Request for Information (RFI) - AI capabiltities.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FOR

48th RAF Lakenheath & 100th RAF Mildenhall, UK

FA558726R1000

1. RFI Overview

The 48th Contracting Squadron (48 CONS) at RAF Lakenheath, on behalf of the 100th Maintenance Group (100 MXG) and the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron (100 LRS) at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, is conducting market research to identify commercial vendors capable of delivering an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled maintenance decision-support and edge computing software platform.

The Government requires an enterprise-capable, commercial software platform designed to ingest and modularize complex technical data—including aircraft Technical Orders (TOs), commercial and military vehicle maintenance manuals, historical maintenance records, and real-time vehicle telematics / Controller Area Network (CANbus) data. The objective is to guide maintenance technicians through step-by-step troubleshooting, diagnostic isolation, and repair workflows on ruggedized mobile edge devices in both connected and disconnected operational environments.

48 CONS is seeking information about what commercially available or production-ready solutions currently exist across industry, and is interested in understanding the technological capabilities, commercial licensing models, deployment timelines, and cybersecurity maturity (e.g., Risk Management Framework / Authority to Operate pathways) that industry can offer.

This announcement constitutes an RFI for informational and planning purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), nor is it to be construed as a commitment by the Government. No contract will be awarded as a result. Industry’s response to the RFI—or lack thereof—will have no impact on the evaluation of responses to any subsequent RFP or Request for Quote (RFQ) released. The information requested will be used within 48 CONS as market research to facilitate decision making (e.g., determining acquisition strategy, small business concerns) and will not be disclosed outside the Government.

Proprietary information submitted shall be appropriately marked. Do not submit confidential information in your response.

**Note** 48 CONS/ will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties responding to this RFI.

1.1. RFI Contact(s)

We have designated the following individual(s) to serve as the official point(s) of contact (POCs) for this RFI. These individual(s) are the only authorized contact(s) permitted to communicate on behalf of 48 CONS about this RFI.

Contact information for RFI POC(s):

1.2. Submission Details

Please submit your response to this RFI via email to the RFI POC(s) identified in Section 1.1. and ensure it is received prior to the due date identified in Section 1.3. If you have any questions about this RFI, please direct them to the RFI POC(s) listed in Section 1.1.

Physical (paper) copies of RFI responses will not be accepted.

1.3. RFI Timeline

The RFI timeline is outlined below.

2. Background Information

In support of this mission at RAF Mildenhall, the 100th Maintenance Group (100 MXG) maintains critical aerial refueling infrastructure and tactical airlift assets, while the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Vehicle Management Flight (100 LRS/LGRV), oversees the maintenance and operational availability of specialized flightline servicing fleets, material handling equipment, and combat support vehicles.

Flightline and vehicle maintenance technicians face substantial operational friction navigating voluminous, separate Technical Order (TO) libraries, manufacturer service manuals, and fragmented digital databases. Basic keyword and manual search mechanisms often result in extended troubleshooting cycles, documentation challenges, and heightened training timelines. Rapid advancements in commercial artificial intelligence, natural language processing, deterministic retrieval mechanisms, and compact edge-compute architectures present an immediate opportunity to improve flightline safety, streamline diagnostic workflows, reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), and accelerate technician proficiency.

2.1. Scope of the Requirement

Please see attached PWS.

2.2. Place of Performance

United Kingdom

2.3. Anticipated Award Timeline

There is currently no contract in place to fulfill this requirement. We are simply looking to see if there are existing solutions in the market.

3. Information Requested

Parties interested in assisting with this market research are requested to submit the following information in the format outlined below. The response should be detailed (but no more than 8 pages). Title pages and cover letter will not count against the page limit. Respondents are highly encouraged to submit a tailored response rather than a generic capability statement to ensure the requested information is provided.

3.1. Company Information

· Company Name

· Unique Entity ID

· CAGE Code

· POCs, to include name, title, phone number, and email address

· This contract is expected to require access to classified information or require a Facility Security Clearance (FCL) at the level of, Secret. Based on this expectation, does your company currently meet the requirement(s)? If no, provide a brief statement describing how and/or when your company plans to have a clearance? A final determination of required accesses/FCLs will be detailed in any resultant solicitation.

3.2. What We’re Looking For

Interested Parties are invited to provide information on the following subjects of interest, specifically describing your capabilities in successfully executing the following:

1. AI Architecture & Edge Deployment: Describe your platform’s ability to execute complex AI inference, natural language querying, and procedural retrieval locally on edge hardware (e.g., ruggedized iOS, Android, or Windows tablets) under completely disconnected (offline) conditions. What are your system's hardware footprint and query latency benchmarks?

2. Accuracy, Verification, and Hallucination Prevention: How does your solution ensure deterministic outputs? Detail how your AI guarantees that instructions match authorized technical orders and how interactive, verifiable source citations are presented to the technician.

3. Data Ingestion Capabilities: Detail your experience in parsing, indexing, and updating technical data formats, specifically Air Force ETIMS formats (SGML, XML), standard PDFs, commercial OEM maintenance manuals, and historical maintenance databases.

4. Vehicle Telematics & Sensor Integration: Describe your experience interfacing with vehicle data buses (CANbus, J1939, OBD-II), vehicle-mounted telemetry modules, and translating fault codes into guided repair workflows.

5. Cybersecurity, RMF, and FedRAMP / DoD Cloud Authorizations: What is the current accreditation status of your software? Detail any existing DoD Authorizations to Operate (ATO), Interim Authorizations to Test (IATT), FedRAMP authorizations, or experience delivering RMF packages for DoD unclassified/CUI environments.

6. Deployment, Training, and Commercial Licensing Models: Describe your standard commercial delivery model (e.g., annual SaaS subscription per user/device, perpetual licensing, maintenance and sustainment tiers) and your approach to providing New Equipment Training (NET) for military flightline and vehicle maintenance technicians.

7. Provide the following project or contract information for requirements deemed similar to this effort:

· A brief description of the project

· Contract number

· Period of performance

· Was your company a prime or subcontractor?

· Dollar value of the project

· Scope of the portion of the effort your company supported

If your company is a large business, specify whether you partnered or subcontracted with small business concerns to provide the same or similar services as this requirement.

If your company has no direct performance or experience with the above, explain how you will perform tasks utilizing experienced subcontractors through a proposed teaming arrangement or the hiring of qualified personnel.

4. Other Important Information

Please list existing contract vehicles available for use in procuring this effort to include Federal Supply Schedules, GSA Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, DoD Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contracts (known as “IDIQs”), or any other Government Agency contract vehicles. (This information on available contract vehicles is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.) Please list any existing contracts you have which could be used to procure this effort.

Provide any other suggestions or considerations to improve this procurement. Are there software advancements, industry developments, or innovative solutions to be considered?

Please feel free to provide questions and/or comments on the draft Performance Work Statement (attached), citing any information you feel may improve/innovate this requirement.

5. Conclusion

48 CONS would like to thank you for taking the time to review this important RFI, and we look forward to reviewing your response.

Attachment:

DRAFT Performance Work Statement