NOAA Selects Parsons as System Integrator for Traffic Coordination System for Space
18 March 2024 - 9:25PM
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
announces the award of a $15.5 million one-year base value contract
to Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) of Chantilly, Virginia, for
system integration and cloud management services for the Traffic
Coordination System for Space (TraCSS). NOAA’s Office of Space
Commerce (OSC) is developing TraCSS as a modern, cloud-based IT
system that will provide space situational awareness (SSA) and
space traffic coordination (STC) services to private and civil
space operators. Such services are essential for global spaceflight
safety and the long-term sustainability of the space environment
for commercial, civil, national security, and international uses.
As the system integrator, Parsons will develop the software
backbone for the operational TraCSS platform, including the SSA
data repository (TraCSS-OASIS) and the application layer
(TraCSS-SKYLINE). The company will integrate containerized,
third-party software components from commercial companies into
TraCSS. Following an agile development approach, the company will
build the basic infrastructure for the TraCSS system that will
allow continuous improvement and evolution to react to changing
TraCSS mission needs. The company’s role also encompasses
management of cloud services, cybersecurity protection, and system
administration for TraCSS operations.
“The Commerce Department continues to make major strides in the
execution of our space situational awareness program,” said Deputy
Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. “This contract award demonstrates
our commitment to leverage best-of-breed, commercial innovation to
achieve our ambitious timelines and objectives for TraCSS.”
“NOAA has decades of experience fielding operational, public
safety systems that issue hazard alerts to protect lives and
property,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “We are
applying that experience to the development of TraCSS.”
“We look forward to leveraging Parsons’ expertise across the
national security sector and our operational experience in space
domain awareness supporting flight safety of all active satellites
on orbit to support the Office of Space Commerce as it takes over
this crucial mission from the Department of Defense. By
strengthening the collaboration between industry, the government,
and other TraCSS mission partners, we will establish a world-class
system that safeguards vital space assets in a challenging,
contested, and competitive environment,” said Carey Smith, chair,
president and chief executive officer for Parsons.
The contract has a one-year base value of $15,534,379, with one
option to extend for another year for a maximum potential value of
$26,883,047.
The award to Parsons represents OSC’s second major acquisition
for the infrastructure components of the operational TraCSS system.
The first was a task order awarded to AWS in August 2023 to
establish the secure cloud computing infrastructure to host TraCSS.
In October 2023, OSC issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the
third major TraCSS acquisition — the provision of a presentation
layer that will provide the user interface to display and access
SSA data and services. NOAA is currently conducting market research
for the TraCSS presentation layer.
In advance of the operational TraCSS, OSC has also initiated
several pathfinder projects, including the ongoing Consolidated
Pathfinder, focusing on how commercial SSA capabilities can be
tested and integrated by the government. OSC also entered into a
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with SpaceX
to assess their software for automating collision avoidance in
satellite constellations.
On March 5, 2024, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves issued
an Authority to Proceed memorandum for Phase 1 of the TraCSS
program. OSC plans to achieve Phase 1.0 of TraCSS initial
operations by the end of Fiscal Year 2024.
For additional information about TraCSS, visit
www.space.commerce.gov/tracss.
NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce is the principal unit for the
coordination of commercial space-related issues, programs and
initiatives within the Department of Commerce. Its mission is to
foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological
advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry. Per Space Policy
Directive-3, OSC is taking over responsibility from the Department
of Defense for the provision of basic SSA data and STC services to
commercial and civil space operators.
About Parsons:Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading
disruptive technology provider in the national security and global
infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber and
intelligence, space and missile defense, transportation,
environmental remediation, urban development, and critical
infrastructure protection. Please visit parsons.com and follow
us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an
impact.
Media Contact:Angie Benfield+1
803.334.5277Angie.Benfield@parsons.com
Investor Relations Contact:Dave Spille+ 1
703.775.6191Dave.Spille@Parsons.com
NOAA Media Contact:Scott Smullen + 1
202.494.6515scott.smullen@noaa.gov
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