Sources SoughtPosted Sep 18, 2026·Original deadline passed (Oct 19). See latest amendment for current deadline.
Rendezvous, Proximity Operations (RPO) Threat Response (RTR) VICTUS Responsive Launch Space Vehicle (SV)
Air Force and Space Force · FA8819 SDA AND COMBAT POWER SZK-LA
In plain words
Air Force and Space Force is planning to buy "Rendezvous, Proximity Operations (RPO) Threat Response (RTR) VICTUS Responsive Launch Space Vehicle (SV)". This is an early notice: it is not taking bids yet. The work is in CA, USA. The original due date (Oct 19, 2026) has passed; check the latest amendment for the current one. In the last 2 years, similar work went to 5 companies. An award is expected between November 2026 and March 2027.
Put together from the facts on this page; the details and sources are below.
Stage
Early notice (sources sought, presolicitation or special notice)
NAICSThe industry code for the work being bought (for example 336611 is ship building and repair). It is how agencies and companies sort work by type.
541715
Value
Not stated
Solicitation
SYD89-26-RPO-RLSV
Set-asideWhether only certain businesses may bid, such as small businesses, women-owned or veteran-owned firms. "None stated" means anyone may bid.
No Set aside used
PSCThe product or service code: what exactly is being bought, more specific than the industry code.
Standard steps for the notice type; not advice about this buyer.
Answer the notice: this is when the requirement can still be shaped.
Contact the contracting officer named on the notice.
Check who won similar work; they are the likely bidders.
What the notice says
The purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research and identify capable industry partners, innovative approaches, and potential solutions for Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPO-D) spacecraft designed for responsive launch and tasking in FY29 and beyond. Specifically, this RFI seeks to gather technical capabilities, clearance levels, and facility security parameters. The collected information will refine the Government�s acquisition strategy and shape future program requirements. See attachment for RFI.
Who won similar work
6 award notices on SAM.gov in the last 24 months. Matched by: Same agency (Air Force and Space Force), same product/service code (PSC) 1555.
Not yet. Typical award: Nov 13, 2026 to Mar 16, 2027, middle of the range Dec 25, 2026.
Measured from 253 past early notices at Dept of the Air Force that later posted an award (middle half of cases, counted from Sep 18, 2026).
Value counts new single-winner awards. "Shared" awards are multiple-award contracts that list every winner with the same total ceiling (same contract, or the same office, day and amount); that ceiling is not one company's win, so it is not added in. Contract modifications are not new awards and are not added in either. Notices whose amount is a placeholder such as $999,999,999 are not added in. Revenue next to a ticker is the company's revenue over the latest 12 months in its SEC filings.
Materiality: one award's value as a share of the winner's revenue over the latest 12 months in its SEC filings (or its last fiscal year, as noted when you point at it). Low under 1%, Medium 1 to 5%, High 5% or more. Many awards are paid over several years, so this overstates a single year's share.
Competitive landscape
For the 5 most frequent past winners above. Lobbying is matched by the company's exact name or exact ticker; agencies are as named on the filings.
2 of these past winners lobbied Air Force, Dept of since 2024 (32 filings)
0 of their lobbyists list a past Air Force, Dept of job
$805K from their corporate PACs since 2024 to members of House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on Armed Services, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Committee on Armed Services
Bills the past winners named while lobbying this agency's issues, rules from the department, and executive orders that name the agency, last 12 months.
8 bills named on the past winners' lobbying filings
32 rules from the department in the last 12 months
0 executive orders naming the agency in the last 12 months
For past winners matched exactly to a listed company. Insider trades are open-market buys and sells (Form 4) in the last 90 days, shown as facts; our own study found insiders do not reliably buy ahead of awards. A sale marked 10b5-1 was made under a trading plan set up in advance.
3 of the past winners are listed companies
0 insider buys and 9 insider sells at them in the last 90 days
Sources: SAM.gov notices and award notices; Senate LDA lobbying filings; FEC filings; FARA; Federal Register; congress.gov; SEC Form 4. Every row above links to its record.
Companies are matched to tickers by exact name, including the subsidiaries a company lists in its SEC filings. A company we could not match shows no market rows; that is a miss, not a finding.
Jul 3, 2025THE BOEING COMPANY$3.8BEvolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) Space Vehicle (SV) Development and ProductionMateriality: 4.0% of $BA revenue (Medium)How big this award is next to the company's revenue over the last 12 months: Low under 1%, Medium 1-5%, High 5% or more. Award amount divided by revenue from the company's SEC filings. Here: $3.8B award ÷ $94.0B revenue, 12 months to Jun 30, 2026 (SEC 10-Q).SEC
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