Space Force releases draft RFP for Tactically Responsive Launch missions

The Space Force this week released a draft request for proposals for two Tactically Responsive Launch missions aimed at providing flexible small launch services.

The service's initial launch capability target for TacRL-3 is April 2022 and for TacRL-4 is February 2023. Both launches are Category 1 missions.

Congress authorized the creation of the TacRL program in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to "accelerate concepts and procedures for responsive launch, develop related processes and identify required basing infrastructure," according to a report accompanying the legislation. The Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY-21 included $15 million for the program.

Also this week, the Space Force released an RFP to expand its Orbital Services Program-4 vendor pool. The service in 2019 selected eight companies to compete for $986 million worth of rapid small launch services over a nine-year ordering period.

The original pool includes SpaceX, Xbow Launch Systems, Northrop Grumman, Firefly Black, United Launch Alliance, Aevum, VOX Space and Rocket Lab USA.

Responses to this week's OSP-4 Onramp RFP are due March 2.