SDA_CSO_AOI-2025_01 _Q and A Updated_1-16-26.pdf

SDA CSO_AOI-2025_01_Questions & Answers_ Updated: 1/13/2026 Question Number Question Answer

AOI – 2025_01_Q01

How can potential offerors get access to TAB 1. Military Space Operations Terms of Reference.pdf?

Per SDA CSO para 4.1.6, All formal communication between the Government and Offerors will occur via www.sam.gov and the listed points of contact in Section 6. Please register at www.sam.gov and request access to any restricted documents.

AOI – 2025_01_Q02 Is this a brand-new contract? If it is not brand new, could you please provide the previous contract number?

SDA CSO is a brand-new acquisition effort. AOI-2025_01 was previously performed under contract number FA2544-20-C-0001, and therefore, it is being competed as 100% small business set-aside.

AOI – 2025_01_Q03

Who is the appropriate Contracting Officer and contact information for AOI- 2025_001?

The Government apologizes for the omitted contact information. AOI CO is Rosalind Davis at rosalind.davis.3@spaceforce.mil. Due to the holiday break, the CSO mailbox was not established. It has been established now. Please contact us with any questions.

AOI – 2025_01_Q04 Will there be an opportunity for large businesses to compete for future AOIs under the SDA CSO? Yes. Although AOI-2025_01 is restricted to small businesses, the CSO framework is designed to accommodate a wide range of acquisition needs, and future AOIs may include opportunities for full and open competition or other set-aside statuses that would allow large businesses to participate.

AOI – 2025_01_Q05 Should Phase I submissions emphasize R&D and experimental phototyping activities (e.g., workflow experimentation, evaluation, and operational insight generation), or is the Government seeking deployment-oriented software demonstrations within a specific operational or development environment at this stage?

For this AOI, Phase I submissions should emphasize R&D and experimental prototyping activities.

To provide a more precise scope, the Government is seeking solutions that fall within the approximate Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range of 2 through 6. Deployment-oriented software demonstrations are not the primary focus at this stage.

AOI – 2025_01_Q06 Regarding Phase I White Papers and Briefings, the first paragraph under the Technical Focus Areas heading states, “Offerors may propose solutions aligned with one or more of the following TFAs.” Does the statement indicate each offeror may submit more than one white paper/briefing? Does it indicate that a single white paper and briefing may address multiple TFAs? Or are both acceptable?

Both approaches are acceptable. To clarify:

a. An offeror may submit multiple, distinct white papers. Each paper should focus on a unique solution.

A separate white paper is required for each proposed solution.

b. A single white paper may address how one solution is applicable to multiple Technical Focus Areas (TFAs).

AOI – 2025_01_Q07 If more than one white paper/briefing is allowed per offeror, how should we differentiate our submissions in the file names?

Please differentiate your submissions by numbering your responses in order of importance. The naming convention should be IAW CSO paragraph 6.1.4. with the solution tile included as such:

Phase I: [AOI#]Phase[#][Document Type][CompanyName][YYYYMMDD] Example:

AOI2025_01_PhaseI_WhitePaper-1_ABC_Corp_Inc_20251015.pdf

AOI – 2025_01_Q08 If more than one white paper/briefing is allowed per offeror, should we send them in separate emails or in the same email?

Please adhere to the guidance provided in the above response.

AOI-2025_01_Q09 NIST/CMMC requirements must be complied with prior to the award. Please confirm that the CMMC level 2 is not required with the phase I application? Will it be required by the time of award, if the proposed effort involves CUI?

You are correct that CMMC Level 2 certification is not a universal requirement for a Phase I application.

The specific CMMC level needed will be identified during next phase of the acquisition. However, if the proposed work involves handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), it is highly likely that CMMC Level 2 will be required.

AOI-2025_01_Q10 Instructions in the RFP are not clear whether PowerPoint is intended to be a cover page and five (5) slides in addition to the quad chart included as the first content slide, or whether the quad chart is intended to be the first of the five (5) content slides. Could you please clarify if the quad chart is separate from the five (5) content slides?

The quad chart is a separate requirement. This would mean your presentation would have a cover page, the quad chart, and then five additional content slides.

AOI-2025_01_Q11 Since an Offeror may submit a solution for one TFA, does the Government anticipate multiple awardees if a single solution does not cover all TFAs?

Correct. The Government has the flexibility to make multiple awards for a single TFA.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:rosalind.davis.3@spaceforce.mil

AOI-2025_01_Q12 In Section 15, there is a footnote stating: “Funding Pool: A total of $1.5M in initial Phase III award funding is available across AOI-2025_01, AOI-2025_02, and AOI- 2025_03 combined.” Can the Government please confirm the total/annual funding ceiling for AOI 1_TFA 1?

The AOI was updated to combine the initial 3 AOIs (AOI-2025_01, AOI-2025_02, and AOI-2025_03) into one AOI with three (3) TFAs to segregate the efforts.

The Government will adjust funding levels between TFAs as needed to meet mission needs.

AOI-2025_01_Q13 What is the target funding or ceiling for AOI-2025_1? CSO stated, shared funding Pool 1 between three (3) AOIs were $1.5M- Is this still accurate?

Clarification as stated above. The AOI was updated to combine the initial 3 AOIs (AOI-2025_01, AOI- 2025_02, and AOI-2025_03) into one AOI with three (3) TFAs to segregate the efforts. And yes, the estimated value for AOI-2025_01 and/or the three (3) TFAs is a combined total of $1.5M.

AOI-2025_01_Q14 Is there a Period of Performance that you can provide for AOI-2025_01? The Period of Performance will not exceed 12 months from contract award.

AOI-2025_01_Q15 Are you expecting option-year funding and PoP estimation for the path from prototype to operational use? If that is the expectation, cost and duration profiles would be beneficial to help determine scope to support your needs.

Offerors may choose to highlight option-year plans, but these are not required.

AOI-2025_01_Q16 Due Dates are unclear across SAM.gov and the AOI document. SAM.gov shows 23 Jan, so can the gov’t confirm 23 Jan 2025, 12PM MST is the approved due date?

The Commercial Solution Opening (CSO) serves as our organization’s primary, enterprise-wide acquisition vehicle for soliciting innovative SDA solutions. It is designed as a long-term mechanism, remaining open for a five-year period. Please note that general proposals are not requested or accepted under the umbrella CSO announcement itself.

However, specific requirements and opportunities for submission are advertised through individual Areas of Interest (AOIs). Each AOI details a particular need and contains all necessary instructions for response. To ensure your submission is compliant and correctly received, please carefully review and adhere to the specific instructions provided within each individual AOI posting. Therefore, AOI-2025_01 due date is 20 January 2026 by 2:00 PM MST.

Information Only Company reached out to aid with CMMC Level 2 compliance and is offering their services to assist any offeror needing this type of assistance.

The Government is not endorsing this company but making available its information. Please research and make contact at your own discretion. Point of contact is Michael Rosales. Website for becoming CMMC compliant https://www.techellence.com/cmmcquestionnaire.

https://www.techellence.com/cmmcquestionnaire