SDA aims to issue Tranche 1 Transport Layer RFP this month

The Space Development Agency is on track to release a formal solicitation for its Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites on Aug. 27.

The agency this week issued a pre-solicitation notice indicating proposals will be due Oct. 1 and it aims to award a contract in January.

The Tranche 1 Transport layer (T1TL) will form the foundation of SDA's initial warfighting capability. The agency expects to launch approximately 150 satellites beginning in September 2024 as part of Tranche 1.

T1TL will build on the capabilities of Tranche 0 satellites, which are slated to launch next year. The satellites will feature "targeted technology enhancements, mission-focused payload configurations, increased integration and greater production efficiencies," the notice states. The goal of T1TL is to provide global satellite communications and enable encrypted connectivity to support the Defense Department's Joint All Domain Command and Control efforts.

SDA will host a virtual industry on Aug. 26 to discussion the T1TL solicitation.