Development and Operation of Payload Processing Facility – Industry Capability and Interest

RFI Distributed: March 30th, 2026

RFI Questions Due: April 13th, 2026

RFI Responses Due: April 27th, 2026

A government authority in Richmond, Virginia seeks responses regarding industry capability and interest for developing and operating a Payload Processing Facility (PPF) on agency-owned land. Vendors are invited to assess market interest, propose business models, and describe lease structures and operational concepts leading to a vendor–led PPF initiative. Submissions should include input on facility design, scalability, schedule, cost drivers, and approaches to integrating facility operations with the agency’s launch manifest, range scheduling, and coordination processes.

Respondents should identify potential risks, constraints, and innovations associated with developing an additional payload processing facility. Technical input is sought on baseline design standards, specialized systems, and interface requirements, as well as standard operations such as payload receiving, inspection, staging, upper stage builds, launch vehicle integration, cleanroom operations, IT/network infrastructure, environmental control, and supporting utilities.

The facility must provide for a secure operational environment, offering support for unclassified, controlled unclassified information (CUI), and commercial operations, with provisions for temporary classified upgrades and dedicated secure areas, consistent with applicable site and security standards. Vendors should outline strategies for financing, constructing, owning, maintaining, and operating the facility, as well as experience with owner-provided design standards, preferred lease structures, and concepts for staffing, maintenance, and lifecycle management.