Leidos Protests $572M Space Force NORAD Award
The defense contractor is challenging the Space Force's decision to award the Cheyenne Mountain support contract to Amentum.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Military Jobs
Leidos has filed a protest challenging a $572 million Space Force award to Amentum for operations at Cheyenne Mountain supporting NORAD. The contract covers a seven-year period and is the third iteration of the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex Integrated Space Support Contract.
Why it matters
The protest questions whether Space Force properly weighed price in its best-value decision and how it evaluated incumbent past performance. The outcome determines which company runs support operations for a key North American air and space defense site.
The Space Force awarded a $572 million contract over seven years through an Alliant 2 task order to Amentum, the incumbent after its 2024 merger with Jacobs' federal services businesses. Leidos's protest rests on claims about price evaluation and treatment of bidders, and the Government Accountability Office has not yet ruled.
The players
Leidos
Leidos is a large American defense, aerospace, and government services contractor that frequently competes for federal technology and national security contracts.
Amentum
Amentum is a government services and engineering company formed through its 2024 merger with Jacobs' federal services businesses.
Space Force
The U.S. Space Force is the military service responsible for space operations, including support for NORAD's Cheyenne Mountain Complex.
Government Accountability Office
The Government Accountability Office is the independent, nonpartisan agency that audits federal spending and adjudicates federal contract bid protests.
The details
Leidos argues Space Force did not consider price in its best-value award decision, made unsupported assumptions about proposal revisions, held unequal discussions with bidders, and evaluated Amentum's incumbent past performance improperly. Jacobs originally won the contract in 2020 under the OASIS vehicle before the recompete went to Amentum.
Timeline
2020: Jacobs wins the original contract under the OASIS vehicle.
2024: Amentum merges with Jacobs' federal services businesses.
September 2026: Space Force awards the recompete to Amentum.
November 2026: Leidos files its protest.
January 29, 2027: GAO expected to rule on the protest.
Market Landscape
The dispute reflects the consolidation of federal services contractors, as the incumbent Jacobs federal business was absorbed into Amentum before winning the recompete. Protests over best-value trade-offs are a recurring competitive tactic among large defense and government services firms seeking major national security contracts.
The outcome determines which company staffs and runs NORAD support operations at Cheyenne Mountain for seven years, shaping hiring for technical roles at the site. Job seekers tracking defense employment should watch which firm ultimately holds the contract.
The takeaway
Large federal contracts can change hands through mergers and protests long after the original award, so incumbency is not guaranteed. Watching GAO decisions is a practical way to follow how major defense service jobs are awarded.
What happens next
The Government Accountability Office is expected to rule on Leidos's protest by January 29, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Military Jobs news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Washington Technology.
