AEMI RFI Final.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FOR

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Enhanced Mission Integration

(AEMI)

1. RFI Overview

This RFI seeks to assess the availability and technical capabilities of industry, including small businesses, to fulfill the requirements for the AEMI effort. The Government requires services in systems engineering, integration, testing, configuration management, professional support, and lifecycle product support to meet the AEMI requirement.

a) This RFI supports the Government’s market research process for a potential contract opportunity under NAICS code 541512. The Government currently anticipates awarding this contract in Fiscal Year 2026.

b) Information in your response will be used to help establish a competitive pool for a potential future source selection or fair opportunity selection.

**Note** AFSOC will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties responding to this RFI.

1.1. RFI Contact(s)

We have designated the following individuals as the official points of contact (POCs) for this RFI. These individuals are the sole authorized representatives permitted to communicate on behalf of AFSOC regarding this RFI.

NAME TITLE EMAIL

Capt Ismael Lopez Contracting Officer ismael.lopez@us.af.mil

1st Lt Logan Guenthardt Contracting Officer logan.guenthardt.1@us.af.mil

1.2. RFI Disclosure

IAW FAR 52.215-3, this RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute an RFP or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any goods or services whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

Again, respondents are reminded that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense.

FA002125R0003

1.3. Review Disclosure

Responses to this RFI constitute your consent to allow Government and Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS) contractor personnel, all of whom have signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), to review your submission. Respondents may object in writing to the release of information to A&AS contractor employees by including a cover letter with their submission

1.4. Proprietary Information Disclosure

To the maximum extent possible, please minimize or eliminate proprietary information from responses. Any proprietary information submitted shall be identified as such and will be handled accordingly and protected from unauthorized disclosure. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. The Government will not be liable for damages related to proprietary information that is not properly marked. All Government and DoD support contractor personnel reviewing RFI responses signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use, handling and protection of proprietary information from unauthorized disclosure.

1.5. Submission Details

Please submit your response to this RFI via email to the designated POC(s) listed in Section 1.1, ensuring it is received by the due date specified in Section 1.5. For any questions regarding this RFI, direct your inquiries to the POC(s) identified in Section 1.1.

1.6. RFI Timeline

The RFI timeline is outlined below. Dates may be modified by AFSOC and posted as an amendment to this RFI.

RFI Released:

Deadline for Questions:

Responses Due:

19-Nov-2024 5 P.M. (CST) on 3-Dec-2024 5 P.M. (CST) on 20-Dec-2024

2. Background Information

This RFI is in support of the AEMI initiative. In this RFI, the Government seeks information on technical approaches and potential solutions to directly support Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) through the operation, maintenance and development of the specialized AEMI infrastructure. A worldwide mission set, and diverse support requirements lead to a wide variety of mission activities at nine (9) permanent locations as well as temporary locations throughout the world. AEMI provides primary support to AFSOC Special Operations Advanced Capability Squadron

(SOACS), AFSOC operations centers, and secondary support to all other AFSOC Special Operations Wings (SOW), Special Operations Groups (SOG), Special Tactics Groups (STG) and Special Operations Squadrons (SOS).

2.1. Scope of the Requirement

Please refer to Attachment 1 for the Scope of the Requirement as outlined in the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

2.2. Anticipated Contract Line Item (CLIN) Structure

X001 Mission Systems Labor Support FFP

X002 Mission Planning Labor Support FFP

X003 Mission Enclave Labor Support FFP

X004 Deployed Mission Support CPFF or T&M

X005 Operational Development CPFF

X006 Travel CR

X007 Other Direct Costs (ODCs) CR

We invite industry feedback on the proposed contract types for each CLIN listed. Please review and provide any applicable input regarding the appropriateness of the suggested contract types—Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF), Cost-Reimbursement (CR), Time and Materials (T&M), or Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP)—to ensure they align with the scope and requirements of each support area. Additionally, please provide your experience with T&M contracts and whether you believe this structure would be suitable for Deployed Mission Support (CLIN X004) or any other CLIN listed.

Your input on the suitability of these contract types for each CLIN is valuable in shaping the final acquisition approach.

2.3. Anticipated Source Selection Methodology

The Government is considering utilizing the Highest Technically Rated Offeror (HTRO) methodology for the AEMI effort. HTRO focuses on awarding based on the highest technical rating, incentivizing technical excellence at a fair and reasonable price. This approach prioritizes recent and relevant experience and does not involve a tradeoff or Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation.

In this method, the Government will establish a weighted, points-based scoring criteria in the solicitation. Offerors will self-score their proposals based on this scoring criteria, providing supporting documentation to validate their scores. The Government’s technical evaluation will then verify the self-score to determine the best value.

Request for Industry Feedback:

We invite your feedback on the HTRO approach as it applies to the AEMI requirement.

Specifically:

Would HTRO support or challenge your company’s ability to effectively compete for this requirement?

Are there objective scoring criteria that your company has used or encountered in the past that would be applicable to the AEMI requirement?

