Department of the Air Force February 10, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Air Force proposes to amend a system of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The purpose for this Request For Information (RFI) is to identify (1) near-term industry solutions that could provide the Department of Defense (DoD) the capability to rapidly deliver military capabilities via space, and (2) long-term advanced space transport concepts that could evolve from near-term capabilities. Interested sources should provide a white paper describing current space transport technologies and capabilities, and commercial visions for future capabilities that are projected to evolve from those current space transport technologies. The vision in the white paper should be tailored towards the interests of the U.S. Government that are outlined in the questions listed below. In order to clarify the DoD's need in this area and to develop a technology assessment for these capabilities, the National Security Space Office (NSSO) and Headquarters, Air Force Security Forces Center (HQ AFSFC) are co-hosting a Technology Forum for the Rapid Delivery of Military Capabilities via Space on 24-26 Feb 2009 at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. This Technology Forum is open to all industry, U.S. Government, and military interested in assisting in the development of a technology assessment for this capability. This RFI is being released prior to the Technology Forum in order to help generate thought for discussion at the event. Responses are due 15 Mar 09, after the Technology Forum, so the combination of this solicitation and the events at the Technology Forum will help to refine responses. The concept of Rapid Delivery of Military Capabilities via Space was based initially on the Marine Corps' Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion (SUSTAIN) concept which would provide the Joint Force Commander (JFC) the capacity to rapidly transport operationally relevant capabilities to any point on the globe, effectively instantaneously. The SUSTAIN capability spans the full spectrum of conflict, from strategic Special Forces employment to a full range of specialized manned and unmanned warfighting payloads. The formal need for a SUSTAIN capability is documented in the Marine Corps SUSTAIN Universal Need Statement dated 22 July 2002, and the USSOCOM Space Enabling Concept dated 25 March 2004.