SMC to award six small-launch contracts under Defense Production Act

The Space and Missile Systems Center plans to award contracts to six small-launch providers under the Defense Production Act for rideshare missions launching government payloads -- an effort to boost a space industrial base that is struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Air Force announced its plans in a notice this week, noting that awards would go to the following companies: Aevum, Astra, X-BOW, Rocket Lab, Space Vector and VOX Space. Each award will have a two-year performance period and will cover two launches.

It's unclear when the launches will be awarded, but SMC Director Lt. Gen. John Thompson said this week he expects them to come "very shortly," noting that the contracts are critical to supporting small launch providers.

Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord and Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper have both raised concerns about the impact of the pandemic on the space launch industry and Roper, who chairs the Space Acquisition Council, has been working with industry to determine what support companies need.

The council in April decided to survey the approximately 350 companies that make up the Space Enterprise Consortium to better understand the impact of COVID-19 and craft an informed response. The Air Force's Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration Shawn Barnes said this week the council's survey revealed that about half of respondents have felt at least a moderate impact on their companies' cash flow and about half said they've adjusted their business strategy as a result.

Around one-third of respondents said they've seen an impact to supply chain materials, Barnes said during a Mitchell Institute event, while about one-third said they expect programs to run behind schedule.

Barnes didn't discuss how the service planned to respond in light of the survey, but Roper has said the Defense Department would likely use the information to better understand supply chain and market stresses and determine where to invest stimulus funds.