The U.S. Air Force has formally asked industry for input on the possibility of outsourcing the on-orbit operation and maintenance of its Wideband Global Satcom communications satellites, according to a Sept. 9 post to the Federal Business Opportunities website. The request for information is one of the first steps to commercialize some of the service's satellite operations and transfer others to a new common ground system. The changes are a top priority for Gen. John Hyten, commander of Air Force Space Command, who has preached the message for months. Air Force officials have previously said they hoped to commercialize WGS system operations in 2016. The purpose of the request for information is "to gather industry's estimates of start-up and operation cost, timeline for going operational, and ability to provide the necessary capabilities," the document said.
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