# Space Data Network (SDN) Industry Consortium for Space-to-Space Communications

Notice a62a1dca4c8b4258abc83f100b24c322 (solicitation SDN-CONSORT-27-01) from DEPT OF DEFENSE, FA8819 SDA AND COMBAT POWER SZK-LA, posted 2026-11-10, responses due 2026-11-24T01:00:00.000Z. Status: open.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Notice ID | a62a1dca4c8b4258abc83f100b24c322 |
| Solicitation number | SDN-CONSORT-27-01 |
| Type | Sources Sought |
| Agency | DEPT OF DEFENSE |
| Sub-tier | DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE |
| Office | FA8819 SDA AND COMBAT POWER SZK-LA |
| Posted | 2026-11-10T17:40:51.000Z |
| Response deadline (UTC) | 2026-11-24T01:00:00.000Z |
| Set-aside | No Set aside used |
| NAICS | 541715 |
| PSC | AC12 |
| Place of performance | El Segundo, CA, USA |
| Award | - |

## Description

1. Purpose and Program Background The Space Systems Command’s Space Data Network Backbone (SDN-B) program office is fielding a proliferated, integrated, vendor-diverse space-to-space communications mesh in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) leveraging commercial product baselines from across the industrial base. This mesh forms the critical communications backbone of the Space Data Network (SDN). SDN-B has established the Space Data Network (SDN) Industry Consortium to cultivate a collaborative public-private partnership focused on addressing high-priority technical integration and architectural challenges across the proliferated LEO (pLEO) space-to-space communications mesh. This announcement is an open, one-step call for white papers to serve as market intelligence, informing the Government of the capabilities of the industrial base to meet current and future SDN requirements. Based on this market intelligence, the Government may onboard individual companies into the SDN consortium. 2. Consortium Construct & Terms of Participation Agreement Mechanism: Selected industry members will enter the consortium as Associate Members under a $0-value Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) executed pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 4022. Scope of Engagement: Consortium members will participate in regular collaborative forums, technical working groups, and architectural interchange meetings chaired by the Government. Activities include technical interoperability assessments, standards formulation, risk reduction discussions, and multi-vendor on-ramp coordination. Agreements & Non-Disclosure: Participating organizations will be required to execute Associate Contractor Agreements (ACAs) and implement Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) and proprietary information protection strategies to enable cross-industry and Government information exchange. Nature of Notice: This notice does not constitute a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) or a commitment by the Government to fund any development. Membership does not guarantee future contract awards or delivery orders. 3. Technical Focus Areas Submissions must directly demonstrate how the respondent’s current or planned commercial capabilities, roadmaps, and technologies align with and contribute to the SDN architecture across one or more of the following domains: Proliferated Space Architecture Space Networking & Routing Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISL) Radio Frequency (RF) Mesh & Communications Payload Hosting & Interface Standardization Ground Architecture & Space-Ground Entry RF Antennas and Receivers Cybersecurity & Cross-Domain Security 4. Eligibility Requirements Ownership: Consortium membership is strictly restricted to U.S.-owned and operated entities. Foreign-owned, foreign-controlled, or foreign-influenced companies are not eligible. Information Handling & Security Clearances: Baseline Minimum: Respondents must possess existing facilities, systems, and personnel infrastructure capable of storing, processing, and transmitting information at a minimum of the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level (in compliance with NIST SP 800-171 / DoD CMMC standards). Higher-Level Capabilities Welcomed: Capabilities to hold and process classified information (e.g., Secret, Top Secret / SCI, and associated Facility Security Clearances (FCL) exceed the minimum threshold. Respondents holding higher clearances and secure facilities should annotate their current safeguarding and facility clearance levels in their cover sheet and white paper for future collaboration planning. SAM Registration: Respondents must possess an active entity registration in SAM.gov under NAICS 541715 prior to submission. 5. Submission Instructions and Format This is a streamlined, single-step process. Respondents shall submit a concise package strictly conforming to the following volume and page constraints: Volume Content Page Limit Format Cover Sheet Administrative details, CAGE, UEI, points of contact (POCs), CUI/Clearance level declaration 1 page PDF White Paper Technical contribution and commercial alignment to SDN 2 pages max PDF Contextual Pitch Deck (Optional) Commercial product background / architecture context Up to 10 content slides (include a cover slide if submitted) PDF or PPTX Page and Document Formatting: Cover Sheet (1 Page): Must include company name, CAGE code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), corporate address, confirmation of 100% U.S. ownership, affirmation of CUI processing capability (including notation of any higher facility/personnel clearances held), and designated Technical and Contracting POCs (name, title, phone, email). White Paper (2 Pages Maximum): Must succinctly answer: Consortium Contribution: How the organization can contribute technical expertise, test capabilities, facilities, tools, or data to the consortium. Architecture Alignment: How the organization’s current or planned commercial products, independent research and development (IR&D), and architectures align with the SDN pLEO mesh baseline. Formatting: 8.5 x 11-inch pages, 1-inch margins, minimum 11-point font (tables/graphics no smaller than 9-point). Pages exceeding the 2-page limit will not be reviewed or evaluated. Contextual Pitch Deck (Optional, up to 10 Slides): Respondents may attach an excerpt of up to ten (10) slides from their commercial or government briefing/pitch deck to provide additional visual context on technology readiness or architectural topologies. A single title/cover slide should be included and does not count against the 10-slide limit. 6. Submission Delivery & Inquiries Submissions must be delivered no later than 23 November 2026 at 17:00 Pacific Time (PT). Late submissions will not be reviewed. Submissions may be delivered via either of the following methods: Direct Email: Submit unclassified/non-CUI packages directly via email to all designated Government POCs listed below with the subject line: [SDN Consortium White Paper] - [Company Name]. DoD SAFE Drop-Off (Mandatory for CUI subm

## Sources

- View on SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/opp/a62a1dca4c8b4258abc83f100b24c322/view
- Data as of 2026-11-13. Source: https://sam.gov/data-services/Contract%20Opportunities/datagov

## Cite this

"Space Data Network (SDN) Industry Consortium for Space-to-Space Communications, SAM.gov contract opportunity a62a1dca4c8b4258abc83f100b24c322." samgovapi.io, https://samgovapi.io/opportunity/a62a1dca4c8b4258abc83f100b24c322, data as of 2026-11-13. Primary record: https://sam.gov/opp/a62a1dca4c8b4258abc83f100b24c322/view

## API and MCP

- REST: GET https://samgovapi.io/api/v1/opportunities/a62a1dca4c8b4258abc83f100b24c322
- MCP tool: get_opportunity

Independent. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by GSA, SAM.gov or any U.S. government agency. Registering in SAM.gov is free at sam.gov.

Get a free API key: https://samgovapi.io/sign-up?ref=ai-claudebot