AAC RFI FINAL.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

RFI: SAF/AQ-RFI-26-0001

Agency: Department of the Air Force (DAF) Office: Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO), Tempo Group, Data and Automation Division (DAD) Title: Advanced Automation Contract (AAC)

1. DISCLAIMER

This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with responding to this notice.

Problem Statement The Government lacks the knowledge and ability to track the rapidly evolving commercial software automation market and subsequent potential for integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its missions. In addition, the Government does not have the contracting mechanism to rapidly award new contracts to leverage these new software automation technologies. The Government desires to partner with a contractor that understands agile software services and can procure these services to further the Government’s mission.

2. PURPOSE

The Government is conducting market research to identify innovative management frameworks, business models, and responsible sources capable of orchestrating a dynamic Advanced Automation portfolio on behalf of the Program Management Office (PMO).

The Government’s requirement involves a rapidly evolving suite of software tools, platform licenses, and specialized labor pools. Funding and requirements fluctuate significantly, ranging from short-term, highly specialized technical surges to long-term, dedicated engineering teams, requiring a mix of competitive and sole-source actions.

The PMO is seeking industry input on how to best structure and manage this environment. The Government does not necessarily seek a traditional systems integrator (as integration services may be performed by subordinate entities within the portfolio). Rather, this Request for Information (RFI) seeks to understand industry capabilities and proposed methodologies for providing centralized vendor orchestration, rapid subcontracting, and administrative oversight to inform future acquisition strategies.

3. REQUIREMENTS DESCRIPTION

The industry partner must be capable of competitively procuring (solicitation thru award) commercial partners to provide the following services:

· Portfolio & Vendor Brokering: Administer and oversee a diverse portfolio of external organizations providing labor, consultation, software capabilities and licenses. Respondents should address how their proposed model rapidly executes subcontracts, runs micro-competitions, and scales labor (e.g., onboarding a 10-person team indefinitely vs. sourcing a 30-day specialized technical fix).

· Orchestration of Systems Integration: Coordinate the efforts of various technical performers—which may include third-party systems integrators—to ensure prototypes and external solutions are successfully deployed into a cloud-based, Kubernetes-designed operational product.

· COTS / GOTS Software Utilization: Oversee the continuous market research, procurement, and centralized management of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) and Government Off-the-Shelf (GOTS) software and platform licenses utilized by the various performers.

· Facilitation of Advanced Technology Development: Provide the programmatic framework to resource and oversee external mission partners developing bespoke custom software, specifically those leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) for large-scale data processing and rapid software development.

· Cloud-Based Solutions: Ensure that all managed performers and acquired solutions adhere to and support a multi-classification cloud-based solution architecture.

· Task & Resource Orchestration: Coordinate, de-conflict, and manage multiple concurrent tasks across the performer ecosystem to ensure alignment with overarching project schedules and program objectives.

· Centralized Security Administration: Act as the central security node for the portfolio to relieve PMO burden. Respondents should address how they would manage security documentation and clearance processes for all subordinate performers, including writing and processing DD-254s, Joint Use/Co-Use agreements, Visitor Requests, and Program Access Requests (PARs) for a TS/SCI environment.

4. CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Interested businesses are invited to respond by providing the following:

Part I – Business Information:

· Company Name:

· Address:

· CAGE Code and UEI:

· Point of Contact (Name, Email, Phone):

· Website:

· Business Size and Socioeconomic Status under NAICS TBDSmall Business / Woman-Owned / Veteran-Owned / 8(a) / HUBZone / etc.

PART II-Proposed Solutions

· Propose a contract structure that allows for rapid delivery of solutions and services that meet the government’s needs. Elements requested include:

· Suggested CLIN structure

· Suggested contract type

· Whether an integrator would be better suited as the primary contractor or as partner/sub/IPO etc.

5. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

Responses must be submitted electronically to Major Casey Seibert, casey.seibert.2@us.af.mil, and Yvette Coddington, yvette.coddington@us.af.mil no later than 13 July 2026 at 5pm EST. The Government, at its discretion, may or may not consider submissions made after this date. Responses should not exceed 5 pages and be unclassified, excluding brochures or appendices. When submitting a response, please use the subject Advanced Automation Contract (AAC) RFI [Vendor Name].

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. If proprietary information is submitted, it must be appropriately and specifically marked. It is the submitter's responsibility to clearly define to the Government what is considered proprietary data. Any proprietary information should be clearly labeled as "Proprietary." Submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel and support contractors bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements. The non-government advisor support may be provided by the following companies:

Any objection to the aforementioned disclosure shall:

Be submitted in writing to Yvette Coddington with the RFI response and include a statement of the basis for the objection. The detailed statement shall identify the specific portions of the response, the Respondent objects to disclosure to listed non-government advisors.

In the event that no objection is received, is shall be construed as consent to the release of any proprietary data provided in response to the RFI, to non-government advisors for review and analysis.

6. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions concerning this announcement, please contact Yvette Coddington, Contracting Officer at yvette.coddington@us.af.mil.