3. BES CSO & Call 0001 Q & A 5 Nov 26.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 18 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Department of the Air Force Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)
- Solicitation number
- FA8771-26-S-C0001
About this file
This file is a Questions and Answers document addressing vendor inquiries regarding Call 0001 of the Department of the Air Force Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), posted October 29, 2026. Call 0001 establishes the BES Marketplace, a continuously open submission vehicle accepting white papers on a monthly basis through October 31, 2029. White papers must be submitted via email to AFLCMC.GBK._CSO@us.af.mil by 12:00 Noon Central Time on the last day of each calendar month, with no required subject line. Submissions may be in PDF or Microsoft Word format with title pages included in the same file but not counting toward the five-page limit. Vendors may address multiple Focus Areas in a single white paper or submit separate white papers for each. A rough order of magnitude price is not required for Call 0001 submissions. Vendors will receive receipt confirmation within one calendar week of submission, and those with pending CAGE code assignments may submit white papers provided the code is assigned before any award.
White papers deemed "Selectable" will be maintained in the BES Marketplace indefinitely without resubmission requirements, though vendors are encouraged to submit updates as technology or experience changes. The BES Marketplace is currently an internal-to-BES marketplace only, and Call 0001 is not resulting in immediate awards but rather establishing a vendor pool for future program office procurement actions. The CSO is open to all business types with small business participation encouraged; specific future calls or requests for proposals will identify their own set-aside requirements. Vendors whose white papers are determined "Not-Selectable" may revise and resubmit in any subsequent monthly collection period. The evaluation criteria for white papers are detailed in Call 0001, and the government cannot recommend specific Focus Areas for submission.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 4. Call 0002 eFOIA.pdf | ||
| 2. Call 0001 Marketplace 29 Oct 26.pdf | ||
| 1. CSO solicitation_29 Oct 26.pdf | ||
| 1. CSO solicitation_29 Oct 26.pdf | ||
| 2. Call 0001 Marketplace 29 Oct 26.pdf | ||
| CSO solicitation.pdf |
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Sheet1
| Question | Answer |
| Submission method: should white papers be emailed to this mailbox or submitted through a portal, and is a specific subject line required? | White Papers shall be submitted via email to AFLCMC.GBK._CSO@us.af.mil. No required subject line. This information is now included in the Call solicitation. |
| File format: is PDF acceptable, and is a title page required to be a separate file? | PDF or Microsoft Word documents will be accepted. The title page should be included in the same file, but it does not count toward the page limit. This information is now included in the Call solicitation. |
| Pricing: the CSO glossary describes white papers as including a rough order of magnitude price, but Call 0001 does not request one. Should a ROM be included? | The definition of White Paper in the CSO Solicitation has been revised. A ROM is not required for White Papers under Call 0001 but may be required in future Calls as deemed appropriate by future acquisition teams. |
| Where and how white papers should be submitted (email address, portal, or other), and the preferred file format. | White Papers shall be submitted via email to AFLCMC.GBK._CSO@us.af.mil. No required subject line. This information is now included in the Call solicitation. |
| Whether a rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) price is expected with the white paper, as the CSO glossary describes, or whether Call 0001 requires no pricing at this stage | The definition of White Paper in the CSO Solicitation has been revised. A ROM is not required for White Papers under Call 0001 but may be required in future Calls as deemed appropriate by future acquisition teams. |
| Whether supporting documents (for example, a vendor architecture reference or capability statement) may be attached in addition to the 5-page white paper, or whether the white paper must stand alone, per CSO section 3.11. | In response to Call 0001, all that will be accepted is a White Paper meeting the specifications described in the Call. |
| Whether a vendor may select more than one focus area in a single white paper, or whether separate white papers are preferred for each focus area. | A vendor may choose more than one Focus Area for a single White Paper or a vendor may choose to submit separate White Papers for each. |
| Whether submitters receive an acknowledgment of receipt. | Yes, vendors will be provided confirmation of White Paper receipt within 1 calendar week of submission. If a vendor does not receive this confirmation during the prescribed timeline, the vendor should re-submit and notify the POCs on this SAM posting. This information is now provided in the Call solicitation. |
| Retention period for Selectable White Papers. |
Call 0001 paragraph 2.3 states that White Papers deemed Selectable will be maintained in the BES Marketplace indefinitely.
