FA8684-20-S-C001 Call 0004.pdf

RSO Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) Call 0004

1.0 Introduction

The Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) seeks to leverage technology advances to further its mission to reduce Air Force sustainment and operational cost and/or improve mission readiness.

The RSO seeks to work with companies who can deliver innovative sustainment and operational advances to Air Force end users.

This announcement is for a Technology Focus Area (TFA)/Area of Interest (AoI) under the RSO Commercial Solutions Opening FA8684-20-S-C001. Interested parties are highly encouraged to visit the Government Point of Entry (www.beta.sam.gov) or the RSO website (www.AFRSO.com) to review the RSO CSO special posting in its entirety to obtain more information on the process for submission and evaluation of the CSO solution white papers and proposals.

This Call seeks to solicit innovative solutions that meet the objectives detailed in Section 2.0.

The term innovative is defined as any technology, process, or method, including research and development that is new as of the date of proposal submission; or any new application of an existing technology, process or method as of the proposal date.

The RSO is not obligated to extend a request for proposal or make an award as a result of this Call; all awards are subject to the availability of funds and successful negotiations. This Call is not an authorization to begin performance, and in no way obligates the Government for any costs incurred by the Offeror associated with developing a White Paper. Prior to commencement of any activities associated with performance under this Call, the Government will issue a written directive or contractual document signed by the Contracting Officer with appropriate consideration established. The RSO reserves the right to modify the requirements of this Call.

The authority to issue this Two-Step, Closed Call is derived from AFLCMC/RO Commercial Solutions Opening, FA8684-20-S-C001, dated 17-Jul-2020. The CSO authority is Section 879 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2017, Public Law 114-328, and Class Deviation 2018-O0016.

Federal Agency: Air Force Program Office: AFLCMC/RO “Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO)” Call Title: Innovative Operations for CBM+ NAICS: 518210 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services Call Type: Two-Step, Closed Call Call Number: FA8684-20-S-C001, Call 0004 Call Release Date: July 2, 2021 White Papers Due: August 2, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET http://www.beta.sam.gov/ http://www.afrso.com/

2.0 Technology Focus Area/Area of Interest: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning/Innovative Operations for CBM+ As defined in the RSO CSO, the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) TFA is described as: Successful implementation of artificial intelligence will reduce unscheduled maintenance and facilitate a digital flight-line. This will streamline maintenance operations, optimize the supply chain, and improve asset generation and fleet awareness. One facet of AI/ML is Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+). This approach to predictive maintenance supports the transformation of maintenance practices to use data in ways that enable maintainers, logisticians, equipment specialists, item managers, operators, and engineers to make proactive, knowledge based decisions.

Successfully implementing artificial intelligence within CBM+ will greatly reduce unscheduled maintenance, facilitate a digital flight line, streamline maintenance operations into efficient human-centered processes, enhance engineering effectiveness, optimize the supply chain, and improve asset generation and fleet awareness.

This call is intended to solicit innovative solutions that address the AoI objectives listed below.

Objectives:

A. Demonstrate an innovative approach to CBM+ operations that will utilize a Government furnished software platform for all data analytics. The RSO has adopted an enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform for data integration, rapid application configuration, and AI based solution implementation to support RSO CBM+ and USAF Digital Transformation. A response to this Call must indicate how the Offeror’s solution will include and expand upon the parameters of this platform. Details regarding the platform are found in Attachment One to this Call.

B. The approach must address the management of predictive maintenance implementation, execution, and sustainment processes for 20+ aircraft platforms. Includes coordination of project activities with an integrated product team with representatives from multiple government organizations located across multiple geographic locations.

C. Successful solutions will implement and maintain the following:

i. Enhanced Reliability Centered Maintenance (eRCM) by utilizing AI/ML to transform AF data into component failure/removal forecasts. Implementation includes selection of components, data ingestion, aggregation, and analysis to create failure distributions. Sustainment includes data refreshes and deployment of monthly forecasts.

ii. Sensor Based Algorithms (SBA) by utilizing AI/ML to predict component failures by leveraging onboard sensor and telemetry data to create health alerts.

Implementation includes selection of components, data ingestion, aggregation, and analysis to create analytic outputs for targeted components. Sustainment includes ingesting sensor data on ongoing basis to enable continuous monitoring of existing components.

iii. Long Range Supply Forecast to provide long term parts demand.

D. Execution of CBM+ predictive maintenance alert loop (PMAL) for deployed eRCM forecasts and SBA analytic outputs. CBM+ execution includes tracking predictive maintenance actions, supply return, depot overhaul or repair, coordination with stakeholders to seek and receive feedback from user community to improve AI/ML algorithms or make corrections to reported maintenance actions.

