A-COP Call for Solutions 20260323 DRAFT.docx

Call for Solutions for

Airspace Common Operating Picture

Contract Specialist: keith.l.adams3.civ@army.mil

Note: Please advise the cognizant Procurement Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist as soon as possible via the email above if your organization intends to submit a Solution Brief in response to this Call for Solution.

Any submissions that are received by the Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) after the suspense date/time listed above will be deemed late and not evaluated. It is the sole responsibility of the company to ensure that its submission is received in the inbox listed above before the deadline specified.

1. Description:

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Orlando (ACC-Orlando) is issuing this Call for Solutions under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 3458 and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Subpart 212.70. This Call for Solutions is intended to competitively acquire innovative commercial products or technologies to support the development and deployment of the:

Airspace Common Operating Picture (A-COP) The U.S. Army requires an advanced airspace management capability to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations within Special Use Airspace (SUA) at Army installations. Current systems lack the ability to provide real-time surveillance, monitoring, and deconfliction of manned aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Groups 1-5, as defined by AR 95-2, AR 350-52, AR 385-63, and TC 3-04.15. This capability gap poses significant risks to safety, operational effectiveness, and compliance with Army regulations.

The envisioned solution must integrate real-time data from manned and unmanned platforms, including Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped military and civilian aircraft, and provide situational awareness to Range Management Authorities (RMA). The system must operate continuously, with minimal latency, and deliver precise positional data to support safe operations in high-density environments. Additionally, the solution must align with the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to ensure compatibility with current and future tactical networks, such as the Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK) and Range Facility Management Support System (RFMSS). The solution must also be scalable, customizable, and capable of supporting operations across multiple installations listed in the Basis of Issue Plan. It must provide flexible data relay options, customizable alerts, and ensure secure operations within a limited-access network.

1.1 The U.S. Army seeks innovative commercial solutions that address the following attributes:

a) Real-Time Airspace Surveillance and Monitoring:

· Systems capable of integrating data from multiple sources, including ADS-B, radar, and other sensors, to provide a comprehensive airspace picture.

· Solutions that support continuous, low-latency operations in high-density environments.

b) Deconfliction of Manned and Unmanned Aircraft:

· Tools for real-time deconfliction of UAS Groups 1-5 and manned aircraft operating within SUA.

· Capabilities to provide automated alerts and recommendations to Range Management Authorities (RMA).

c) Integration with Tactical Networks:

· Solutions that align with the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and are compatible with existing Army systems, such as the Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK) and Range Facility Management Support System (RFMSS).

· Systems that support future scalability and interoperability with emerging technologies.

d) Scalability and Customizability:

· Solutions that can be deployed across multiple Army installations and adapted to varying operational requirements.

· Customizable alerting mechanisms, data relay options, and user interfaces to meet mission-specific needs.

e) Secure Operations:

· Systems that ensure secure data transmission and operations within limited-access networks.

· Compliance with Army cybersecurity standards and protocols.

f) Advanced Data Analytics and Visualization:

· Tools for advanced data processing, visualization, and reporting to enhance situational awareness and decision-making.

· Capabilities to provide predictive analytics for airspace management.

2. Awarding Instrument

This Call for Solution solicitation will be awarded in accordance with the Army Open Solicitation procedures detailed within Solicitation W9128Z-25-S-A002, posted to SAM.gov on 01 May 2025. This Call for Solution will utilize CSO procedures. Use of a CSO in accordance with DFARS Subpart 212.70 in conjunction with FAR 35 and DFARS 235 is considered to be a competitive procedure for the purposes of 10 U.S.C. chapter 221 and FAR 6.102.

3. Solicitation Notes

In addition to the general guidelines included in the Open Solicitation, the following guidelines apply to this Call for Solution.

a) Offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments to this solicitation that may have updated information.

b) The Government will give preference to submissions that demonstrate an innovative, existing, and reference-verifiable commercial ability to accomplish the desired solution attributes listed above.

c) Resellers and academic research proposals are not desired.

d) All solution briefs will be valid for 180 calendar days after the submission date.

e) The Solution Brief must identify any intellectual property involved in the effort and associated restrictions on the Government’s use of that intellectual property.

f) The Government reserves the right to go directly from Solution Brief to award.

4. General Information and Questions

Questions are to be sent only to the Procurement Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist (POCs) listed in this Call for Solution. The following shall be utilized in the email subject line: Call for Solution – CPE-STRI-ACOP (reference the section area). Material questions and answers will be published and updated on www.sam.gov.

