DoWIAC BCO RFI Background.pdf

Department of War Information Analysis Center (DoWIAC)

Basic Center of Operation (BCO)

RFI Background

Department of War Information Analysis Center (IAC)

Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose and Scope

2.0 Introduction and Mission

2.1 Current Program Structure

2.2 BCO Mission, Responsibilities, and Core Operational Capabilities

2.3 IAC Multiple Award Contract (IACMAC) and Interdependence with BCO Operations

3.0 IAC Program Links:

4.0 Proposed BCO Modernization and Future Operational Construct

4.1 Establishment of Data Analytics and Organic SME Capability

4.2 Establishment of Critical Technology Area (CTA) Cells and Operational Bridge

4.3 Proactive Repository Curation and Modernized Information Management

4.4 Enhanced Gap Analysis and DTIC Operational Analytics

4.5 Restructuring Technical Inquiries, Extended Inquiries, and Specialized Tasks

4.6 Deepened BCO and IACMAC Collaboration (Cross-Pollination)

4.7 Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI):

5.0 Task Requirements

5.1 Collection, Ingestion, and Enterprise Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Curation

5.2 Proactive Enterprise STI Scouting and Curation

5.3 Advanced Research, Operational Analytics, and Decision Support

5.4 Mandatory Pre-Execution Reuse Scans and Reuse Reports

5.5 Full-Lifecycle Knowledge Assessment and Gap Analysis

5.6 Modernized Technical Inquiries

5.7 Enterprise Knowledge Dissemination, Models Administration, and Ecosystem Collaboration

5.8 IAC Cross-Pollination (X-Poll) Forums and Technical Exchange

6.0 Acronyms

1.0 Purpose and Scope

In order to facilitate the use and preservation of scientific and technical information (STI), the Department of War (DoW) Information Analysis Center (IAC) undertakes this comprehensive suite of activities across both Basic Center Operations and task order execution. This Request for Information (RFI) focuses specifically on the core services component of the IAC program, formerly the Basic Center of Operation (BCO). The Government is conducting market research to assess industry capabilities, management structures, and technical solutions to support the upcoming BCO re-compete acquisition. Please note that the background detailed herein represents an initial conceptual framework and does not constitute the final, definitive picture of the requirement. The Government actively welcomes suggestions and feedback from industry partners to help refine and inform the final requirement.

2.0 Introduction and Mission

The IAC Program, operating under the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), serves as a core component of the DoW Scientific and Technical Information Program (STIP). The program operates in accordance with (IAW) DoW Instruction 3200.12, “DoW Scientific and Technical Information Program (STIP),” Aug 22, 2013; DoW Manual

3200.14 Volume 1, “Principles and Operational Parameters of the DoW Scientific and Technical Information Program:

General Processes,” Mar 14, 2014; and DoW Manual 3200.14 Volume 2, “Principles and Operational Parameters of the DoW Scientific and Technical Information Program: Information Analysis Centers (IACs),” Jan 5, 2015, which establish the requirement for IACs to provide both “Core” and “additional tasks.” Under this regulatory framework, the IAC functions as a center of excellence to engage in curating, analyzing, synthesizing, and disseminating engineering, scientific, and technical information (STI) in clearly defined specialized technical focus areas of significant DoW interest or concern. The IAC uses technical expertise to assess and provide relevant technical information to meet specific user needs, supplementing DTIC services within the STIP. The IAC provides the long-term institutional memory of STI for the DoW (reference the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 235.010); along with the ability to avoid duplicating STI holdings and analytical capabilities in various Research and Development (R&D) support components.

2.1 Current Program Structure

The IAC Program aligned is currently aligned to twenty-two (22) Technical Focus Areas (TFAs) and is incorporating specifically the six (6) Critical Technology Areas (CTAs). Currently, the IAC program provides core services and additional tasks under one (1) single-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) BCO contract in which the single vendor is responsible for all tasks and deliverables.

