space Electronic Systems Prototype Development Phase III. The presolicitation notice was posted Oct. 28, 2026. Proposals are not yet being requested, and NRL reserves the right to cancel the acquisition.1

This acquisition will be conducted through full and open competition

Space Electronic Systems Prototype Development (SESPD) Phase III

Acquisitionfull and open competitionplanned

This acquisition will be conducted through full and open competition

indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contractfive-year ordering periodplanned

An initial task order with a two-year period of performance is anticipated to be issued at contract award.

The presolicitation is not a request for proposals and NRL may cancel

Naval Research Laboratory, SAM.gov presolicitation N00173-27-R-0001. As of Oct. 28, 2026.

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

NRL’s November 2025 outreach described the requirement as a recompete and left open a small business set-aside decision based on industry responses.2

NRL anticipates an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year ordering period and an initial two-year task order at award. It estimates approximately 531,280 labor hours across task orders issued during that ordering period, though the total ultimately solicited and required may differ. The notice gives no dollar value.1

The work would support NRL’s Spacecraft Engineering Division in areas including spacecraft electronics, experimental payloads and mission systems. Its scope runs from concept formulation and design through prototype development, integration, testing, operational demonstration and transition to mission use.1

Questions or feedback on the notice are due Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. Eastern. The request for proposals and its attachments will be posted on SAM.gov when issued.1

The new notice specifies full and open competition with no set-aside, establishing the planned competitive approach for suppliers pursuing the work.1

Sources (2)
  1. SAM.gov presolicitation N00173-27-R-0001, Space Electronic Systems Prototype Development (Oct. 28, 2026) sam.gov
  2. SAM.gov request for information, Space Electronic Systems Prototype Development (Nov. 19, 2025) sam.gov
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Contracts · Cyber infrastructure

DISA seeks cloud identity and access prototype for Department of War

Responses are due Nov. 30 for a commercial identity-management prototype. It would operate across IL5 and IL6 environments.

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is seeking a commercial, cloud-hosted identity and access management prototype to modernize the Department of War’s legacy identity infrastructure.1

DISA seeks solutions to prototype a Next Generation E-ICAM capability

Enterprise Identity, Credential, and Access Management (E-ICAM)

modernize legacy identity infrastructuremodular, cloud-hostedplanned

This effort will modernize legacy identity infrastructure with a modular, cloud-hosted commercial off-the-shelf/software-as-a-service solution operating across IL5 and IL6 environments.

The prototype must address the Federated Identity Provider, Automated Account Provisioning, Master Entitlement Record, and Federation Hub core capabilities.

Response deadline is Nov. 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. America/Chicago (Monday)

Source: SAM.gov. As of Nov. 7, 2026.

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

DISA is seeking the capability through a prototype Other Transaction opportunity linked to its competitive Commercial Solutions Opening.1–3

The Next Generation Enterprise Identity, Credential, and Access Management (E-ICAM) effort calls for a modular commercial off-the-shelf or software-as-a-service solution. The solution would operate across Impact Level 5 (IL5) and Impact Level 6 (IL6) environments. The prototype must address four core capabilities: Federated Identity Provider, Automated Account Provisioning, Master Entitlement Record and Federation Hub.1

Responses to the Area of Interest are due Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. Central.1

DISA’s Commercial Solutions Opening and any Other Transactions awarded through it are not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation or its supplements.3

Sources (3)
  1. SAM.gov notice record sam.gov
  2. SAM.gov notice history sam.gov
  3. SAM.gov: DISA Commercial Solutions Opening (HC108425S0001) sam.gov
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Contracts · Space

Viasat wins contract for Space Data Network’s mission operations hub

The award includes a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center, under a contract with a $450 million ceiling.

Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded Viasat a competitive indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Space Data Network Backbone’s Mission Operations Center, the command announced Nov. 5, 2026. The contract carries a $450 million maximum ceiling and a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center.1

Viasat, Inc. will serve as the network and mission system integration partner

Mission Operations Center (MOC) for the Space Data Network Backbone

maximum ceiling$450 millionactual

contract to Viasat, Inc., with a maximum ceiling of $450 million

initial task order$115 millionactual

to design, field, and scale the MOC

Source: Space Systems Command, Nov. 5, 2026

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Viasat will serve as the network and mission system integration partner as SSC expands its open-architecture ecosystem across multiple space-segment providers. SSC plans to bring mission integration, network operations and data transport management together through the center.1

The effort builds on the multi-vendor acquisition strategy demonstrated in the Space-Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio’s earlier Delivery Order 2 and Delivery Order 3 work. That work involved Amazon LEO for Government, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab and York Space Systems.1

Breaking Defense reported that the center will serve as the network orchestration hub for the backbone, a low Earth orbit constellation being built by SpaceX. The network’s near-term focus will be supporting the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, the outlet reported.2

DefenseScoop reported that earlier this year the Department of War awarded SpaceX a $2.3 billion contract to deliver a fully operational backbone prototype by the end of 2027.3

The center is intended to integrate mission systems across multiple constellations and providers.1 Breaking Defense described network orchestration as autonomously shifting data among satellite constellations and ground stations when congestion or jamming slows transmission.2

Sources (3)
  1. SSC release, Nov. 5, 2026 www.ssc.spaceforce.mil
  2. Breaking Defense breakingdefense.com
  3. DefenseScoop defensescoop.com
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