SSC Ionospheric Ground Sensors Prototype

Executive Summary

Space Systems Command wants prototypes that add oblique-incidence sensing to its Ionospheric Ground Sensors network, plus sounder integration, antenna upgrades and cyber-resilient data delivery. Multiple awards are possible. Responses are due November 11, 2026, 12:00 PM CST.

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The deciding factor is fit with an operational network. The Government needs to prove the new capability can be added to the existing sites quickly, securely and without reducing availability, so proposals should show a credible path from prototype to fielded sensor.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command (SSC)
• Opportunity: Ionospheric Ground Sensors Prototype: Oblique-Sensing Capability Development, Sounder Integration, and Cyber-Resilient Data Delivery
• Where it is posted: One Nation Innovation challenge on the GoColosseum marketplace
• Award Vehicle: Prototype effort; the public listing does not name the contract vehicle
• Funding: No amount posted; multiple awards possible
• Technology Maturity: Prototype, test and validate, toward testable and fieldable long-term sensors
• Window: October 20, 2026, 3:03 PM CDT to November 11, 2026, 12:00 PM CST

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 11 deadline.

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What Is the Ionospheric Ground Sensors Prototype?

SSC operates the Ionospheric Ground Sensors (IGS) network: 17 Next Generation Ionosonde (NEXION) vertical-incidence radars, 8 ground-based scintillation and total electron content (ISTO) receiver sites and a central sustainment server. Its data feed space weather forecasts, alerts, warnings and satellite anomaly assessments for the Air Force, the Space Force and mission partners.

What Problem Is SSC Trying to Solve?

Each NEXION site observes only the ionosphere directly overhead. Operators need a real-time, higher-coverage picture of the ionosphere, which oblique sensing between sites can provide.

Priority Capability Areas: What SSC Is Looking For

• Oblique NEXION sensor baseline: the first phase of oblique sensing.
• Sounder integration: a rapid, repeatable way to install the prototype sounder, software and firmware at existing NEXION sites.
• ISTO antennas: integrating and installing additional receive antennas to improve sensing.
• Cyber-resilient patching: a pilot patch deployment process.
• Data delivery: an integrated engineering, configuration and data-delivery approach to the Unified Data Library.

Funding and Award Terms

• Amount: not posted on the public listing.
• Awards: may go to multiple vendors.
• Scope: companies may propose to one or several lines of effort.

Eligibility and Participation

• Marketplace account: you must join the GoColosseum marketplace to apply.
• Other rules: eligibility details are not shown on the public listing; check them after joining.

How to Apply

• Join the GoColosseum marketplace and open the challenge.
• Pick your lines of effort from the five listed.
• Submit before November 11, 2026, 12:00 PM CST.

What Happens After You Submit?

• Evaluation: the public listing does not give a schedule.
• Awards: possible to multiple vendors across lines of effort.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

It fits companies with HF radar or ionosonde hardware, RF and antenna systems, space weather sensing, ground-station integration, or secure software and data delivery. A pure research concept with no path to a fielded sensor is a weaker fit.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For Space Force prototype calls like this one, we help you:

• Choose lines of effort: match your product to the five areas.
• Find partners: team up to cover integration and data delivery.
• Write the response: a clear prototype-to-fielding plan.
• Navigate the marketplace: account setup and submission.
• Plan the follow-on: position for production after the prototype.

Plan Your IGS Prototype Response

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is running this?

Space Systems Command, through a One Nation Innovation challenge on GoColosseum.

When is it due?

November 11, 2026, 12:00 PM CST.

How much funding is available?

The public listing does not post an amount.

Can I propose to only part of the work?

Yes. Companies can propose to one or multiple lines of effort.

Will there be more than one award?

The challenge may be awarded to multiple vendors.

What is NEXION?

The Next Generation Ionosonde network of 17 vertical-incidence radars that SSC uses for ionospheric data.

Where does the data go?

Results must be delivered to the Unified Data Library.

How do I apply?

Join the GoColosseum marketplace and submit through the challenge page.

Can BW&CO help with an IGS prototype response?

Yes. BW&CO helps teams pick lines of effort, line up partners and write the response. Book a call with our team.

Source: GoColosseum: Ionospheric Ground Sensors Prototype