Space Enterprise Consortium Other Transaction Agreement

The RFI proposes that SMC change the way spEC is managed due to concerns about the security of sensitive business information. According to the RFI, “information protection and cybersecurity” has been a major theme in recent years. “In order to promote cybersecurity among consortium members, SMC expects the consortium manager to have knowledge of existing government requirements and to assist members in meeting these requirements. RFI respondents can also suggest additional ways to advance the cybersecurity of members within the consortium. Unlike the FAR, the OTA consortium model allows government and industry to “communicate more openly, from the creation of requirements to the proposal phase,” says the SPEC website. According to official data, the process is faster than traditional purchases and helps the Air Force attract a multitude of suppliers. Unlike traditional acquisition organizations, SpEC relies on the transaction authority`s other contractual vehicle for its Rapid Prototyping Awards. SpEC has rapidly developed as one of the most important mechanisms of the Air Force — and now the Space Force — to recruit non-traditional suppliers and facilitate the rapid construction of prototypes. The organization allows space force organizations such as the Space Rapid Capabilities Office or the National Reconnaissance Office of the Secret Service to quickly connect with suppliers who wish to develop prototypes of national security systems. Using a non-traditional procurement procedure, known as “Other Transaction Authorities,” spEC acquires offers from member companies that include a mix of historic military contractors and new entrants to the trade policy sector.

The consortium grew rapidly to about 350 members. In November 2017, the U.S. Air Force selected Charleston, South Carolina, Advanced Technology International to lead the consortium. The company was awarded a five-year contract to keep projects worth up to $100 million. Due to the increased demand for prototyping for space technology, SMC decided to re-compete with the control and expand its size and scope. The March 18 call indicates that the consortium manager will be selected in August 2020, the first prototype application will be published in September 2020 and the first prototype contract will be launched in November 2020. “This new 10-year, $12 billion OTA demonstrates SMC`s long-term commitment and expectations for the scale of the SPEC efforts that will begin in the future,” Brian Delamater, the consortium`s executive director, wrote in an email to SPEC members on March 19. Since its unfavourable debut in 2017, the consortium has hosted 430 members and awarded a total of more than 80 contracts worth nearly $900 million.

Rapid prototyping efforts range from building a spacecraft with the Link 16 payload to a new navigation satellite that will provide information on future GPS designs.