2.2 BCO Mission, Responsibilities, and Core Operational Capabilities

The primary mission of the BCO is to perform IAC core services focused on knowledge Curation, Analysis, Synthesis, and Dissemination. Serves as the center for its technical community, and as such must maintain active connections with key stakeholders across government, industry, and academia to understand on-going activities, current information gaps, future strategies, transitions, and evolving technical information needs. Typical operational activities include active curation of the DTIC repository to identify STI that should be present, maintaining an active presence in the technical community, growing the knowledge repository collection (based on relevant research), maintaining a robust web presence, promoting customer awareness of current and emerging trends within the technical focus areas, preparing and publishing authoritative digital technical information products, State-of-the-Art Reports (SOARs), and multimedia technical releases, maintaining an organic staff of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and responding to technical inquiries. To execute this mission, a critical role is to stand up a data analytics team that, in partnership with its organic staff of SMEs, shall build analytics that will 1) Inform DTIC operations and senior leader decision-making,

2) use TIs, gap analyses, and repository content to identify research trends and gaps, 3) drive proactive repository curation, 4) improve the analytic content of knowledge product deliveries, 5) inform the development of DTIC’s web applications like the Innovator’s Innovation Repository, and 6) support the CTA portfolios.

2.3 IAC Multiple Award Contract (IACMAC) and Interdependence with BCO Operations

While the focus of this RFI is the BCO IDIQ, which is a separate IDIQ contract from the IAC Multiple Award Contract (IACMAC), the Government will describe both contracts as they are interdependent on each other. Under the current IAC construct, in addition to the BCO infrastructure, IACMAC contractors perform work under multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts by competing for and performing task orders (TO) that complement and augment the IAC services provided by the BCO contractor. Each IACMAC task order is performed on behalf of, and directly funded by, a requiring activity (RA). IACMAC TOs encompass emerging Government R&D requirements. The level of effort for research and analysis performed under IACMAC TOs is above and beyond that offered by a BCO, as measured by cost and duration of the work. IACMAC TOs can be multi-million-dollar efforts, may involve up to 5-year performance, may involve work for other than DoW customers, and may be performed at multiple locations (to include performance outside the Continental United States). Furthermore, they may require a Top-Secret facility clearance and personnel security clearances up to Top Secret (both compartmented and collateral).

IACMAC TOs are not government-staff augmentation support services.

The research and development performed under IACMAC TOs support a broad spectrum of defense and government activities, including:

• Basic and applied Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) activities carried out by DoW components, other U.S. Government agencies and departments and their contractors, state and local governments, as well as international organizations in which the U.S. Government is a member or participant;

• Military or similarly related operations conducted by DoW components and other U.S. Government agencies and departments, international organizations to which the United States belongs, or foreign governments with which the United States has international agreements for military or related operations; and

• Basic and applied research carried out by industry, academia, and other institutions where the results of such research are expected to provide benefits to the U.S. Government in the future.

The interdependence between BCO “Core Services” and IACMAC TOs “Specialized Tasks” is defined in DoW guidance. DoW Manual 3200.14 establishes IACs to provide Core and additional services. The BCO establishes a centralized Subject Matter Expert (SME) knowledge base and CTA coordination support in areas of strategic importance, and the intent of IACMAC TOs is to leverage the BCO’s knowledge base to increase efficiency and effectiveness. In return, IACMAC TOs result in the creation of new STI. Following quality control checks performed by the appropriate IAC BCO(s)—based on the technical focus of the STI and the CTAs/TFAs with which it aligns— this newly generated STI is added directly into the DTIC repository.

3.0 IAC Program Links:

IAC Program: https://DoDIAC.dtic.mil

BCO Websites:

https://CSIAC.dtic.mil https://DSIAC.dtic.mil https://HDIAC.dtic.mil

DoW Instruction 3200.12: http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/320012p.pdf DoW Manual 3200.14, Vol 1:

http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/320014vol1 _2014.pdf

DoW Manual 3200.14, Vol 2:

http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/320014vol2.

