Connectivity RFI Finalv_24 March 2026.docx

Request for Information (RFI) for Enterprise Hybrid SATCOM Connectivity Solutions TITLE: Enterprise Hybrid SATCOM Connectivity Solutions for the Mobility Air Forces (MAF) KEYWORDS: Hybrid SATCOM; Connectivity; Kit Installation; Technical Data Package (TDP); Open Architecture; Training; C-5; C-17; C-130; KC-46; KC-135.

1.0 PURPOSE

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Program Executive Office (PEO) Mobility (WL), is conducting market research to identify and understand commercial capabilities for the development, prototyping, installation, and sustainment of Hybrid SATCOM and other connectivity solutions across the Mobility Air Forces (MAF). The Government seeks to identify sources capable of developing, validating, and delivering compliant Technical Data Packages (TDPs) for commercially available or commercial-derivative systems and components in support of USAF PEO/WL Mobility Air Forces (MAF) connectivity requirements.

The Government also seeks industry feedback regarding technical approaches, data availability and considerations relevant to the proposed acquisition strategy. The proposed acquisition strategy is to utilize 10 USC 4022 to identify capable contractors to support follow-on production efforts.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government will not reimburse contractors for any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response.

Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if issued. Respondents will not be notified of the results from this RFI. All submissions will be used for review in the context of this RFI or related potential future solicitations and will be held and used for these purposes only. If a solicitation is released, it may be made synopsized on www.sam.gov. It is the responsibility of the potential respondents to monitor these relevant sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The Air Force Mobility fleet requires secure, resilient, and agile connectivity to support global operations and command and control. To address these challenges, PEO Mobility is exploring enterprise-focused acquisition mechanisms to rapidly integrate and field common connectivity solutions across multiple aircraft platforms and configurations.

Emphasis is placed on approaches that support Government Referenced Architectures (GRA), widely adopted interface standards and interoperable solutions while minimizing reliance on proprietary data, interfaces or vendor-specific integration methods. Responses should address the ability to deliver and sustain TDPs, support future integration and modernization and enable agile deployment across the enterprise.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK OVERVIEW

PEO Mobility envisions an incremental acquisition approach to field, certify, and scale common connectivity requirements across the MAF. While requirements are common, implementation will be platform-specific. WL requires a disciplined, repeatable process to visualize, validate, operationalize and rapidly scale enterprise connectivity capabilities in alignment with operational timelines.

The draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) is designed to accommodate varying degrees of technical and requirements maturity, enabling near-term execution while preserving long-term strategic agility. The SOO provides an enterprise framework to procure, install, certify, and scale common requirements and upgrades across multiple aircraft platforms using the following key tenets:

· Common requirements – Common solutions – Unique implementation

· Centralized oversight – Decentralized execution

· Modernization efforts

· Varied mission sets across MAF fleets drive different connectivity prioritization and implementation;

The Government seeks industry input on technical approaches, data availability, data rights considerations, training and the ability to deliver and sustain TDPs supporting MAF connectivity requirements. The Government further anticipates that training will be required to support the effective installation, operation, administration, and sustainment of capabilities delivered under this effort for each platform. The Government seeks industry input on training solutions that are adaptable and scalable to accommodate evolving capabilities, varied user roles and geographically distributed operational environments.

Responses will inform acquisition strategy, integration approaches, and future modernization across the enterprise.

4.0 REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM INDUSTRY

The Government is interested in approaches that reduce dependence on proprietary technical data, vendor-unique interfaces, or closed integration methods, while still enabling adaptation of commercial technologies to the operational environments associated with MAF connectivity.

Responses should address: (1) availability and/or completeness of technical data required to generate a compliant TDP, (2) proposed technical/data validation methods, (3) recommended data-rights strategies, and (4) ability to support future integration, modification, cybersecurity updates, and sustainment across the MAF enterprise.

The Government requests that interested parties provide responses to the following sections.

SECTION A: CORPORATE CAPABILITY & EXPERIENCE

The white paper shall provide information to the Government on contractor capabilities related to the products and services with respect to Hybrid SATCOM systems. Offerors shall address the following in their RFI response:

· Question 1: (Corporate Experience): Describe your organization’s experience executing enterprise-level connectivity or related programs and include examples of past projects that highlight your ability to:

· TDPs: Your experience ensuring the availability and completeness of technical data necessary to generate compliant TDPs for complex or multi-platform systems.

· Technical/Data Validation: Methods and processes your organization has used to validate technical data, interfaces, and system performance under FAR and/or OT contracts.

· Data Rights Strategies: Approaches to managing and securing data rights while enabling integration, modernization, and sustainment.

· Enterprise Integration and Sustainment: Ability to support future integration, modification, cybersecurity updates, and long-term sustainment of fielded systems across multiple platforms.

· Include examples of challenges encountered under each contract type and strategies used to address them, highlighting lessons learned that could inform the MAF connectivity enterprise approach.

· Accelerate prototyping, fielding, or modernization of technical requirements while maintaining quality and schedule.

· Identify key challenges encountered in each approach and the strategies used to mitigate them.

· In your response, indicate which contract type(s) you have found most effective for rapid development, integration, and fielding, sustainment. Explain why.

