ACP-E RFI Cover Letter Final.pdf

RFI Cover Letter for

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC)

Cyber and Networks Directorate (HN)

Theater Deployable Communications (TDC)

Agile Communications Package Enhanced (ACP-E)

8 October 2025

Contents

Background Disclaimer Scope/Need Statement RFI Questions Response Format

Background Theater Deployable Communications (TDC) provides an extension of the Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) and provides the warfighter with flexible, lightweight, modular, scalable, and integrated deployable communications to support the execution of command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and combat support missions.

This equipment provides the operational commanders and warfighters with access to the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) core services including, but not limited to, Defense Switched Network (DSN), Non-secure Internet Protocol Network (NIPRNet), and Classified Networks.

TDC equipment is packaged in kits and modules that are installed in, transported in, and operated from transit cases. Users access DISN services via the TDC network and by means of such end instruments including, but not limited to, workstations, analog phones, Voice over IP (VoIP) phones.

Disclaimer This is Market Research (MR), as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. Any information submitted by respondents to this request is strictly voluntary. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or Invitation for Bid (IFB); nor does its issuance obligate or restrict the U.S. Government from issuing an RFP, RFQ, or IFB in the future. The U.S.

Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses from this MR.

Not responding to this MR does not preclude participation in any future RFP, RFQ, or IFB, if any is issued. Were the Government to issue an RFP, RFQ, or IFB, any such solicitation may include additional requirements for procurement of the required hosting environment, system installation, training, Technical Order generation, and on-site Interim Contractor Support. Respondents need not address any of these elements in their submission.

Respondents are advised the U.S. Government will not pay for any information provided, the use of such information, the preparation of such information, travel expenses, nor any administrative costs incurred in response to this MR. All costs associated with responding to this MR will be solely at the interested parties’ expense.

Information received from this MR will be used for planning and MR purposes. As such, any response submitted to this MR constitutes consent for that submission to be reviewed by military personnel, Government civilians, embedded AFLCMC/HNI Department of Defense (DoD) contractors, and Federally Funded Research and Development Corporations (FFRDCs) or University Affiliated Research Corporations (UARC). The responses may be forwarded to other Government entities in consideration for applicability to other programs.

Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure. All DoD contractor and FFRDC personnel reviewing MR responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information. The U.S. Government shall not be liable for damages related to proprietary information that is not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable U.S. Government regulations.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback with respect to any information submitted.

Issuance of this MR does not obligate or restrict the U.S. Government to an eventual acquisition approach.

Scope/Need Statement The TDC Program Management Office (PMO) has a strong desire to build upon and continually enhance the existing ACP-E by performing a “try, decide, buy” approach leveraging a rapid-prototyping effort with commercially available products with the potential of rapidly fielding an enhanced ACP-E to the growing user community. The PMO will establish a manner to procure the existing technical baseline during the rapid prototyping portion beyond FY26 and eventually form a path to procure an enhanced version of the ACP-E at scale.

RFI Questions Respondents should focus on answering the questions listed, but other recommendations, comments, or questions are encouraged. Response should also address contents of the Statement of Objectives (SOO).

1. Are you considered a “non-traditional defense contractor”?

a. “Non-traditional defense contractor” is defined by statute as: “an entity that is not currently performing and has not performed, for at least the one-year period preceding the solicitation sources by the Department of Defense for the procurement or transaction, any contract or subcontract for the Department of Defense that is subject to the full coverage under the cost accounting standards prescribed pursuant to Section 1502 of Title 41 and the regulations implementing such section” (10 U.S. Code § 93014).

2. Are you considered a “small business”?

a. “Small business” is defined under Section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

3. If you are considered a “traditional defense contractor,” do any of the following apply?

a. Is there at least one non-traditional contractor participating to a “significant” extent?

b. Are all significant participants in the transaction other than the Federal Government small businesses (including those participants in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIRS) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program or nontraditional contractors)?

c. Would you be willing to provide a financial or in-kind cost share? (typically, a 1/3 cost share).

4. Are you considered a “Trusted Integrator,” have experience being a Trusted Integrator, or partnered with a Trusted Integrator?

a. Link to list of Trusted Integrators: https://www.nsa.gov/Resources/Commercial-Solutions-for-Classified-Program/Trusted-Integrator-List/.

5. Do you have any existing Spectrum certifications, NTIA certifications, JF 12 SPS number, or type designator? If yes, specify.

https://acqnotes.com/acqnote/tasks/small-business-innovation-research-program https://acqnotes.com/acqnote/tasks/small-business-innovation-research-program https://acqnotes.com/acqnote/tasks/small-business-technology-transfer-programtech-dev https://www.nsa.gov/Resources/Commercial-Solutions-for-Classified-Program/Trusted-Integrator-List/ https://www.nsa.gov/Resources/Commercial-Solutions-for-Classified-Program/Trusted-Integrator-List/

6. Do you have experience designing Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) systems? If yes, specify.

7. Is the solution on the NSA Approved Products List (APL)?

a. Link: https://www.nsa.gov/Resources/Commercial-Solutions-for-Classified- Program/Components-List/#components-list-index.

8. Do you have experience with Active Directory Federation implementation? If yes, specify.

9. Do you have experience with synchronizing files to multiple sites in a disconnected environment? If yes, specify.

10. Please provide a rough order of magnitude (ROM) and your reasoning for all required materials to support the scenario below:

a. 12 sites (each one would have an ACP-E)

b. Each site has 3 FACTs that could “detach” from the main site and move out to its own physical site

c. 2 site extensions per ACP-E

Response Format Provide your submission in a Microsoft Word document not to exceed 10 pages. The ROM and any supporting documentation are excluded from the page limit (ex. Spectrum certification, spec sheet, etc.). Page sizes will be 8.5” x 11.0” with 1” margins all around. Text should be single-spaced, Times New Roman with font no smaller than 12 pt.

Respondents should identify their company name, address, telephone number, and point of contact (name, phone, e-mail) on the title page. The company name should appear clearly on every page of the submittal and proprietary information must be clearly marked. To the maximum extent possible, please provide non-proprietary information. Please identify any information that might be identified as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or proprietary and ensure it is transferred through an appropriate medium. The submission must include page numbers.

Please note that your submission should address the RFI Questions to contribute directly towards MR; this is not an opportunity to provide marketing material or capability descriptions. Submit responses via email to Ms. Lynn at lynn.tran@us.af.mil as well as Capt Velia Colunga at velia.colunga.1@us.af.mil. E-mail responses should be titled in the subject line as follows:

Response to TDC MR.

Attachments:

1. Current HW_SW List

2. TDC Mesh CSfC RF.png

3. TDC Mesh Type 1 RF Extension.png

4. TDC Non-Mesh.png mailto:lynn.tran@us.af.mil