pdf

OUSW (R&E): https://www.cto.mil/ DTIC: https://discover.dtic.mil/

4.0 Proposed BCO Modernization and Future Operational Construct

To maintain technical superiority across the Department of War (DoW) and ensure the Scientific and Technical Information Program (STIP) actively drives operational capability, the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) and the IAC Program Management Office (PMO) are transforming the Basic Center of Operations (BCO) requirement for the next-generation contract cycle. Historical BCO operations largely functioned in a reactive, administrative capacity, primarily crowdsourcing inquiries, conducting basic document receipt and storage, and acting as an information broker. Under the modernized vision, the Government is elevating the functions of the BCO from a baseline administrative support provider to a more robust research, analytics, and technical curation mechanism within the IAC program. The future BCO contractor will deploy dedicated organic subject matter expertise and advanced data capabilities directly alongside Government personnel at DTIC proper (Fort Belvoir, VA), integrating seamlessly with the IAC Multiple Award Contract (IACMAC) ecosystem, the Critical Technology Area (CTA) Senior Officials under the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)), and Combatant Commands (CCMDs).

http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/320012p.pdf http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/320014vol1_2014.pdf http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/320014vol1_2014.pdf http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/320014vol2.pdf http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/320014vol2.pdf

4.1 Establishment of Data Analytics and Organic SME Capability

A central component of the modernized BCO is the establishment of an integrated Data Analytics and Subject Matter Expert (DA & SME) team working alongside Government personnel at DTIC. This team will combine data analytics with organic technical expertise across the Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) and Technical Focus Areas (TFAs) to support the following primary functions:

1. Developing operational analytics to support senior DoW decision-making;

2. Analyzing technical inquiries, gap analyses, and repository holdings to identify defense research trends and knowledge gaps;

3. Driving proactive repository curation across Service laboratories, Warfare Centers, and external performers;

4. Improving the analytical depth and quality of BCO knowledge products and inquiry responses; and

5. Providing technical and data-driven inputs to inform the development of DTIC web applications, such as the Innovator’s Innovation Repository and supporting OUSD(R&E) CTA portfolios.

6. Support the DoW CTA portfolios.

4.2 Establishment of Critical Technology Area (CTA) Cells and Operational Bridge

Currently, the DoW loses speed and wastes RDT&E value due to

• Duplicative research

• Limited theater visibility into what is already being built

• Transition lag for innovative and non-traditional solutions

• Inconsistent STI capture that forces repeated relearning

• No transition due to the S&T Valley of Death (TRL 4-6)

• Coordination is challenging among CCMDs, CTAs, Capability Managers, MilDeps, OSD, and S&T community

• The Office of the Under Secretary of War, Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) stood up six CTAs focusing on the most pressing national security challenges. OUSW(R&E) is seeking to focus investments in these areas and accelerate the transition of key capabilities to the MilDeps and CCMDs. DTIC proposes standing up CTA Cells to support each CTA Senior Official and their portfolios to address the above challenges

4.3 Proactive Repository Curation and Modernized Information Management The role of the IAC Information Professional and Librarian is transitioning from legacy manual indexing to proactive repository curation. With DTIC transitioning toward automated STI ingestion via application programming interfaces (APIs), automated bulk upload mechanisms, and artificial intelligence tools for metadata harvesting and distribution/security marking validation, the BCO workforce will no longer perform routine clerical tasks.

Instead, BCO technical curation personnel, paired with domain Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), will scout and acquire critical defense research across the wider enterprise. Curators will establish continuous operational relationships with Service laboratories (e.g., AFRL, NRL, DEVCOM), Warfare Centers, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), MilDeps, National Laboratories, University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) to identify and capture federally funded STI that has not yet been submitted to the DTIC repository. Furthermore, legacy, labor-intensive publishing functions, such as static print journals, are being phased out in favor of dynamic digital dissemination, interactive web tools, and data-driven technical releases.

4.4 Enhanced Gap Analysis and DTIC Operational Analytics

The BCO Knowledge Assessment and Gap Analysis (CDRL A013) is being fundamentally restructured to deliver actionable intelligence and technical rigor throughout the entire lifecycle of defense projects. Rather than treating the gap analysis as a passive annual literature summary, the future BCO contractor will perform a comprehensive initial gap analysis at the kickoff of each IACMAC project, conduct annual assessments during execution, and deliver a comprehensive final synthesis no later than 60 days prior to project completion.

This revamped Gap Analysis will require the BCO to demonstrate deep technical mastery across assigned CTAs and Technical Focus Areas (TFAs) by:

• Scanning the DTIC repository, broader DoW data environments, and open-source to synthesize the state of the art.

• Performing exploratory data analytics and trend analyses (e.g., correlating budget activity funding allocations against technical deliverable volumes to highlight underperforming, underinvested, or saturated research areas).