5. Phase 0: Solicitation for Solution Briefs

5.1. Interested offerors must submit a concise solution brief (maximum 10-page white paper or 20 slides) addressing the following:

a) Executive Summary: Overview of the proposed solution and its relevance to the desired solution under this Call for Solutions.

b) Technology Concept: Description of the innovative aspects of the solution, including any required development or adaptation. Show and/or describe how your proposed solution or potential new capabilities represent an application of innovative commercial products, innovative commercial technologies or adaptations/modifications of existing commercial product technologies to the A-COP.

c) Company Viability: Overview of the company including relevant experience.

d) Intellectual Property (IP): Description of any proprietary technologies or data rights.

5.2. Submission Guidelines:

a) Interested offerors shall include Company Name, Title, Date, Point of Contact Name, E-Mail Address, Phone, and Address.

b) The title page does not count against page limit, however, the executive summary does.

c) The period of performance of the contract resulting from this Call for Solutions should generally be no greater than five (5) years.

d) Technical data with military application may require approval, authorization, or license for lawful exportation.

e) All solution briefs, presentations, and proposals must be Unclassified. Do NOT mark any documents as “CONFIDENTIAL”. Solution briefs, presentations, and proposals containing data that is not to be disclosed to the public for any purpose or use by the government except for evaluation purposes shall include the following general disclaimer on the cover page:

f) “This [select one: solution brief, Presentation, or Proposal] includes data that shall not be disclosed outside the government, except to non-government personnel for evaluation purposes, and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed - in whole or in part - for any purpose other than to evaluate this submission. If, however, an agreement is awarded to this company as a result of - or in connection with - the submission of this data, the government shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose the data to the extent agreed upon by both parties in the resulting agreement. This restriction does not limit the government's right to use information contained in this data if it is obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in sheets [insert numbers or other identification of sheets]”

g) Submissions must be submitted electronically.

h) Offerors that are not chosen for the presentation phase will be notified in writing as soon as practicable. Further verbal feedback may be provided, upon request, at the Contracting/Agreements Officer’s discretion.

6. Phase 1: Solution Brief Evaluation

6.1. The Government will conduct an initial down select based on solution briefs submitted in Phase 0. Upon review of a solution brief, the Government may elect to invite “all, some or none” of the proposed solutions into Phase 2, the presentation/pitch based on the merits of the solution brief. In Phase 2, companies are invited to pitch and further discuss their proposed concept/technology/solution in person or virtually. During Phase 2, the Government may request and/or provide additional information to the company.

6.2. Solution Briefs will be evaluated on the following criteria:

a) Technical merit of the proposed solution, including the extent to which the proposed solution is unique, and/or innovative to fulfill the requirement for the A-COP. Technical Merit is defined as having direct relevance to the stated requirement, addressing identified capability gaps, and providing innovative technological advancements.

b) The government may elect to use external market research in the evaluation of a company’s viability.

7. Phase 2: Solution Presentation/Pitch

7.1 Down selected offerors will be invited to present their solutions to the Government and to participate in a live demonstration. The presentation shall include:

a) Detailed technical and business viability of the solution

b) Proposed schedule and milestones

c) Anticipated data rights assertions

d) Explanation of Data Rights

e) Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing: Estimated cost and payment terms.

7.2. Participation in the live demonstration in a relevant environment will be coordinated by the Government.

8. Phase 2: Presentation/Pitch Evaluation

8.1. Individual presentations/pitches will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria below and not against any other presentations/pitches. Presentation/pitch submissions will be valid for 120 days after pitch evaluation. The government will aim to complete evaluation of presentation/pitches within 30 calendar days of the presentation/pitch. After completing the evaluation of presentation/pitch submissions, the government will notify the company that: they may submit a Full Proposal for evaluation in Phase 3; or their proposed concept/technology/solution is not of continued interest to the Government, and they will not be required to submit a Full Proposal and advance to Phase 3.