What considerations should be factored into the scoring matrix to accurately assess technical capabilities for AEMI?

Your insights on the HTRO evaluation process and any recommended objective scoring criteria would be valuable in developing a fair and competitive evaluation framework.

2.4. Place of Performance

The following are CONUS and OCONUS permanent and known temporary locations.

Performance at geographically separated locations is allowable with pre-coordination with and acceptance by the KO.

Permanent:

Hurlburt Field, FL (multiple) – Primary Location Cannon AFB, New Mexico (AFSOC/OL-D) Kadena AFB, Japan (AFSOC/OL-A) RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom (AFSOC/OL-B)

Yokota AB, Japan Harrisburg ANGB, PA Davis – Monthan AFB, Arizona (AFSOC/OL-X) Kirtland AFB, New Mexico Al Udeid AB, Qatar

NOTE: Contractors may be directed to travel to those and other unknown/classified locations to provide temporary services during exercises and contingency operations.

3. Information Requested

Parties interested in assisting AFSOC with this market research are requested to submit the following information in the format outlined below. The response should be detailed (but no more than 20 pages). Title pages and cover letter will not count against the page limit. Respondents are highly encouraged to submit a tailored response rather than a generic capability statement to ensure the requested information is provided.

3.1. Company Information

Company Details:

Company Name and Address Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code

Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) or System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

Primary Points of Contact (POCs):

Name, Title, Phone Number, and Email Address of company representatives

Business Classification:

Primary NAICS Code and corresponding business size Business Size and Certifications (Yes/No for each):

Small Business Woman-Owned Small Business Small Disadvantaged Business 8(a) Certified HUBZone Certified Veteran-Owned Small Business Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

Ownership:

Indicate whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, specify country).

Relevant Contract Vehicles:

List existing DoD or Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) that may apply to this RFI.

NAICS Code Recommendations:

Suggest any additional NAICS codes applicable to this type of effort.

3.2. Business Size

The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 541512, Computer Systems Design Services. The Small Business Administration's small business size standard for this NAICS code is $34.0 million.

Based on this NAICS code, please indicate whether your business qualifies as LARGE or SMALL. If your business qualifies as small, specify any applicable socio-economic categories under this NAICS: Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a), Women-Owned, or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned.

3.3. Who We’re Looking For

AFSOC highly encourages responses from capable businesses of all sizes, including large and small business concerns and all socioeconomic categories.

3.4. What We’re Looking For

Interested Parties are invited to provide information on the following subjects of interest, specifically describing your capabilities in successfully executing the following:

Provide the following project or contract information for requirements deemed similar to this effort:

A brief description of the project Contract number Period of performance Was your company a prime or subcontractor?

Dollar value of the project Scope of the portion of the effort your company supported

If your company is a large business, specify whether you partnered or subcontracted with small business concerns to provide the same or similar services as this requirement.

If your company has no direct performance or experience with the above, explain how you will perform tasks utilizing experienced subcontractors through a proposed teaming arrangement or the hiring of qualified personnel.

3.5. Capability Questionnaire

Please respond to the following questions as they relate to providing support for the AEMI requirement. Using the questions below, identify your capabilities and experience in meeting the attributes outlined in Attachment 1, AEMI Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

What applicable industry standards, terms and conditions, regulations, trade journals, or process guides are relevant to the services required for this acquisition?

Are there technologies the Government should consider adopting, if feasible, to enhance this requirement?

Identify your company’s specific areas of interest and expertise related to each aspect of this RFI.

What techniques or methods would your company recommend to fulfill the services described in Attachment 1, AEMI Draft Performance Work Statement?

What experience does your company have in providing mission and operational support services similar to those outlined in this RFI and in Attachment 1, AEMI Draft Performance Work Statement.

What experience does your company have with staging/deploying OCONUS for support with various COCOMs?

What is your company’s level of experience with executing and maintaining DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) packages/processes to include but not limited to Authority to Operate (ATOs), Risk Management, Security Assessment Scans, SIPRNet and NIPRnet Accreditation Packages (SNAP), Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS)?

What experience does your company have with inventory management, purchasing and shipping of both Classified and Unclassified Government equipment?

What is your company’s experience with Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN) systems to include ground-to-air and air-to-air Command and Control (C2) capabilities?

4. Other Important Information

Please list any existing contract vehicles available for use in procuring this effort, including Federal Supply Schedules, GSA Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, DoD Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, or other Government Agency contract vehicles. This information is for market research purposes only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice. Additionally, please list any existing contracts your company holds that could be leveraged for this effort.

Provide any suggestions or considerations to enhance this procurement, including potential software advancements, industry developments, or innovative solutions.

You are also encouraged to review the AEMI Draft Performance Work Statement (attached) and provide any questions, comments, or recommendations that could improve or innovate this requirement

5. Conclusion

AFSOC appreciates your time and effort in reviewing this RFI and looks forward to your response.

Ismael Lopez, Capt, USAF Logan Guenthardt, 1st Lt, USAF

Contracting Officer Contracting Officer

Attachment:

AEMI Draft Performance Work Statement