• Identifying planned versus missing STI, tracking unaccomplished research tasks, and outlining explicit follow-on transition or contract pathways.

• Feeding macro-level findings into DTIC’s overarching operational analytics framework—delivering descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive insights that directly inform senior DoW leadership on defense investment trends, emerging knowledge gaps, and warfighter demand signals.

4.5 Restructuring Technical Inquiries, Extended Inquiries, and Specialized Tasks

Historically, the BCO contract included mechanisms for Technical Inquiries (free / 4-hour cap), Extended Technical Inquiries (ETIs) ($50,000 / 3-month cap) and specialized Task Orders (STOs) ($1,000,000 / 12-month cap). The original intent across all three tiers was to provide a mechanism to analyze existing DoW Scientific and Technical Information (STI), synthesize cross-domain research and eliminate redundancies, leverage the Subject Matter Expert (SME) network, and answer specific engineering challenges to directly enhance the DoW research community's knowledge base.

In practice, two types of analysis exist: persistent, multi-year R&D efforts that belong under the competitively awarded Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract (IACMAC), while the BCO requires an agile mechanism to deliver quick-turn, "decision-informing analysis" that helps requiring activities evaluate problem spaces, assess technology gaps, and shape future acquisition requirements. In this new contract, the Government seeks industry input on the most effective contract mechanisms and operational structures to deliver meaningful, rapid, BCO-IACMAC collaborative decision-support analysis while ensuring distinct operational separation from large-scale R&D tasks (See RFI Questionnaire). To aid in industry’s understanding of the Government’s intent, descriptions of each type of analysis are as follows:

Decision-Informing Analysis (Basic Center of Operations – BCO):

Decision-informing analysis consists of discrete, agile, short-duration analytical assessments designed to provide rapid decision support to government technical managers, program offices, and warfighters. Its core intent is to evaluate the existing state of knowledge, perform initial feasibility reviews, explore potential courses of action, and define technical requirements, establishing the objective baseline needed for a requiring activity to determine whether to advance a project into formal competitive research and development under the IACMAC vehicle, pursue alternative acquisition pathways, or cease the effort entirely. Operationally, these efforts are characterized as single-event, rapid-turnaround analytical deep-dives that extend beyond the baseline four-hour technical inquiry into structured, short-term engagements. They are strictly bounded, non-recurring deliverables rather than continuous or multi-period staff augmentation, and all resultant findings are packaged as Scientific and Technical Information (STI) and ingested into DTIC’s Research & Engineering (R&E) Gateway to ensure broad enterprise knowledge sharing while preventing organizational conflicts of interest or unfair competitive advantages.

Persistent R&D Analysis under IACMAC:

Persistent R&D analysis encompasses comprehensive and programmatic research, development, test, evaluation (RDT&E), and advanced engineering analytical services embedded directly within defense weapon system lifecycles, advanced component prototyping, technology maturation efforts, and operational warfighter capabilities.

These efforts are characterized by multi-month or multi-year scopes executed under competitive fair-opportunity task orders across designated Critical Technology Areas and Technical Focus Areas. Unlike the rapid decision-support inquiries performed under the BCO, persistent R&D analyses involve dedicated labor mixes, extensive technical methodologies, and major contract deliverables such as formal Final Technical Reports, specialized modeling and simulation data packages that generate new, primary scientific and technical data in direct support of long-term program office requirements.

4.6 Deepened BCO and IACMAC Collaboration (Cross-Pollination)

To eliminate historical silos between the BCO prime contractor and IACMAC performers, the Government is instituting structured collaborative mechanisms. Chief among these is the establishment of recurring (Quarterly or Semiannual) IAC Cross-Pollination (X-Poll) Events hosted by DTIC. These forums will bring together Government customers, BCO leadership, IACMAC prime contractors and subcontractors, CTA Senior Officials, and CCMD representatives.

During X-Poll sessions, IACMAC performers will showcase ongoing research portfolios and technical breakthroughs, providing the BCO and CTA Cells real-time visibility into active S&T efforts. This direct interaction will enhance the BCO’s ability to track missing STI, reduce the administrative burden of ad-hoc market research inquiries, synchronize transition opportunities across CCMDs, and foster enterprise-wide technical collaboration.