E. Produce and deliver CBM+ reporting metrics.

F. Provide engineering and Subject Matter Expertise that is critical to predictive maintenance execution. Functional expertise includes, but is not limited to, reliability engineering, supply chain logistics, and engineering expertise necessary to implement predictive maintenance solutions on complex aircraft components.

G. Provide systems engineering support by conducting a Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, Facilities and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) assessment and developing DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) for CBM+.

3.0 Call Timeline and General Information

Milestone Due Date Two-Step, Closed Call Published 02-JUL-2021 White Papers Due (Step-One) 02-AUG-2021 Request for Proposal (RFP) Issued or Non-Select Letter Issued 27-AUG-2021 Proposals Due (Step-Two) 15-OCT-2021 Target Selection Date/Contract Award 25-JAN-2022

*The RSO reserves the right to alter or change any of the due dates listed above.

Two-Step, Closed Call Published: RSO publishes a Two-Step, Closed Call.

White Papers Due (Step-One): White Papers addressing the Area of Interest (AoI) defined in Section 2.0 are due no later than the RSO deadline listed in the table above. All White Papers submitted must adhere to instructions listed in Section 4.0 and Section 5.0 of this Call.

Request for Proposal (RFP) Issued: Offerors who submitted White Papers by the required due date and who have been favorably evaluated will be issued a Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP will detail the requirements (e.g. required content and evaluation criteria) that prospective companies should tailor their proposal towards.

Proposals Due (Step-Two): Offerors who have received a RFP from the RSO are required to submit their proposals by the stated due date. More details and requirements that companies shall adhere to will be contained in the RFP.

Contract Award: The Government anticipates making one award, but reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Contracts for all, some, or none of the solicited effort. Details as to the negotiation and award process will be contained in the RFP.

4.0 White Paper Format Instructions

White Papers should be created using 8.5 x 11 inch portrait format pages with single spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font with 1” margins. White Papers shall not exceed the 5 pages, not including the cover page. The cover page shall be limited to and shall include the following:

Contractor Name, CAGE Code, and date.

All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to all font sizes and line spacing requirements listed herein. Pages submitted in excess of these limits will not be read or considered in the Government’s evaluation of the White Paper.

5.0 White Paper Contents

White Papers shall be valid for 180 days. All White Papers should include the following content:

• The White Paper shall address how the Offeror plans to provide an innovative approach to meet the objectives listed in Section 2.0.

• The White Paper shall address each of the listed objectives and should provide a brief description of how the Offeror will address the objectives.

• The White Paper shall include a rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) price for a proposal.

Inclusion of the ROM does not imply or guarantee an RFP will be issued to the Offeror.

• The contents will be evaluated against the factors listed in Section 6.0. Offerors should strive to make clear connections between the proposed technical content and the evaluation factors.

6.0 White Paper Evaluation

The White Paper shall be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation factors listed in the CSO.

The factors are as follows:

• Technical o The soundness and technical merit of the proposed solution to adequately address the AoI objectives in Section 2.0; and o The demonstrated feasibility of the proposed solution to address the AoI is mid-maturity. Mid-maturity is defined as a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 5 or greater and a Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of at least 5 or greater. The Government is the final decision authority as to a technology’s stated TRL and MRL.

TRL assessment of at least five (5) or higher as detailed at:

https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/703694.pdf .

MRL assessment of at least five (5) or higher as detailed at:

www.dodmrl.com

• Importance to Agency Programs/Commercial Innovation: The degree to which the proposed concept provides an innovative, unique and/or previously under-utilized capability for government application.

• Availability of Funds: Any award shall be subject to the availability of funds.

https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/703694.pdf http://www.dodmrl.com/

• Price: Price shall be considered to the extent appropriate, but at a minimum to determine the price is fair and reasonable. For the purposes of the White Paper, the ROM shall be used to inform the availability of funds.

White Papers will be evaluated on the basis of the merit of the proposed concept in addressing the AoI and not against other White Papers submitted in response to the AoI.

7.0 White Paper Submission Instructions

The White Paper shall be delivered electronically by the deadline stated in Section 3.0 of this Call to both the Contracting Specialist and the Contracting Officer listed in Section 9.0. Offerors may request the use of the DoD SAFE website to deliver the White Paper by notifying the Contracting Specialist and Contracting Officer no later than 24 hours before the deadline. If such a request is made the Contracting Specialist or Contracting Officer will provide a link for electronic delivery via DoD SAFE.

LATE WHITE PAPER SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The RSO will not be responsible for any White Papers that are late due to issues with either Offeror or Air Force email systems or the DoD SAFE. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure the Air Force receives the email with all attachment(s) at the designated email address or the DoD SAFE website (if requested) by the specific due date and time.

