The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) is an organization created in 2017 through the Air Force Space Systems Command (now Space Systems Command) to bridge the gap between military buyers and commercial space startups and small businesses. SpEC uses Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to expedite the development of next-generation space technologies and prototypes by connecting the Department of Defense with a network of innovators. Its mission is to minimize barriers to entry for non-traditional vendors and promote integrated research and prototyping efficiencies. Key partners include the Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, and various commercial and academic members.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Air Force’s Space Enterprise Consortium was established in 2017 to attract startups and commercial companies and bring new space technology into defense programs.
Work on the Space Sensor Layer to date has been performed under nontraditional contracts managed by the Air Force’s Space Enterprise Consortium.
SpEC has awarded prototyping contracts for micro-satellites, missile tracking sensors, hosted payload interface units, ground-control and data processing software for the Space Based Infrared System missile warning system, protected tactical satellite communications, and cyber secure software.
Projects planned for fiscal year 2019 under SpEC included space situational awareness, navigational user equipment, space weather sensors, software processing, and a potential requirement from the U.S. Army.
SpEC has been authorized to fund nearly $400,000,000 in additional projects over the next four years.
The Pentagon approved a $500,000,000 spending ceiling for SpEC as the total prototype throughput of the agreement over five years.
The initial spending ceiling for SpEC was $100,000,000 and was increased to $500,000,000 to support Other Transaction Authority prototyping efforts.
The Air Force Space Enterprise Consortium was established in 2017 and given authorities to kick-start projects with less red tape than traditional Pentagon contracting.
The Space Enterprise Consortium awarded 35 contracts in its first 10 months, and the average timeline to award a contract through the consortium is 90 days.
A Space Enterprise Consortium was created in 2018 to attract commercial vendors to bid on military contracts.
The Space Enterprise Consortium has used Other Transaction Authority contracting to support PATS and has awarded 13 projects for prototype technologies.
Companies apply for membership in the Space Enterprise Consortium online and pay yearly dues that start at $500 for small businesses and increase for larger firms.
Advanced Technology International received a $100,000,000 contract from the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in November to establish and manage the Space Enterprise Consortium.
The Space Enterprise Consortium has roughly 200 members that include small and large businesses, nonprofit organizations, and academic research institutions.
The Missile Defense Agency, working through the Air Force-led Space Enterprise Consortium, awarded $1,000,000 study contracts this summer to nine firms to design concept prototypes for a space sensor layer.
Under a contract with the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Enterprise Consortium, SSL will develop, test, and analyze antenna subsystem prototypes to demonstrate technologies for resilient, cost-effective, high-performance protected tactical satellite communications.
SSL was selected through the Space Enterprise Consortium managed by Advanced Technology International to lead a team that will provide the U.S. Missile Defense Agency with a persistent space layer prototype concept for missile defense.