Additionally, synchronized contract deliverables, such as consolidated IACMAC Monthly Status Reports (MSR) and Program Management Plans (PMP), will afford the BCO early, structured insight into emerging research deliverables before final contract closeout.

4.7 Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI):

Under the modernized BCO operational construct, the contractor will possess heightened enterprise visibility across active IACMAC defense research, participate in OUSD(R&E) Critical Technology Area roadmap formulation, conduct pre-award reuse scans on proposed RDT&E efforts, execute multi-phase gap analyses, and perform authoritative quality assurance reviews on deliverables submitted by IACMAC performers. The Government has identified potential Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) concerns across all three primary dimensions: Impaired Objectivity (evaluating or synthesizing research produced by affiliated entities), Biased Ground Rules (influencing strategic roadmaps or technical focus areas that could steer downstream IACMAC task orders), and Unequal Access to Non-Public Information (routine exposure to proprietary vendor data, pre-decisional research, and non-public planning documents). Historically, the Government addressed these risks through a strict, blanket cross-preclusion barring the BCO contractor team (prime and first-tier subcontractors) from competing on or supporting IACMAC task orders. For this modernized acquisition, the Government seeks to maximize competitive participation and access top-tier scientific and engineering talent across industry and academia while maintaining strict integrity safeguards.

Accordingly, the Government invites industry feedback on innovative, OCI mitigation frameworks that could effectively neutralize these conflicts.

5.0 Task Requirements

5.1 Collection, Ingestion, and Enterprise Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Curation

The Basic Center of Operations (BCO) supports research, acquisition, and warfighting organizations across the Department of Defense (DoW) and the broader scientific community through the comprehensive collection, evaluation, ingestion, and proactive curation of Scientific and Technical Information (STI). STI is the foundational communicable record and knowledge or information resulting from or pertaining to the conduct and management of scientific, engineering, and technological efforts. STI is represented in diverse formats and media, including digital technical reports, raw numeric datasets, computer software, multimedia briefings, engineering drawings, etc. In accordance with DFARS 235.010, DFARS 252.235-7011, and DoW Directive 3200.12, the contractor shall ensure the timely identification, acquisition, validation, and curation of pertinent material resulting from defense research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) programs.

5.2 Proactive Enterprise STI Scouting and Curation

The contractor shall transition the traditional library function from a passive document intake repository into an active, enterprise-wide technical scouting and curation operation. Utilizing organic Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and specialized technical information professionals, the contractor shall establish direct, recurring operational relationships across the military research enterprise. Targeted organizations for proactive STI curation shall include Service Laboratories (e.g., Air Force Research Laboratory [AFRL], Naval Research Laboratory [NRL], Army DEVCOM), Naval and Air Warfare Centers, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), national laboratories, and foreign military cooperative programs with which the United States maintains bilateral information exchange agreements.

The contractor shall systematically identify and harvest uncollected technical deliverables resulting from federally funded research and development efforts. Furthermore, the contractor shall monitor all active task orders performed under the Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract (IACMAC). The contractor shall perform technical and security quality assurance reviews on all IACMAC technical deliverables, final technical reports, and intermediate data products. If discrepancies, missing distribution statements, or formatting defects are identified in IACMAC deliverables, the contractor shall coordinate directly with the submitting contractor and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) to resolve the defect and ensure complete, validated STI is ingested into the DTIC repository with Government approval.

5.3 Advanced Research, Operational Analytics, and Decision Support

The contractor shall conduct scientific research, information synthesis, and data analytics utilizing DTIC repository holdings, defense data systems, and external technical literature. The contractor shall maintain dedicated Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) paired with a data analytics team to evaluate defense technology trends, conduct pre-execution reuse assessments, identify knowledge gaps, and provide analytical support to DoW leadership, program managers, and warfighters across the designated Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) and Technical Focus Areas (TFAs).

The contractor shall establish and maintain an integrated Data Analytics and SME capability to develop analytical models, data visualizations, and reporting tools using DTIC collections, defense budget exhibits, and research program datasets.