8.2. Presentation/Pitch evaluation criteria are listed in order of importance from top to bottom. Presentation/pitches shall be evaluated/scored on the following factors:

a) Level of relevancy of the solution in addressing the A-COP with a commercially available product and/or process;

b) The technical merit of the proposed solution adequately addressed the A-COP and demonstrated feasibility for the Government to pursue the proposed solution;

c) Level of uniqueness, and/or innovative approach to solve the Government’s need;

d) Level of technical risk/maturity;

e) Level of risk placed with the proposed ROM;

f) Level of risk in the proposed milestone schedule and its ability to meet the A-COP requirement within a relevant time period;

g) Level of risk in the company’s viability and business solution; and

h) Level of potential risk in anticipated IP and data rights assertions

9. Phase 3: Full Proposal

9.1. Based upon the results of market research, Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 evaluation(s) above, the government may request a proposal. If that occurs, a company, or companies will be invited to develop and submit a written proposal as well as negotiate appropriate terms and conditions, as applicable, governing the requirement. At this stage, the selected companies may discuss proposal development details during the proposal writing process with their assigned government expert(s) or government teaming partner(s).

Additionally, companies are invited to provide their own internal terms and conditions that may be consolidated with those of the government. This includes, but is not limited to, Service License Agreements (SLA) and/or User License Agreements (ULA).

Companies should note that there are certain terms and conditions the government may be unable to accept. However, projects awarded through the CSO may provide flexibility to adopt customary industry standards where it is otherwise legal and meets the government’s general public responsibility.

9.2. Offerors advancing to this phase will submit a detailed proposal, including:

a) Technical Volume: The technical volume shall include a detailed work plan indicating how each aspect of the objectives is to be accomplished. The technical volume should be in as much detail as the offeror considers necessary to fully explain its proposed technical approach or method, including all assumptions utilized to develop its proposed solution and associated costs. The technical volume should reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken. The technical volume must include information on how the project will be organized, staffed, and managed. Information should be provided that demonstrates Offeror’s understanding and management of important events or tasks. The technical volume must include a list of suggested deliverables and deliverable dates.

NOTE: The government reserves the right to further define the required technical proposal content based upon the specific contract requirements for the A-COP.

b) Price Volume: Detailed cost breakdown and justification. The government reserves the right to request any other price data or supporting cost information the government deems necessary to determine the total overall price is fair and reasonable. This can include but is not limited to commercial price catalog(s), previous commercial sales receipts, and/or other proprietary information to help the government determine reasonableness and future budgetary cost estimates. The Government reserves the right to further define the required price proposal content based upon the relevant requirements of the proposed solution.

c) Payment Milestones: In-Depth timeline/schedule to include parts lead time, build phase, and fielding.

9.3. Additional Proposal Submission Content:

Small Business Subcontracting Plan: Large business Offerors shall submit either an individual subcontracting plan and/or master subcontracting plan (if available) in accordance with FAR 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Sep 2023), DFARS 252.219-7003 Small Business Subcontracting Plan (DoD Contracts) – Basic (Dec 2019) and DFARS 252.219-7004 Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Test Program) (Dec 2022) with their Phase III proposal. The Offeror's small business subcontracting plan shall include, but is not limited to, detailing the commitment/targets for each category of small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, small disadvantaged business, HUBZone, and women-owned small business concerns. The plan shall describe for each category the total value subcontracted expressed in dollars and percentage of total subcontracted value if an individual subcontracting plan. The plan shall also state the extent and nature of work to be performed by small business concerns, the method used to develop goals, the method used to locate potential suppliers, if the goals include indirect costs (if so, describe the cost allocation method) and describe the efforts the Offeror will make to assure small businesses have an equitable opportunity to compete for subcontracts. The plan shall also provide the name and duties of the contractor's subcontracting plan administrator.

If the Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not initially acceptable, the Contracting Officer may request additional information regarding the Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

10. Phase 3: Evaluation Criteria of Proposals

10.1. Proposal Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

a) Technical Merit: The merit and risk elements of the proposed technical approach are acceptable and address desired solution and attributes in this Call for Solutions.

b) Integration: Ability to integrate into existing Army systems and infrastructure.

c) Schedule: The proposal performance schedule is realistic and/or adequate.

d) Price: The proposed price is fair and reasonable.

10.2. Proposal Evaluation Rating:

a) The Technical Proposal Volume will be evaluated and categorized as follows:

Acceptable: The proposal has been evaluated and deemed appropriate for additional consideration and discussion. The proposal is generally considered well-conceived, scientifically or technically sound, and important to program goals and objectives. Proposal submissions given this designation may proceed into negotiations or directly to the award process.