· Question 2: (Technical Capability) Describe your organization’s capability and experience with prototyping, integration and sustainment of secure connectivity solutions across multiple aircraft platforms.

· Explain your approach to supporting open architectures, widely adopted interface standards, and interoperability across heterogeneous platforms

· Identify any unique technical tools, processes, or methodologies your organization uses to visualize, validate, operationalize, and scale enterprise connectivity capabilities.

· Question 3: (Technical Approach and Validation). Describe your organization’s technical approach to delivering connectivity solutions across multiple aircraft platforms. Include details on:

· Methods to ensure technical data availability and completeness required to generate compliant TDPs.

· Processes for validating system performance, interoperability, and interface compliance across heterogeneous platforms.

· Strategies to integrate commercially available or commercial-derivative systems into platform-specific environments.

· Approaches to supporting future system updates, modifications, and cybersecurity enhancements.

· Describe a schedule for completing first install and per year capacity for installation.

· Describe innovative ways to reduce installation timelines.

· Question 4: (Data Rights and Sustainment Strategy) Describe your approach to managing technical data and intellectual property to enable enterprise integration, sustainment, and modernization. In your response, address:

· Recommended data-rights strategies to maximize reuse, reduce proprietary dependencies, and support long-term sustainment.

· Ability to provide, maintain, and update TDPs to support fielded systems across multiple platforms.

· Experience enabling agile modernization and iterative upgrades while maintaining compliance with government acquisition and cybersecurity requirements.

· Respondents are encouraged to provide recommendations based on relevant experience executing similar programs.

· Describe a refresh schedule for addressing obsolescence while maintaining a long-term configuration baseline minimizing sustainment burden.

· Question 5 (Training Approach & Support): Describe your organization’s recommended approach for developing and delivering training to support installation, operation, administration, and sustainment of capabilities delivered under this effort.

In your response, address:

· Approaches for developing and maintaining training materials as capabilities evolve over time.

· Methods for delivering training to diverse user communities and geographically distributed personnel.

· Strategies to ensure effective knowledge transfer while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.

· Experience providing scalable or enterprise-level training solutions in support of similar technical programs.

· Considerations related to airworthiness certification, integration risk, and sustainment planning.

Respondents may also provide recommendations on the attached draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) focusing on innovative training methods, tools, or best practices that could improve training effectiveness, adaptability, and long-term sustainment.

5.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

The Hybrid SATCOM effort will be a critical enabler to the Air Force and for the Mobility Air Forces (MAF). The Mobility Directorate is particularly interested in commercially available solutions that can be installed in operational aircraft in FY2027.

1. Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI by submitting a 5-page white paper in MS Word format describing the applicable capability. Response should clearly explain how the vendor is capable of supplying, installing, or training Hybrid SATCOM related services.

1. Interested parties are requested to refer to Attachment 2 for providing comments on risks and limiting factors within the draft SOO that affect industry ability to execute requirements.

1. Interested parties are also requested to provide information within the “Response Spreadsheet” included as an attachment to this RFI. The spreadsheet and cover page does not count against the response page limit.

1. All vendor information in response to this RFI shall be no higher than Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and no classified RFI responses will be accepted. CUI Responses are required to be sent encrypted.

1. Interested parties are also notified that the Government intends to schedule an industry day event in regards to the content of this RFI. An official date will be scheduled and provided via this posting.

1. Responses are due no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on 30 Apr 2026. No extensions will be entertained due to urgent mission requirements. Please send responses electronically to Captain Jason Kyles, jason.kyles@us.af.mil and Debra Zides, debra.zides.2.ctr@us.af.mil. Unclassified questions may be submitted directly via email. If a question contains CUI information, responses must be submitted via DOD SAFE to the same POCs as non-CUI questions.

6.0 AI-Assisted Evaluation Notice and Response Format Requirements Responses to this RFI may be analyzed using secure AI automated tools to support a consistent and efficient evaluation process. To facilitate accurate review, respondents shall adhere to the following format requirements:

· Responses submitted in Microsoft Word.

· Responses shall use the exact question and sub-question numbering provided in this RFI (e.g., “1.1”, “2.1.”, “3.1”).

· Inclusion of the full question text is optional; however, the question identifier is required.

· Responses shall address each question and sub-question separately. Respondents shall not combine multiple responses into a single narrative section. Respondents may repeat content where relevant.

Use of Images and Graphics Respondents may include images, diagrams, or screenshots as supporting material; however, all information necessary for evaluation shall be provided in written form within the response. Visual content shall not be relied upon as the sole means of conveying required information.

Notice Regarding Evaluation Responses that do not conform to the required structure or that rely solely on non-textual content may not be fully evaluated using automated tools and may require additional review.

7.0 SUMMARY:

SUMMARY: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify vendors to install hybrid SATCOM capabilities on the mobility fleet. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Air Force has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property. By submitting a response, respondents consent to the review of their submission by Government personnel, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) contractor personnel. The Government may review publicly available information, including vendor-provided materials and referenced sources, for the purpose of market research.

8.0 ATTACHMENTS:

1. Attachment 1, Response Spreadsheet

1. Attachment 2, Draft Statement of Objectives