Waveform Govenance RFI Letter_20260603.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

For

DoW Governance Trade Study for Waveforms, Radios, and Aerial Network Development

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 Department of War (DoW) and Department of the Air Force require an analysis of data and a recommendation of which Governance approach best optimizes flexibility and affordability for future pursuits regarding radios, multi-function processors (MFPs), and waveform proliferation.

Currently, waveform management and standardization are governed by DoDI 4630.09, which outlines oversight responsibilities and the assignment of Lead Services for waveform development. Despite this policy, platforms across the DoW continue to develop bespoke solutions leading to disparate baselines, disjointed communications, and skyrocketing costs. Additionally, a lack of hardware modularity and common architecture/software standards complicates integration, logistics, maintenance, and grows DoW inventory needs.

Furthermore, as future radios, MFPs, and aerial networks increasingly rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for cognitive capabilities, the recommended governance model must also take into account current national and departmental AI mandates. Specifically, the governance structure must support the rapid, continuous integration of AI algorithms while adhering to the principles and directives outlined in:

• Winning the Race: America's AI Action Plan (White House, July 2025)

• DoD Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy (November 2023)

• Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the Department of War (January 2026)

• Department of the Air Force (DAF) AI Strategy (April 2026)

In addition to technical alignment, the fiscal and programmatic oversight mechanisms of the recommended governance model must comply with the directives outlined in the May 1, 2026, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) Memorandum (Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership, Commanders of the Combatant Commands, Defense Agency, and DoD Field Activity Directors). The study must align its recommendations for affordability, rapid fielding, and budget controls (POMing) with this latest CAPE programming guidance.

The Government is seeking information on how potential partners (including FFRDCs, UARCs, and industry) would execute a comprehensive trade study to evaluate the efficacy of current policies and support future capabilities, as described in Section 3.

3. Scope of the Trade Study

The selected partner will be required to execute a DoW-wide study encompassing the following objectives:

• Historical Case Studies: Solicit and evaluate case studies from past DoW/AF programs to assess the governance structures used to develop related products and services, and their impact on program execution.

• Governance Evaluation: Compare and contrast existing models against current policy (including DoDI 4630.09), specifically analyzing relevant statutory/regulatory authorities, Executive Agent (EA) vs Lead Service (LS/WS) frameworks, System Program Office (SPO) roles, and Air Combat Command (ACC) roles and responsibilities.

• AI/ML Integration & Governance: Evaluate how current and proposed governance structures support the rapid fielding and continuous updating of AI/ML algorithms in cognitive radios and MFPs, ensuring alignment with the 2026 DoW and DAF AI Strategies.

• Model Recommendation: Recommend an optimal Governance model for waveforms, radio, MFP, and other aerial network development capabilities, detailing pros, cons, and alternatives explored.

• Lifecycle Controls & POMing: Identify at which point in the development cycle controls should be in place. Evaluate and determine how to ensure future Program Objective Memorandum (POM) submissions adhere to these desired controls while maintaining strict compliance with the May 1, 2026, Secretary of War Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) Memorandum. The model must ensure that funding justifications for waveforms, radios, and MFPs survive CAPE scrutiny without introducing delays.

• Streamlining: Focus controls on maximizing performance at an affordable price, recommending preventive measures to ensure approval timelines are quick, streamlined, and not slowed by bureaucracy.

4. Requested Information

In order to respond to this RFI, entities 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.

5. 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.

mailto:christian.hayon@us.af.mil

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.

6. 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.

mailto: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) Has your organization conducted DoW/DoD-wide governance or acquisition trade studies before? If so cite the relevant contract #, year and issuing organization.

(2) Does your organization have experience evaluating Executive Agent (EA) vs. Lead Service (LS) governance models?

(3) Does your organization possess domain expertise in waveform, software-defined radio, and multi-function processor (MFP) development?

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

(5) Does your organization have expertise in DoW POM (Program Objective Memorandum) cycle planning specifically including the integration of the May 1, 2026, CAPE Memorandum directives into acquisition governance?

(6) Is your organization thoroughly familiar with DoDI 4630.09 (Communications Waveform Management and Standardization) and the current Joint Tactical Networking Center (JTNC) framework?

(7) Does your organization possess expertise in the 2026 DoW/DAF AI Strategies, including CDAO data mandates and Responsible AI (RAI) principles?