Note: An acceptable rating does not guarantee contract award. The following will be taken into consideration: program priorities, negotiations, and availability of funds.

Unacceptable: The proposal has been evaluated and deemed inappropriate for additional consideration and discussion at this time. Proposals given this designation are not technically sound or do not meet program priorities and will be rejected.

b) The Price Proposal Volume will be evaluated and categorized as follows:

Fair and Reasonable: The price proposal has been evaluated and deemed fair and reasonable. Proposal submissions given this designation may proceed to the award process.

Note: A fair and reasonable price determination does not guarantee contract award. The following will be taken into consideration: program priorities, negotiations, and availability of funds.

Not Fair and Reasonable: The price proposal has been evaluated and deemed to not be fair and reasonable. Proposal submissions given this designation may not proceed to the award process without negotiations that result in a fair and reasonable determination.

11. Award Information

11.1. Awards under this Call for Solutions will be fixed-price contracts or other agreements as authorized under 10 U.S.C. § 3458. The Government reserves the right to make multiple awards or no awards based on the evaluation results and availability of funds.

11.2. In order to be considered for award under Phase III, Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov, be considered responsible within the meaning of FAR Part 9.1, Responsible Prospective Contractors, have a satisfactory performance record, and otherwise be eligible for award based on federal law and regulation. The Contracting Officer cannot award a contract unless the successful Offeror has updated the FAR 52.204-26 representation in SAM to account for the update to the provision published in October 2020.

11.3. In accordance with DFARS 252.204-7019, the Contracting Officer cannot award a contract unless the successful Offeror has a current NIST SP 800-171 DoD assessment completed and posted in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) – see DFARS 252.204-7019 and DFARS 252.204-7020 for more information regarding the requirements.

11.4. Offerors are hereby notified that any resultant contract require the handling of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Accordingly, prospective awardees must achieve, and maintain throughout the period of performance, a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 certification. CMMC Level 2 aligns with the security requirements of NIST SP 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012. Offerors must have a current CMMC status of Level 2 or higher posted in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) at the time of contract award. The Government will verify the Offeror's CMMC status in SPRS prior to award, and failure to possess a current and valid CMMC certification at the required level will result in the Offeror being ineligible for award. This requirement will be flowed down to all subcontractors at any tier who will process, store, or transmit CUI in the performance of this contract.

12. Contact Information

Primary Points of Contact:

Roberto Gotay, Procurement Contracting Officer, ACC-Orlando (COM: 520-714-5652), roberto.j.gotaygarcia.civ@army.mil) Keith Adams, Contract Specialist, ACC-Orlando (COM: 520-714-5523, keith.l.adams3.civ@army.mil)

13. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI)

This notice serves as preliminary guidance regarding Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) for Phase 1 of this Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process.

For the Phase 1 submission, Offerors are not required to submit a formal OCI analysis or mitigation plan. However, Offerors should begin to assess the planned acquisition for any actual or potential OCI situations associated with their organization or any proposed teammates.

Please be advised that should an Offeror be selected to advance to a subsequent phase, a comprehensive OCI analysis will be required prior to contract award. If that analysis identifies any actual or potential OCIs, the Offeror must submit an acceptable OCI Mitigation Plan. The submission and approval of this plan by the Contracting Officer will be a prerequisite for any final contract award.

Any future mitigation plans must be consistent with the standards outlined in FAR 9.5 and the most recent decisions of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

14. Additional Information

a) All submissions must be unclassified.

b) Foreign-owned businesses may participate but must comply with applicable export control regulations.

c) The Government reserves the right to amend this Call for Solutions as necessary.

d) Marketing efforts may include targeted outreach via platforms such as LinkedIn, trade manuals, Industry Days, and technology symposiums.

e) Joint ventures are allowed under this opportunity, provided they comply with all applicable regulations, including export controls and restrictions on Foreign Owned Businesses (FOBs). Joint venture participants shall meet the same legal, operational, and security requirements as individual applicants. Clear documentation of the joint venture structure, roles, and responsibilities will be required.

f) The CSO solicitation process for FAR contracts is covered by the Procurement Integrity Act (PIA). PIA is implemented for FAR contracts through FAR part 3.104. Accordingly, the CSO competitive solicitation process and awards made thereby must adhere to the ethical standards required by the PIA.

g) Non-Government advisors may assist in the evaluation of Solution Briefs, Pitches, and Proposals. Advisors will sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to protect proprietary information.