A confirmation email will be provided by the contracting specialist promptly upon receipt;

therefore Offeror’s are urged to submit as early as practicable in order to receive confirmation of timely submission.

NOTE: Only one White Paper submission per entity is accepted for this Call (FA8684-20-S- C001 Call 0004). An entity is identified by its Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, IAW FAR 2.01.

8.0 Projected Acquisition Particulars

As previously stated, the submission of a White Paper does not imply or guarantee that an Offeror will receive an RFP after the White Paper is evaluated. The information contained in this section is provided to allow Offerors the opportunity to make an informed business decision in determining whether to respond to this call. The Government reserves the right to change, add, remove, or modify this information in the RFP.

A. The Government anticipates making one award, but reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Contracts for all, some, or none of the solicited effort. A Pitch Day will not be used for white paper evaluation, however the Government reserves the right to utilize a Pitch Day in conjunction with the proposal submission and evaluation.

B. The resulting contract may be a FAR Part 12, Fixed-Price effort or an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA). Should an OTA for prototype be utilized in the resulting RFP for this Call, the Government reserves the right to issue the solicitation and resulting agreement in a manner that allows for a future production follow-on agreement, without competition, with an Offeror whose initial solution demonstrates a successful prototype as defined in the agreement.

C. The expected period of performance for the awarded contract is 12 months after award.

The period of performance ultimately requested in the RFP may also include an option for an additional 12 months of effort.

D. The successful Offeror shall be an American entity with all work performed in the United States.

E. Should an award(s) be made, the resulting contract will include FAR 52-204-21. For this effort, an authorized user for the purposes of FAR 52.204-21 Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems (Jun 2016) is limited to U.S. Citizens. Non- U.S. Citizens shall not be considered an authorized user for the purposes of this effort and under no circumstances will be considered authorized, without written permission from the Contracting Officer before the Non-U.S. Citizen begins work or receives any information related to this contract.

F. Use of Non-Government Advisors: Offerors are advised that technical and cost/price data submitted to the Government in response to this Call may be released to non-Government advisors for white paper review and analysis. All non-Government advisors have appropriate signed non-disclosure statements.

G. Government Furnished Equipment/Property/Information is anticipated and necessary for execution.

H. Deliverables expected under the contract may include:

• eRCM forecasts

• SBA outputs

• Long Range Supply Forecasts

• Reporting metrics

• Briefing materials and meeting minutes

• Systems engineering documentation

• Activity or summary reports

• Technical Reports or Documentation

• Training Documentation

I. The data rights for deliverables under the contract are expected to be provided in a manner that at a minimum allow for Government Purpose Rights. Refer to Section 9.8.1 of the Commercial Solutions Opening FA8684-20-S-C001 for additional data rights considerations.

9.0 Contact Information

The Point of Contact for this effort is the Contracting Specialist, Ms. Ashley Decker, or the Contracting Officer, Ms. Valerie Inman. The Offeror shall not contact any other Government personnel or offices regarding this Call.

Position: Name: Email:

Contracting Officer: Ms. Valerie Inman valerie.inman@us.af.mil

Contracting Specialist Ms. Ashley Decker ashley.decker.5@us.af.mil mailto:valerie.inman@us.af.mil mailto:ashley.decker.5@us.af.mil

ATTACHMENT ONE

The RSO has adopted an enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform for data integration, rapid application configuration, and AI based solution implementation to support RSO CBM+ and USAF Digital Transformation.

The AI platform streamlines the integration of multiple data sources from batch and streaming real time feeds into a common format enabling a unified federated data model with scalability to petabyte size datasets. The data object-centric abstraction layer that binds the various components, including infrastructure and services, enables data scientists and application engineers to rapidly and easily design, configure, deploy, and operate data driven and predictive analytics applications that are easily reusable across different environments, data sources and technologies.

Customized CBM+ AI enabled software applications provide a range of stakeholders with unique capabilities and insights, and are hosted by the USAF Cloud One Amazon Web Services (AWS) Government Cloud (GovCloud) environment. The USAF maintenance community users review and manage maintenance recommendations to proactively replace parts before failure.

CBM+ Analyst users leverage the software to follow a structured analysis workflow to generate AI enabled maintenance recommendations. USAF leadership users gain situational awareness and up to date performance metrics across the fleet and down to an individual unit levels.

Using an industry proven enterprise AI software platform, the USAF RSO has built a maintainable foundation of AI applications and capabilities that can be extended to support the future as new requirements are introduced and new advanced analytics are required. Over the next 6-12 months, RSO will implement use cases including Sensor Based Algorithms (SBA), enhanced Reliability Centered Maintenance (eRCM), Long Range Supply Forecasting (LRSF), data cleansing, aircraft availability details, scheduling optimization, and other data driven applications on the AI software platform.