Specifically, the contractor shall: (1) produce operational and portfolio analytics to support DTIC leadership and senior DoW decision-makers; (2) analyze technical inquiry trends, user search metrics, repository holdings, and project gap analyses to identify defense research shortfalls and prioritize scientific and technical information (STI) curation; (3) provide technical and functional inputs to assist DTIC with web application development, including the Innovator’s Information Repository; (4) enhance the analytical rigor of technical reports and inquiry deliverables; and (5) provide dedicated SME support to Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) CTA portfolios.

In previous contracts, the contractor was responsible for a central operational database and management repository supporting all BCO workflows, inquiry tracking, user profiles, customer satisfaction metrics, product archives, program management reporting (Biweekly Status Reviews, Cost Tracking and Financial Reports, Performance Metrics Reports, etc.), and quality control planning. This was implemented via a real-time, role-based dashboard delivered to DTIC leadership and BCO CORs.

In this new contract, the above functions and data shall be incorporated and feed into the operational and portfolio analytics described above. Note that all electronic databases, archives, and system records maintained shall remain the exclusive property of the United States Government and shall be transitioned seamlessly upon contract completion.

5.4 Mandatory Pre-Execution Reuse Scans and Reuse Reports

To prevent redundant R&D funding and ensure new requirements leverage existing defense capabilities, the contractor executes mandatory, time-boxed reuse scans of the DTIC repository, broader DoW data environments, and open-source prior to the obligation of major RDT&E funding, the approval of new technical tasks, or the release of task order solicitations. Utilizing semantic search tools and domain expertise, the contractor shall analyze historical and ongoing DoW research to determine whether the contemplated requirement, or an adjacent solution, has been previously investigated, developed, or tested.

The contractor synthesizes the results of each scan into a concise, authoritative, one-page "Reuse Note" delivered to the requiring activity and the BCO COR. The Reuse Note shall identify relevant prior technical reports, highlight existing computer models or software code available for reuse, summarize previous empirical findings, suggest collaboration opportunities, and provide other specific recommendations to optimize the scope of work.

5.5 Full-Lifecycle Knowledge Assessment and Gap Analysis

The contractor shall conduct continuous, data-driven Knowledge Assessments and Gap Analyses across the entire lifecycle of defense research initiatives. Rather than performing a static, retrospective literature review, the contractor shall execute a structured three-phase analytical assessment:

• Initial Project Kickoff Assessment: Upon issuance of an IACMAC task order, the contractor shall conduct a comprehensive literature search across the R&E Gateway and external databases to establish a curated baseline of available STI, identifying relevant prior research, operational constraints, and historical test data to inform the incoming project team. The contractor shall also use the DTIC repository to develop analytics describing DoW investment trends and amount of STI in the related CTAs/TFAs. Lastly, the contractor shall identify planned STI based on BCO SME knowledge of appropriate development activity, planned project milestones, and planned deliverables.

• Annual Gap Analysis: The contractor shall analyze annual gap submissions provided by active IACMAC task order performers, combining these findings with S&T priorities, Combatant Command roadmaps, and DTIC holdings. The contractor shall produce a prioritized matrix of technical knowledge gaps where increased DoW research, information collection, or analytical support is lacking.

• Pre-Closeout Synthesis: Prior to the completion of each major IACMAC task order, the contractor shall update the above analyses and conduct a final gap assessment to evaluate what technical objectives were accomplished, identify unfulfilled research requirements, missing STI, and outline explicit transition pathways or follow-on strategies.

The contractor shall integrate these findings into DTIC’s overarching operational analytics framework, conducting exploratory data analyses that correlate RDT&E budget allocations against technical deliverable volumes, identifying underperforming, underinvested, or saturated research domains, and informing the annual BCO Operations and Strategic (O&S) Plan.

5.6 Modernized Technical Inquiries

Historically, the BCO contract included mechanisms for Technical Inquiries (free / 4-hour cap), Extended Technical Inquiries (ETIs) ($50,000 / 3-month cap) and specialized Task Orders (STOs) ($1,000,000 / 12-month cap). The original intent across all three tiers was to provide a mechanism to analyze existing DoW Scientific and Technical Information (STI), synthesize cross-domain research and eliminate redundancies, leverage the Subject Matter Expert (SME) network, and answer specific engineering challenges to directly enhance the DoW research community's knowledge base.

