NSTXL Harnesses Power of SpEC OTA to Deliver Faster Capabilities for the USSF

NSTXL, consortium manager for the Space Systems Command (SSC) Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) program, played an instrumental role in the operational acceptance for the U.S. Space Force’s Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program. NSTXL helped provide flexible acquisition support, deep industry engagement expertise, and efficient contracting solutions to help SSC build and mature this capability.

While managing the SpEC OTA consortium, NSTXL ensured interested industry members had the technology and viable solutions to meet U.S. Space Force requirements for the FORGE program. NSTXL used advanced tools to enhance the speed, accuracy, and effectiveness of contracting submissions.

NSTXL leveraged the flexibility and agility of the SpEC OTA to enable the FORGE program to pursue non-traditional acquisition strategies, breaking from traditional contracting models and instead prioritizing collaboration and speed. Within this framework, large primes and small, non-traditional defense contractors (NTDCs) worked side by side, combining scale with niche expertise. This ecosystem enabled a more dynamic and competitive environment, accelerating prototyping, improving technical outcomes, and ultimately delivering better solutions to the mission.

The rapid fielding and operational acceptance of the FORGE Processing capability shows how NSTXL met the goals of the Space Force, accelerating delivery of key mission processing and data capabilities to U.S. warfighters.

“This milestone demonstrates the true value of consortium-managed OTAs,” said Doug Crowe, Senior Vice President of Program Management at NSTXL. “By connecting SSC with a diverse industry base and streamlining the acquisition process, NSTXL is not just enabling the production of prototypes, it’s delivering operational capabilities directly into the hands of the warfighter.”

The transition of the FORGE Processing success story captures the broader promise of the SpEC OTA model. Through NSTXL’s management of the SpEC OTA, the government has access to a vast network of innovators, enabling faster collaboration and the fielding of critical capabilities.

This partnership illustrates how NSTXL and SSC use flexible acquisition pathways to innovate and deliver without compromising performance or mission assurance. As FORGE demonstrates, the SpEC OTA is not only a faster procurement tool; it is a catalyst for delivering operationally relevant technology that keeps the U.S. Space Force ahead in an increasingly complex and contested domain.

About SpEC

The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) was created in 2017 through the Air Force Space Systems Command to bridge the gap between military buyers and commercial space startups and small businesses through OTAs. Companies interested in joining the Space Enterprise Consortium can find more information about the organization, including how to join at https://www.space-enterprise.org.