White Sands Missile Range contract awarded to Southwest Range Services
The U.S. Army has awarded a major White Sands Missile Range contract to Southwest Range Services LLC of Las Cruces, New Mexico, securing long term mission support services for one of the Pentagon’s most critical test and evaluation sites.
Under the newly awarded cost plus fixed fee contract, Southwest Range Services will provide comprehensive mission support services at White Sands Missile Range. The total value of this contract action is 445,943,100 dollars, according to official Army contracting information.
Contract details and scope
The contract covers mission support services essential to the daily operation and testing activities at White Sands Missile Range. The range plays a central role in U.S. Army and joint force research, development, test, and evaluation efforts, particularly for missile systems, sensors, space related testing, and emerging defense technologies.
Bids for the White Sands Missile Range contract were solicited through an online competitive process, with three offers received. This indicates continued competition among defense services firms for long term Army support roles tied to high value test infrastructure.
Work under the contract will be performed in Las Cruces, New Mexico, supporting the long standing local defense industrial base that underpins White Sands operations. The performance period extends through July 17, 2031, providing continuity of support for the range over the next five years.
Funding and contracting authority
At the time of award, the Army obligated 3,079,914.63 dollars in fiscal year 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation funds. These funds are aligned with the mission of White Sands Missile Range, which supports development and testing across multiple Army and joint programs.
The contracting activity for this award is Mission Support Services, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The official contract identifier is W51EW7 26 C A001.
Cost plus fixed fee contracts are commonly used for complex, long duration technical support efforts where requirements may evolve. For White Sands Missile Range, this structure allows the Army to adapt mission support as testing demands change across missile defense, space, and advanced weapons programs.
Strategic importance of White Sands Missile Range
White Sands Missile Range is the largest military installation in the United States and a cornerstone of Army test and evaluation infrastructure. The range supports testing of tactical missiles, hypersonic systems, directed energy technologies, radar, and space assets.
The White Sands Missile Range contract awarded to Southwest Range Services helps ensure the continuity of operations that underpin Army modernization priorities. These include long range precision fires, integrated air and missile defense, and space enabled battlefield awareness.
By securing mission support services through 2031, the Army reduces operational risk during a period of accelerated testing and experimentation. This is particularly relevant as the service increases the pace of development for next generation weapons systems.
Role of Southwest Range Services
Southwest Range Services LLC is a New Mexico based defense services provider with a long standing presence supporting White Sands Missile Range activities. Its local workforce and institutional knowledge are viewed as critical to sustaining range operations, safety, and technical readiness.
The award reinforces the Army’s preference for continuity and proven performance at mission critical test facilities. It also highlights the economic importance of White Sands related defense contracts to southern New Mexico.
Industry and budget context
Defense contracts tied to test ranges such as White Sands have gained increased attention as the Department of Defense emphasizes rapid prototyping and operational testing. Stable mission support contracts allow program offices to focus resources on system performance rather than infrastructure gaps.
For fiscal year 2025, Army research, development, test, and evaluation funding remains a key enabler of modernization efforts. Contracts like this White Sands Missile Range award translate strategic budget priorities into sustained on the ground capability.
Looking ahead
With this contract in place, White Sands Missile Range is positioned to continue supporting a wide range of Army, joint, and allied test activities through the end of the decade. Southwest Range Services will play a central role in maintaining the operational backbone of one of the most important test environments in the U.S. defense enterprise.
As modernization timelines compress and testing demands increase, long term mission support contracts are likely to remain a focal point of Army acquisition strategy.
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