Stell Awarded $5.8M Space RCO Contract to Enhance Systems Integration Software

Stell Engineering, Inc. has been awarded an SBIR Phase III contract with the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) to enhance and deploy Stell's advanced systems integration software at Space RCO. The $5.8 million contract funds deliverables over 24 months for Space RCO-tailored enhancements to the core Stell software and for a multi-layered secure deployment infrastructure. This contract will accelerate Stell's software feature work and improve Space RCO system requirements management, tailoring the software for Space RCO's rapid deliveries and helping integrate complex system-of-systems of hardware, software and firmware interfaces for their evolving missions.

The contract will enable Stell to build on its existing cybersecurity and infrastructure work at the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level, to include one-way connections into a high side environment. Stell is working to ensure engineers within DOD and supporting contractors have the most advanced software possible to manage mission requirements, interfaces, testing, and compliance workflows, enabling US teams to develop, test, and field advanced hardware and systems faster than adversaries. This Phase III contract was awarded based on an AFWERX Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract that Stell won in February 2024, serving Space Systems Command (SSC) Assured Access to Space (AATS) and Space Systems Integration Office (SSIO).

Stell has been supported by team members at Space Systems Command, AFWERX, SpaceWERX, COMSO, and supporting SSC Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors at ManTech and Alpha Omega Group, LLC to make the Phase II innovation effort a success. According to CEO Malory McLemore, the partnership with SpaceRCO will enable Stell to realize its vision of ensuring the United States maintains capability dominance on the battlefield by driving unmatched speed and technical execution on the engineering of complex systems. Working closely with SpaceRCO will put Stell's engineering team side by side with a DOD organization that is fielding novel hardware technologies on the most advanced and newly contested frontier of space.

The enhanced software platform will support DOD organizations such as Space Systems Command (SSC) in developing and maintaining interface specifications for faster procurement and integration of new launch vehicles, spacecraft, and payloads. This contract represents a significant step in advancing the United States' capabilities in space systems integration and maintaining technological superiority in an increasingly contested domain.