The Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Integrated Air, Space, Cyberspace and ISR Operations Directorate (A2/3/6), Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado hereby issues the following special notice. The purpose of this special notice is to is to formally solicit industry's input via the attached Space Launch Infrastructure User Survey on Launch Support and Modernization to gather insights and data from current and anticipated future users of the Air Force space launch infrastructure to inform elements of a DoD report to Congress with user perspectives on the four topics listed below . For this discussion, Air Force space launch infrastructure includes launch base infrastructure and range capabilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida (CCAFS) plus the Eastern Range (ER), and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (VAFB) plus the Western Range (WR) (1) Investments in launch base and range infrastructure modernization and sustainment (to include roads, bridges, utilities, frequency spectrum, facilities, range systems, data transport systems, communications, etc.) to improve operations at the ER and WR that may benefit all users, to enhance the overall capabilities of the Air Force space launch infrastructure, to improve safety and to reduce the long term cost of operations and maintenance. (2) Measures to normalize processes (including property management, safety approvals, and utilization of land, as well as cleared air, land and sea areas to support launch and test activities), systems, and products across the Air Force space launch infrastructure to minimize the burden on users. (3) Improvements in transparency, flexibility, and responsiveness for launch scheduling. (4) Feedback on government-commercial partnerships and the Defense Cooperation Space Launch Account under the DoD Commercial Space Launch Cooperation program authorized by Section 2276 of Title 10 United States Code (10 U.S.C. §2276). Specifically, this survey is intended to generate quantifiable feedback from range users to help DoD to assess: (1) Space launch infrastructure users' most desired resources provided by the Air Force. (2) Air Force space launch infrastructure processes most/least beneficial to users, and how processes can accommodate innovation. (3) Strengths and weakness of the launch scheduling process at each Air Force launch base and range. Additionally, the survey is intended to solicit user feedback in a narrative form in response to open-ended questions regarding how the Air Force can minimize burdens on its space launch infrastructure users. DIRECTION FROM CONGRESS: The Senate's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018, Section 1609 requires the Department of Defense to "submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plan for the implementation of the launch support and infrastructure modernization program ... [to] include: a description of plans and the resources needed to improve launch support infrastructure, utilities, support equipment and range operations; a description of plans to streamline and normalize processes, systems and products at the Eastern and Western Ranges, to ensure consistency for range users; and recommendations for improving transparency, flexibility, and responsiveness in launch scheduling." It is the Senate's intent to understand infrastructure modernization and sustainment not limited to range instrumentation and related facilities. As part of the report to Congress, the Secretary of Defense is directed to consult with current and anticipated users of the ER and WR. Hence, this survey. The report is anticipated to be due to Congress 120 days after passage of the Act. SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORT ON NDAA SECTION 1609: The committee also provided this explanation on the need for the report: "The committee understands that in calendar year 2017, Eastern Launch and Test Range plans to support 35 space launches, with an expected increase to 48 launches annually in the next few years. This represents tremendous growth from the 7 to 18 launches seen annually in previous years. The committee also understand that not only is the tempo of space launches increasing, but the number, type, and providers of space launch vehicles and activities are also growing to fulfill the national objective of a competitive domestic space launch industry. Then-Commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command, General John Hyten, issued in March 2016 his ''Commander's Intent on Range Support to Commercial Space Launch'' to increase the Department of Defense's ability to provide efficient space launch and range support to civil and commercial space launch providers. The committee is concerned that, despite increased efficiencies in space launch due to better liaison between defense, civil, and commercial space launch providers, full-scale space launch operations are limited by decaying range infrastructure on both the Eastern and Western Test and Launch Ranges. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to modernize space launch infrastructure and improve space launch activities, to include processing and launch of national security space vehicles, in the Eastern and Western Test and Launch Ranges. " POINT OF CONTACT: Please send consolidated responses from your organization to Mr. John Mann, AFSPC/A2/3/6SR; email:
[email protected]; phone: 719.554.2524. We ask that you please provide your response no later than 5 January 2018 .