START Rules

While Senate ratification of the follow-on Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty may still be in limbo, the uncertainty hasn't stopped the Missile Defense Agency from delineating how the winner of the multimillion-dollar Ground-based Midcourse Defense development and sustainment contract should operate under the terms of the pact.

According to the statement of work attached to the final request for proposals for the GMD DSC effort that was released this week:

3.3.4.4 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty - Vandenberg Air Force Base (CLIN 300, 301)

The Contractor shall be required to support New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) requirements for all activity involving GMD program on Vandenberg AFB, CA. The New START treaty would allow one (1) visit per year designated as a "Type II" inspection, and will require access to Bldg 6819 (Bunker #6) Igloo Storage facility. When a Type II inspection is identified, the Contractor shall provide 24-hr per day personnel availability to open and escort inspection personnel into the facility. The Contractor shall be available upon arrival of the inspection team on Vandenberg AFB CA, and be released upon formal declaration of the inspection team that it is complete with the inspection or have released the facility from further inspection, whichever occurs first. The Contractor shall also provide the capability to measure a booster/interceptor in Bldg 6819 (Bunker #6) to be able to provide proof to the inspection team that the booster does not meet measurements of an item of inspection (i.e. Minuteman or Peacekeeper first stage motor). Measurement methods and criteria are provided in the New START Treaty

3.3.4.4.1 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty Exhibitions; Vandenberg Air Force Base (CLIN 300, 301)

The Contractor shall be required to support Exhibition requirements as outlined by the Seventh Agreed Statement in the New START Treaty. The Contractor shall plan for two (2) exhibition events, the first occurring within the first three years of the treaty entering into force. The second event will occur within the remainder of the 10-year life of the treaty. The Contractor shall also plan for two (2) mock-inspections, one each prior to each exhibition. For actual Exhibitions, the Contractor shall be required to open each of the five (5) GBI interceptor launch facilities, to include opening both silo closure mechanisms (both leafs), and the primary access hatch into the Launcher Equipment Room (LER). The Contractor shall provide appropriate safety equipment and gear to support viewing of the launch facility, both from above-ground view into the silo liner, and below-grade inside the LER and into the silo liner from the LER level. For the mock-inspections, only one (1) launch facility will be opened for access as described above for the exhibitions.