Starlink Internet Services
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a Justification for a sole-source determination for Starlink Internet Services. This determination, negotiated by NOAA's Acquisition & Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division-Norfolk, National Ocean Service (NOS) Navigation and Response Branch (NRB), is based on the highly specialized and unique requirements for satellite internet connectivity.
Scope of Requirement
NOAA requires Starlink services for its Navigation and Response Branch. These services are characterized by their ability to provide superior coverage due to a larger satellite constellation, increasing capacity, speed, and coverage while decreasing latency, which are critical for the branch's operations.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Justification (Sole Source Determination)
- Set-Aside: None specified (sole source)
- Published: June 11, 2026
Rationale for Sole Source
Market research identified three other Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet providers: Amazon LEO, Eutelsat OneWeb LEO, and Telesat Lightspeed. However, none were found to meet the specific needs of the Navigation and Response Branch:
- Amazon LEO: Not yet commercially available.
- Eutelsat and Telesat: Foreign providers offering less coverage due to fewer satellites.
Starlink, provided by Ultisat Inc., was determined to be the only solution capable of meeting the specific requirements, offering better coverage and performance. Ultisat Inc. is identified as the only authorized GSA contract holder capable of providing Starlink satellite internet service.
Additional Notes
This document serves to explain the rationale behind the non-competitive procurement of Starlink Internet Services. It highlights the specialized nature of the requirement and the specific advantages of the Starlink service provided by Ultisat Inc. compared to other market alternatives, informing the public of the government's justification for this award.