AOI 023 ICC Capability Innovation Integration.pdf

AREAS OF INTEREST (AOI): CAPABILITY INNOVATION AND INTEGRATION

1) General Information

a) AoI Background

i) The Integrated Capabilities Command (ICC), a newly established U.S. Air Force Institutional Command, drives modernization for the force by identify necessary systems, capabilities, and potential risk of assigned missions, develop integrated capabilities and operational concepts, and future-force models informed by investment strategies. The ICC’s mission spans all Air Force core functions (Air Superiority, Global Strike, Global Mobility, Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance, Command & Control) and prioritizes cross-domain innovation through:

(1) Advanced Force Structures: Designing adaptable frameworks with risk-informed trade-offs to guide funding decisions

(2) Next-Generation Requirements: Generating threat-responsive solutions aligned with multi-mission integration.

(3) Unified Innovation Signals: Streamlining demand for technology, experimentation, and industry collaboration

(4) Wargaming & Systems Integration: Prioritizing mission-driven outcomes over siloed solutions via competitive concept testing.

2) Opportunity for Industry Partners; The ICC seeks innovative, results-driven companies to accelerate the integration of modernized technologies, processes, and data strategies.

Selected partners will collaborate on a 12-24 month timeline to deliver scalable solutions for modernization, integration and programming challenges, ensuring rapid solution design, risk reduction, and measurable impact.

3) Key Objectives for Contractors:

a) Develop a repeatable innovation process to achieve Air Force and ICC strategic goals, including:

i) End-state roadmaps for capability integration.

ii) Governance frameworks for synchronized innovation.

iii) Prototyping, testing, and risk-mitigation strategies.

4) Field solutions to proposed problems introduced by the customer within the timeline outlined by the customer.

5) Project Requirements & Constraints

a) Focus Area: Air Force modernization activities to outpace the threat.

i) Requirements:

(1) Problem Analysis & Value Proposition:

(a) Diagnose complex challenges hindering strategic objectives.

(b) Define clear value metrics prior to execution.

6) End-State Vision & Governance:

a) Align innovations with mission outcomes.

b) Enable parallel development of complementary solutions.

7) Implementation Pathway:

a) Seamlessly integrate solutions into Air Force workflows.

8) Rapid Solution and Process Prototyping & ROI Validation:

a) Execute iterative cycles to reduce risk, have bias for action/speed and demonstrate value.

9) Measurable Operational Impact:

a) Establish KPIs for sustained success.

10) Collaborative Engagement:

i) Foster open innovation with non-traditional partners (industry, academia). Support

Provided:

(a) Access to Air Force SMEs and challenge-specific data.

(b) Pathway to long-term contracts for successful solutions/pathfinders.

11) The selected company/companies will be assigned an Air Force development/design project to address operational energy logistics challenges. Their solution shall describe the proposed approach to completing this project.

a) Air Force subject matter experts (SMEs) will be available for consulting during the contract period.

b) Information will be made available to the company on the identified challenges.

c) The government strongly prefers a process that targets fielding solutions within 12-24 months of challenge recognition.

d) Government requires a solution that meets the following elements:

i) Examine and understand complex problems or obstacles to meet organizational strategic objectives; ensure a clear value proposition prior to execution,

ii) Develop a vision for the organizational end-state; and innovation management, and governance that allows for the development of multiple synchronized innovations.

iii) Design a deliberate implementation path to the identified end-state such that the implementation of the innovation is fully integrated into Air Force operational processes.

iv) Execute small, rapid prototyping cycles to evaluate critical innovation elements and initial Return on Investment/Value, and reduce full implementation risks while maturing integration requirements,

v) Set the conditions for full implementation in a way that has measurable operational return, and.

vi) Engage non-traditional contractors in a focused manner that facilitates communication among Government, Industry and Academia in a way that is open, creative, and centered on the specific needs of the Air Force’s vision.

12) Pricing Strategy

a) The contractor will be issued a firm-fixed price award.

13) Other

a) Using the repeatable process, solution prototypes or experimentation campaigns will be developed and assessed for full implementation under the awarded contract.

i) The prototypes and experimentation campaigns that meet the needs of the Air Force will be selected for long-term contracts.

b) Performance dates:

i) Company 1: 15 March 2025 – 14 Month 2030

(1) NOTE: Projected dates are dependent on the actual contract award date.

c) Location: Performance within the National Capital Region, ICC Operating Locations throughout the United States, while development will be performed at the company’s office location.

d) Lodging and transportation: The Company will be responsible for all travel and lodging costs.

e) Security requirements: All projects, data, and discussions will be at the classified level, with the potential to Top Secret/Special Access but this classification should not impede initial work or collaborations as to the processes and integration of the ICC. Ensure all contractors working within the AoI are eligible and compliant with National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI).

f) Platform environment and software applications must be compatible to operate within the FEDRAMP Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 199, moderate impact level security requirements.

14) Submission Requirements A written solution must be sent via e-mail submission no later than 11:59 PM (EST), 30 September, 2025, with subject line stating AOI 023 - Capability Innovation and Integration to PK CSO Team via email at margaret.santos@us.af.mil and timothy.prymak@us.af.mil. Copy the 87 CONS CSO Team at 87CONS.CSO.Team@us.af.mil. Immediate responses are requested and will be reviewed and considered upon receipt. Solutions received after the specified due date and time will be discarded and not be evaluated by the Government.

AOI Open Period – This AoI shall close at 11:59 P.M. (EST), 30 September 2025.

AOI Points of Contact:

AoI questions can be sent via email to:

Contracting Officer: MARGARET SANTOS, margaret.santos@us.af.mil

Contracting Specialist: TIMOTHY PRYMAK, timothy.prymak@us.af.mil

The Air Force intends to award FAR Part 12 contracts as a result of this CSO, but reserves the right to award agreements (e.g. Other Transaction Agreements), if deemed in its best interest.

Companies are advised that any Prototype Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) awarded in response to this Area of Interest may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures. The follow-on production contract or transaction will be available for use by one or more organizations in the Department of Defense and, as a result, the magnitude of the follow-on production contract or agreement could be significantly larger than that of the prototype OTA. As such, any Prototype Other Transaction Agreement will include the following statement relative to the potential for follow-on production: "In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2371b(f), and upon a determination that the prototype project for this transaction has been successfully completed, this competitively awarded prototype OTA may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures mailto:margaret.santos@us.af.mil mailto:timothy.prymak@us.af.mil mailto:87CONS.CSO.Team@us.af.mil