NONFEDERAL PARTICIPATION AT FEDERAL LAUNCH RANGES

Notice Date

December 20, 2000

Contracting Office

SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1060

ZIP Code

20330-1060

E-Mail Address

click here to contact the Air Force point of contact (blaise.kordell@pentagon.af.mil)

Description

The Air Force seeks public comment on the desirability of considering and accommodating nonfederal participation at federal launch ranges, including the maximization of nonfederal funding sources. Congress included in the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Report 106-616, 12 May 2000, a requirement for a report by the Secretary of Defense regarding "legal impediments to non-federal funding of range improvements and maintenance, and the changes required to eliminate these impediments." The HASC language, in part, reads: "The Air Force continues to subsidize heavily the commercial launch industry at the Eastern and Western Ranges, even though commercial launches and other government launches now far outnumber Air Force launches. The subsidy results from Air Force funding of the modernization, management, and operation of the launch ranges, while recovering only about five percent of direct incremental costs and none of the indirect support costs of a commercial launch. The committee believes that the funding burden of modernizing, managing and operating the spacelift ranges should be shared more equitably by the range users. Such an arrangement would more accurately reflect the costs and benefits to each of the users and allow the Air Force to meet its legitimate priorities more fully. At the same time, the committee recognizes that the Air Force must be responsible for sustaining the ranges until satisfactory alternative funding and management arrangements that meet civil, national security and commercial requirements can be established. The committee notes that the February 2000 report of the interagency working group on `The Future Management and Use of the U.S. Space Launch Bases and Ranges' supports maximizing the use of `non-federal' funding sources `for the continued maintenance and modernization' of the launch bases and ranges. The report also points to restrictions imposed by in the Commercial Space Launch Act (Public Law 98-575) that limit reimbursement to the Air Force for costs incurred in supporting commercial launch activities and the Air Force ability to accept privately financed range improvements. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, with appropriate consultation with other federal and state officials and private industry, to identify the legal impediments to such non-federal funding of range improvements and maintenance, and the changes required to eliminate these impediments. The Secretary shall submit a report on his findings to the House Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Armed Services by January 15, 2001." (p. 258, Spacelift range system) II. REQUEST FOR INPUT On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of the Air Force is seeking inputs from the U.S. commercial space sector (e.g., companies with an interest in U.S. commercial space activities, launch vehicle and satellite manufacturers, launch and satellite services providers, base and range operations contractors, launch site operators, operators of commercial payload processing facilitates, etc.), academia, and representatives of the nonprofit sector. The Department of the Air Force is also seeking the views of state and local governments, particularly as they relate to the operations of non-federal launch sites, commonly referred to as spaceports. Inputs should be succinct, no more than five (5) pages total. Comments should address your views regarding legal impediments to non-federal funding of improvements and maintenance at federal ranges (including changes required to eliminate these impediments) and the desirability of pursuing such changes. Submissions should be in writing, postmarked by January 20, 2001, and sent to: Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Space) Space Policy, Plans, and Strategy (SAF/SXP) ATTN: Col Mushaw/Lt Col Kordell 1640 Air Force Pentagon Washington DC, 20330-1640

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001222/SPMSC060.HTM (W-355 SN5093X0)