The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Cross-Mission Ground & Communications Enterprise (ECX) has awarded a cost-plus fixed fee contract totaling $47.5 million to Sev1Tech LLC of Woodbridge, Virginia.
The contract was awarded through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement for meshONE-T. This prototype effort will deploy and demonstrate a Data Transport as a Service (DTaaS) capability for an initial set of Space Force mission partners, in support of national security objectives. It is intended to lay the groundwork for a modern, resilient, scalable, and secure data transport network able to accommodate a wide range of customers and facilitate the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) vision into an operational reality.
Sev1Tech is a leading provider of IT modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, engineering, fielding, training, and program support services for U.S. government agencies and major commercial organizations and the company supports critical missions across the defense, intelligence, homeland security, health, space, and commercial markets.
Major activities associated with this award include data transport services development as well as the fielding and operations of a multi-node meshONE-T Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Leveraging commercial innovation and employing industry based standards, this prototype will demonstrate secure enterprise communications, interoperability, and cloud connectivity for future multi-domain (terrestrial, air, and space) communications in support of the space warfighter.
With meshONE-T, the ECX Data Transport branch will assist in rapid growth of scalability and technology. When fully operational, the system will provide a high-bandwidth, intelligent, tactical-edge network connecting assets across U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force domains with reachability to other branches of military service, the Intelligence community, foreign mission partners, and Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) and JADC2.
“Previous network architectures for weapon systems were designed to meet specific user and mission needs,” explained Lt. Col. Louis Aldini, Materiel Leader for Data Transport. “Future network architectures need to be integrated as well as provide enhanced capabilities and efficiencies for the enterprise. meshONE-T is focused on delivering a modernized common solution for all weapon systems.”
“Sev1Tech is excited to build on the success and continued partnership in delivering next-generation transport capabilities to operational space mission partners served by Space Systems Command,” said Bob Lohfeld, CEO at Sev1Tech. “We are honored to provide transformational engineering, design and implementation to Space Systems Command by delivering warfighters a modernized data transport capability to transmit and receive data securely and reliably, allowing robust Joint Command & Control across all phases of conflict.”
“meshONE-T is about the ability to get the right information to the right place at the right time. The key attributes are scalability, resiliency, and path diversity,” said Col. Rhet Turnbull, director of SSC’s Cross Mission Ground and Communications Enterprise. “By leveraging the Space Enterprise Consortium we were able to reach a wide variety of both traditional and non-traditional vendors—and get on contract fast. A year from now we’ll have an operational prototype.”
The Space Enterprise Consortium was created in 2017 through the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, predecessor to today’s Space Systems Command. SpEC was created to bridge the cultural gap between military buyers and commercial space startups and small businesses through Other Transaction Authorities. The OTA’s innovative contracting process allows SpEC to solicit bids from a mix of member companies including companies that have not previously done work with the Department of Defense.
SSC, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California, is a U.S. Space Force field command responsible for developing and acquiring lethal and resilient space capabilities for warfighters by rapidly identifying, prototyping, fielding and sustaining innovative, space-based solutions to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy. SSC’s functions include developmental testing, production, launch, on-orbit checkout, and maintenance of USSF space systems, as well as and oversight of USSF science and technology activities.