DF Consolidation Redacted.pdf

The AF A2/6 ISR & CEO program is currently supported by numerous contracting offices to include Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), General Services Administration (GSA), and AF. Many of these contracts were late to need and were issued with fees for support to ensure mission readiness. Tracking funding, options, and accountability have been a daunting effort in which most times mission is impacted. The intent of the multiple award IDIQ is to capture the current requirements but also capture new requirements as they are identified to include AF A2/6 mission set supporting Air Force Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority.

B. Consolidated Advisory and Assistance Support Services.

It is anticipated this consolidated effort will be competed as a total small business set-aside. The task orders will consist of firm-fixed-price contract line items IAW Commercial terms and conditions. The ICE A&AS consolidation acquisition will be structured to focus on four (4) primary tasks. These tasks are expected to manifest themselves in several areas, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Cyber, Air Force Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority (ESS), and Program Management (PM). The objectives are as follows:

1. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Task: The AF ISR is critically dependent on the underlying information technology (IT) systems that process and store ISR data. These systems constitute the AF ISR Information Enterprise (IE) and equip intelligence analysts with key capabilities, as well as connect AF intelligence professionals with each other, with decision-makers, and with the larger intelligence enterprise. The AF ISR community needs an agile, resilient, and secure AF ISR IE to extend across the full spectrum of military operations, enable fusion warfare, and enhance existing partnerships in response to emerging global threats.

The contractor shall support the ISR IE over entire spectrum of ISR operations as necessary to support the respective Government organizations. The contractor’s output may take the form of reports, alternatives, analyses, recommendations, tools, training, or services to complement the Government’s expertise. The nature of the work will at times require that the contractor be capable of quick response to stringent deadlines while still maintaining accountability to Government management. The contractor shall provide expertise in the areas of program analysis, policy analysis, cyber security, administrative technical support, enterprise architecture, information assurance, and systems engineering.

2. Cyber Task: AF A2/6C provides an integrated, capability-focused enterprise, with the goal of serving the warfighters’ needs and eliminating the information seams that divide our capabilities. Responsibility includes delivering strategic vision, resource advocacy, policy, and guidance for the Air Forces’ Cyber Warfare Enterprise (CWE) and Operations in the Information Environment (OIE). AF A2/6C develops innovative AF operating concepts, strategy, plans and solutions to compete, deter, and win in Air, Space and Cyberspace. The Contractor shall support AF A2/6CW for program requirements as relates to its responsibilities to include, but not limited to, the following top line activities: Provide program management support, specialized technical teams, engineering expertise support, mission user expertise, enable web-based product publication, support structured analysis tradecraft, conduct user engagement, documentation and deliver specified reports.

3. Air Force Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Task. The Contractor’s performance shall include research, analysis, advisory, and develop deliverables to advance the Management Office (AFSMO) mission requirements. The reallocation of spectrum from federal Government use to commercial services is having and will continue to have a major impact on the research, development, operations, and support of DoD spectrum-dependent weapons systems and platforms; Military Sensing, Directed Energy, Autonomous Systems, and Weapons Systems. The work relates to a plethora of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, satellite, air platform, ground radar, and nuclear defense.

Electromagnetic Warfare. The Contractor shall provide support throughout the entire range of activities for all matters pertaining to gaining & maintaining electromagnetic spectrum superiority for AF forces IAW the National Defense Strategy, DoD EW Strategy and DoD EMS Strategy and orchestrate enterprise-wide actions in unity of effort in developing and synchronizing multi-domain EMS doctrine, strategy, policy, capability development, sustainment, planning and programming, budgeting, and execution across all AF missions.

4. Program Management: The Contractor shall provide program management support as it related to all work awarded under this contract, participating in Program Management Reviews, and ensuring all standards referenced herein are adhered to.

II. Findings

A. Market Research.

The Government conducted thorough market research in accordance with FAR 10.001 and10.002 for this acquisition. Specifically, the Government researched potential impact that consolidating development and operations requirements into one contract would have on industry and the Government’s requirement.

The Government participated in Industry Day held during Enterprise Industry Week from 13-15 April 2021. One on One sessions were conducted with seventeen offerors during Industry Week.

Eighteen responses were received that included vendor capability. Sixteen small businesses and two large businesses responded. In addition, the Government released a Request for Information (RFI) on 14 October 2021 to SAM.gov. The RFI provided an opportunity for interested parties to respond to the Government’s RFI. A total of 22 responses (9 large businesses and 13 small businesses) were received, of which seven were determined capable of performing all the required tasks. Two of the seven capable respondents were small businesses. A revised Performance Work Statement was posted on 11 Feb 2022 to SAM.gov detailing the additional Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority task. No additional responses were received.

Market research findings indicated that this effort could be awarded as total small business set-aside. Although only two small businesses who provided their capabilities information were considered qualified and capable of performing all task. A small business set- aside is in the best interest of the Government; because of the overwhelming number of small businesses deemed partially capable who have the ability of teaming to fully develop a thorough approach to meeting the performance requirements. Feedback from one-on-one industry sessions identified that multiple large and small business in this space team and work together in this industry.

B. Identification of Alternative Contracting Approaches Involving a Lesser Degree of Consolidation.

Any approach that involves less consolidation would require keeping separate cyber and intel contracts or, in other words, no consolidation. The GSA Oasis “Best in Class” contract vehicle was previously utilized for several of A2/6 cyber and intel A&AS support requirements. This alternative involved the purchase of cyber and intel services separately. This alternative constitutes a continuation of several separate contracts and separate teams. Follow-on efforts would be a function of support services contracted on an individual basis to separate service providers for a maximum of five years contract period of performance.

C. Impact of Acquisition Strategy on Small Business Concerns.

No negative impact by the acquisition strategy on contracting with small business concerns has been identified. This consolidation determination was coordinated with the small business office.

D. Steps are taken to include small business concerns in the acquisition strategy.

The Industry Day and RFI results indicated significant interest and experience from qualified small businesses. As a result, the acquisition strategy will be a total small business set-aside.

III. Basis of Consolidation

The determination to consolidate the development and operations requirements is a result of market research conducted by A2/6 and AFDW/PK during acquisition planning. Consolidating the current cyber and intel contracts provides the Government the best value to support business systems application support operations for AF A2/6 ISR&CEO, and Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority. The ICE A&AS acquisition strategy consolidates several requirements under one multiple award IDIQ contract meeting all current and future intel, cyber and electromagnetic spectrum requirements. The consolidated contract also provides the required flexibility to add and evolve the ISR&CEO over time as technologies and support of such technologies emerge or become obsolete. The combined support will be a maximum of five years consisting of a five-year ordering period.

The Government expects to achieve the following benefits from combining the ICE requirements to meet AF A2/6 mission: Reduction in acquisition cycle times; reduce government management; and maximize cost savings.

1. Reduction in Acquisition Cycle Times: Technical and process efficiencies will be realized by implementing a Multiple Award IDIQ. Establishing A2/6 IDIQ streamlines the process for awarding task orders through one agency. It will eliminate communication and approval delays thus maximizing the following: Reducing contract lead time (the average time it takes from requirement inception to contract start); increasing efficiencies concerning technical package