LAUNCH PROCESSING OF GPS BLOCK LLF SATELLITES The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) Joint Program Office (JPO) is searching for alternative ways to provide launch processing services for its GPS satellites. The objectives of this effort are to find better, more cost effective ways to perform launch processing while reducing risk and government manpower requirements. More specifically, the JPO wants to reduce its funding, manpower and workload requirements by transferring roles and responsibilities to the private sector. Roles and responsibilities that the government could transfer to the private sector include managing government furnished equipment and property and coordinating with the various organizations involved in launch processing. The first opportunity to implement this approach would be on the GPS Block IIF program. The GPS Block IIF program is baselined to launch on the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) at Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS) located in Florida. The GPS program must change its launch processing procedures and plans to accommodate new requirements from the EELV program. One significant change is that the EELV contractor will encapsulate the satellites at the payload's satellite processing facility instead of at the launch pad. Until the EELV program matures, the JPO must manage and mitigate the inherent risk of having to launch on a new vehicle, on a modified pad, under a new EELV Concept of Operations. The Air Force plans to procure 33 GPS Block IIF satellites from Boeing North American which will deliver three satellites per year beginning in April 2001. Although the launch requirements and dates will periodically change, at a minimum, the government needs the ability to process three GPS IIF launches per year beginning in FY02. All ideas and concepts are welcome. Replies should be submitted no later than 3 Nov. 97 to Attn.: Mr. Greg Brown, SMC/CZK, 2435 Vela Way, Suite 1613, Los Angeles AFB, El Segundo CA 90245-5500. This request for information is not intended to award a contract on the basis of information submitted nor otherwise pay for information solicited.

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