In practice, two types of analysis exist: Persistent, multi-year R&D efforts belong under the competitively awarded Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract (IACMAC), while the BCO offers an agile mechanism to deliver quick-turn, "decision-informing analysis" that helps requiring activities evaluate problem spaces, assess technology gaps, and shape future acquisition requirements. The Government seeks industry input on the most effective contract mechanisms and operational structures to deliver meaningful, rapid decision-informing analysis while ensuring distinct operational separation from large-scale R&D tasks (See RFI Questionnaire).

5.7 Enterprise Knowledge Dissemination, Models Administration, and Ecosystem Collaboration

The contractor shall actively disseminate technical knowledge, foster cross-enterprise collaboration, and administer high-value defense software models, and technical databases.

5.8 IAC Cross-Pollination (X-Poll) Forums and Technical Exchange

To eliminate operational silos and cultivate an integrated defense research community, the contractor shall organize, facilitate, and participate in recurring (Quarterly or Semiannual) DTIC-sponsored IAC Cross-Pollination (X-Poll) Events. These multi-day technical forums shall convene Government acquisition managers, BCO SMEs, CTA Cells, CTO Cells, IACMAC prime and subcontractor technical personnel, OUSD(R&E) CTA Senior Officials, and Combatant Command representatives.

The contractor shall structure these events to feature technical portfolio showcases, ongoing research briefings, and operational problem-solving workshops. The contractor shall utilize X-Poll events to foster peer-to-peer technical networking, provide real-time visibility into active IACMAC task order deliverables, identify cross-cutting technology synergies, and identify emerging defense STI before final contract closeouts.

6.0 Acronyms

BCO Basic Center of Operations C4ISR Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance CAR Corrective Action Report CBRN Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear CCMD Combatant Commands CDRL Contract Data Requirements List CFR Code of Federal Regulations CIP Critical Infrastructure Protection CS Cyber Security CSIAC Cyber Security Information Analysis Center CoI Community of Interest CoP Community of Practice COR Contracting Officer's Representative CTA Critical Technology Area CUI Controlled Unclassified Information DD Department of Defense DFARS Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement DMSCO DoW Modeling and Simulation Coordination Office DoW Department of War DoWD Department of Defense Directive DSIAC Defense Systems Information Analysis Center DS Defense Systems DSS Defense Security Service DTIC Defense Technical Information Center EM Electromagnetic EMAIL Electronic Mail EO electro-optical ETI Extended Technical Inquiry FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation FFP Firm Fixed Price FFP-LOE Firm Fixed Price – Level Of Effort GFE Government Furnished Equipment GFP Government Furnished Property GFI Government Furnished Information HD Homeland Defense HDIAC Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis Center HLA High Level Architecture IAC Information Analysis Center IAW In Accordance With IDIQ Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity IED Improvised Explosive Device IS Information Sharing

ISS Information Support System IR Infrared JASPO Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office KM Knowledge Management LDC Limited Dissemination Controls IACMAC Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract M&S Modeling and Simulations MOA Memorandum of Agreement MOU Memorandum of Understanding MSR Monthly Status Report NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NIPRNet Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network NISPOM National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual OCR Optical Character Recognition OPSEC Operations Security O&S Operations and Strategic Plan OSW Office of the Secretary of War PAO Public Affairs Officer PAB Post-Award Brief PMA Program Management Analyst PMO Program Management Office PR Progress Review PWS Performance Work Statement QCP Quality Control Plan R&D Research & Development R&E Research and Engineering RA Requiring Activity or Requesting Activity RDT&E Research Development Test and Evaluation RMQSI Reliability, Maintainability, Quality, Supportability, and Interoperability S&T Scientific and Technical SF Standard Form SIPRNet Secret Internet Protocol Router Network SME Subject Matter Expert SOAR State-of-the-Art Report SOP Standard Operating Procedure SOO Statement of Objectives STI Scientific and Technical Information STO Specialized Task Order (or TO) STIP Scientific and Technical Information Program TFA Technical Focus Areas TI Technical Inquire TO Task Order U.S. United States U.S.C. United States Code USW (R&E) Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering UV Ultraviolet WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction WPAFB Wright-Patterson Air Force Base X-Poll Cross-Pollination Events