Waveform Business Case Analysis RFI Letter_20260608.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

For

DoW Waveform Business Case Analysis (BCA)

In Support of the

Department of War / Department of the Air Force – Request for Information

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC)

Hanscom AFB, MA

Prepared by:

AFLCMC/C3N

15 Eglin St.

Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-2110

3 June 2026 Version 1

This Page Intentionally Left Blank

1. Description

This is a Request for Information (RFI), as defined in Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) 15.101(c). The Government is issuing this RFI to understand Contractor/Entity capability, market availability, technical characteristics, cost, and functionality of analytical services capable of satisfying the technical, functional, operational, and capabilities described in this RFI.

Any information submitted by respondents to this request is strictly voluntary. This is not a request for proposal, request for quotation, or invitation for bid, nor does its issuance obligate or restrict the Government to an eventual acquisition approach. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on responses from this RFI or pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the use of such information. All information received from this RFI will be used for planning and market research purposes only.

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure. The Government shall not be liable for damages related to proprietary information that is not properly identified.

Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Responses to the RFI will not be returned.

2. Background

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Aerial Networks Division, Tactical Datalinks and Gateways Branch (AFLCMC/C3N) requires an analysis of data and a recommendation of which business and development models best optimize flexibility and affordability for future pursuits regarding waveforms on tactical radios.

Currently, a multitude of waveforms causes issues with supportability, supply chains, multiple iterations of development, and a lack of interoperability. Platforms across the DoW frequently develop their own solutions leading to several disparate baselines, disjointed communications, and skyrocketing costs.

Vendor lock increases long-term costs and decreases Government responsiveness, while NSA cryptographic certification requirements and timelines severely restrict rapid fielding. Furthermore, a lack of hardware modularity and common architecture/software standards complicates integration, logistics, maintenance, and grows DoW inventory needs.

The Government is seeking information on how potential partners (including FFRDCs, UARCs, and industry) would execute a comprehensive Business Case Analysis (BCA) to support these capabilities, as described below:

1. Historical Case Studies: Solicit and evaluate case studies from past DoW/AF programs related to radios and associated waveforms to assess development models and their impacts on program execution.

2. Model Comparison: Compare historical programs that developed radios and their waveforms based on the following approaches:

Government funded porting (e.g., AFTT, SADL, Link 16, AHFRM, ENTR V4) Vendor funded porting with license (e.g., SATURN, SEDR, CDL)

3. Attribute Evaluation: Evaluate the cost, schedule, and speed-to-field implications of each option.

4. Sensitivity-Based Modeling: Develop a sensitivity-based model outlining the pros and cons of which option to choose in specific operational situations (e.g., factoring in, for instance, the total quantity of radios to be deployed and the number of expected software updates during useful life).

5. Final Recommendation: Recommend which model optimizes DoW flexibility and affordability for future waveform and radio pursuits based on the data analysis.

6. AI/ML Integration Impact: Evaluate how the proposed business models accommodate the rapid integration, continuous updating, and licensing of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities (e.g., cognitive waveforms, dynamic spectrum access) without increasing vendor lock-in.

7. Alignment with New Program Review Guidance: Demonstrate how the recommended acquisition and porting model can be effectively programmed and justified within the new FY28- 32 Program Review process which requires submitting resource-neutral "Change Proposals" that align with long-term affordability goals and 1% operational efficiencies mandated by the CAPE.

3. Requested Information

In order to respond to this RFI, companies must complete Appendices 1 and 2 and submit these Appendices prior to the deadline to the point of contact listed below. The Government is requesting capability statements (White Paper format) outlining your organization's methodology to satisfy the analytical requirements listed above. The Government is also requesting a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost and timeline for the execution of this trade study. This request for information is voluntary and in no way constitutes contractual obligations from either the vendor or the U.S. Government.

4. Responses

Interested potential sources should provide their responses to this RFI to the Contracting Officer, Ms.

Laura-Leigh Churnside at laura_leigh.churnside@us.af.mil, and Mr. Christian Hayon at christian.hayon@us.af.mil no later than 1200 hours Eastern Time, 10 July 2026.

Response should be single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, with one-inch margins all around, compatible with Microsoft Office Word, and with a total page count not to exceed fifteen (15) pages.

Response, including attachments, shall not exceed 10 MB. Each page of your package shall be printable on 8 ½” x 11” paper. Please note that some Email systems may block file types such as .zip or other macro-enabled extensions; respondents should verify receipt.

Any response submitted by respondents to this request constitutes consent for that submission to be reviewed by military personnel, Government civilians, and DoD contractors. All Government and DoD contractor personnel reviewing RFI responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use, and protection from unauthorized disclosure of, proprietary information.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback with respect to any information submitted. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The responses may be forwarded to other Government entities in consideration for applicability to other programs. The Government reserves rights to invite some respondents to 1:1 session with the government to review the responses in more detail.

This RFI is issued solely for information purposes. It does not constitute a RFP, RFQ, or IFB or a promise to issue an RFP, RFQ, or IFB in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service in any manner.

Respondents are advised that the 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 parties’ expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

5. Questions

All technical questions with regard to this RFI should be submitted no later than 1200 hours Eastern Time, 19 June 2026 by e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Laura-Leigh Churnside at laura_leigh.churnside@us.af.mil and Mr. Christian Hayon at christian.hayon@us.af.mil

APPENDIX 1: Company Information

(Additional pages may be used if necessary)

1. Company Information

Company/Entity name:

Company address:

Company NAICS:

Contact name (POC):

POC email:

POC phone(s):

Company website:

Small Business Status / Entity Type (e.g., FFRDC, UARC, Commercial):

APPENDIX 2: Vendor Capabilities

Provide sufficient details to address aspects of the questions below. Additional pages may be used, if needed.

Questions Y, N or N/A Additional Details, if necessary

(1) Does your organization have access to historical DoW/AF program execution data regarding waveform and radio development?

(2) Does your organization have experience evaluating Government-funded porting vs.

Vendor-funded porting and licensing models? If your organization has done a similar study, cite the relevant contract #, year and issuing organization.

(3) Does your organization possess domain expertise in NSA cryptographic certification timelines and their impact on rapid fielding?

(4) Can your organization access, store, and process Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?

(5) Does your organization have the capability to build sensitivity-based cost and schedule models based on variable inputs (e.g., radio quantities, update frequencies)?

(6) Does your organization have expertise in the DoW PPBE process, specifically the new FY28-32 Program Review guidance requiring resource-neutral "Change Proposals"?

(7) Does your organization possess the capability to evaluate the impact of integrating AI/ML technologies (e.g., cognitive radios, smart routing) on

Questions Y, N or N/A Additional Details, if necessary waveform development costs and licensing structures?