Air Force issues RFP for future GPS III satellites

The Air Force has issued a request for proposals for the first of a two-phased effort to explore competition for future Global Positioning System satellite production.

The service indicated last month that the GPS III solicitation would come early this year. The Jan. 8 Federal Business Opportunities notice states that proposals are due no later than Feb. 23, and contracts will have a period of performance of up to 38 months.

Lockheed Martin is the current GPS III prime contractor and is in line to build the first 10 satellites in the next-generation constellation. For future satellites, though, the service plans to pursue competition, which will be split into two phases -- a feasibility assessment phase and a formal production competition.

Officials have said the goal of Phase One is to bring competitors to the appropriate critical design level without introducing any new elements that would impede their work. Phase Two will launch a production competition to build up to 22 GPS III satellites. A Phase Two RFP will likely be released in fiscal year 2017.