Base CSO paragraph 2.5 states that solutions evaluated as technically acceptable or selectable but not chosen for an initial contract award will be retained in a vendor pool for a period not to exceed one year from the due date of the solution brief.
| Which governs for Marketplace submissions under Call 0001? Specifically, does a Selectable White Paper remain available to BES program offices beyond one year without resubmission, or should vendors plan to resubmit annually to maintain their position in the Marketplace? | Marketplace submissions under Call 0001 are governed by Call 0001. White Papers will be maintained in the BES marketplace indefinitely. |
| Month-end deadlines falling on a weekend or Federal holiday. |
| Call 0001 paragraph 1.7 sets the submission deadline at 12:00 Noon Central Time on the final day of each monthly collection period. Several upcoming month-end dates fall on a weekend, including 31 October 2026 and 31 January 2027. Does the deadline remain 12:00 Noon Central on the calendar date, or does it move to 12:00 Noon Central on the next business day? | No, the due date will remain 12:00 Noon Central Time on the final day of each monthly collection period. Email timestamps will be relied upon for deadlines. Confirmation of receipt will be provided within one calendar week of the submission. | |
| Is Call 0001 open to services-led solutions (for example, an AI-enabled data management and modernization approach delivered by our engineers on government-approved platforms), or is it mainly intended for commercial software products? | Vendors are encouraged to review the Focus Areas. If you have a solution for a Focus Area, you are encouraged to submit a White Paper. | |
| Our SAM.gov registration is active and our CAGE code assignment is pending. Can a white paper be submitted and evaluated while the CAGE code is pending, as long as it is assigned before any award? | Yes | |
| We are planning to respond to the Call Order that just was released and saw that responses are being accepted on a monthly basis, but may have missed the area where the closing date is listed. How long will this call order be open for? | Reference Call 0001 paragraph 1.6. and 1.7-- The BES Marketplace Call will be continuously open for submissions during the period of 29 October 2026 through 31 October 2029 unless otherwise amended. |
Submissions are collected monthly by calendar month (e.g. 1 June to 30 June) Submissions must be received by 12:00 Noon Central Time on the final day of each month. Submissions received after this deadline will be considered submitted in the subsequent monthly collection period.
| If a solution is deemed awardable, who can buy off the BES marketplace? Other DAF PAEs, just PAE BES? Other services? | At this time, the BES Marketplace is an internal-to-BES Marketplace only. |
| How would contracting work? If a PAE wants to buy, can they contract directly with an awardable solution provider? Or does all contracting go thru BES? | Not applicable. At this time, the BES Marketplace is an internal-to-BES Marketplace only |
| What are the compliance criteria? Is there a scoring rubric? | Please reference Call 0001 for the Evaluation Criteria against which White Papers will be evaluated. |
| If a solution has already received an awardable designation through Tradewinds, can that designation be recognized by BES, or must the vendor undergo a separate evaluation? | Vendors wishing to be a part of the BES Marketplace must submit a White Paper in accordance with Call 0001 |
| Once a solution is determined to be awardable through the BES Marketplace, how long does that status remain valid? Does it require periodic reassessment? | In accordance with Call 0001 paragraph 2.3- After evaluation, White Papers deemed Selectable will be maintained in the BES Marketplace indefinitely. However, vendors are encouraged to continue to submit new White Papers as technology or experience changes. Vendors will be responsible for managing their White Papers and notifying the Government of previous white papers should be removed from the Marketplace. |
| Does the BES Marketplace have an evaluation process similar to Tradewinds for determining whether a vendor's solution is awardable? | Please reference Call 0001 for all information on the evaluation process for the BES Marketplace. |
| Will it be aggressive to expect the award for Call 001 to be made before the holidays? | Call 001 is not resulting in awards. It will be resulting in a selectable or non-selectable white paper submission. If the white paper is determined to be selectable then it will enter the BES Marketplace |
| Will BES consider setting aside future calls under this Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) for small business, 8(a), or SDVOSB firms? | The CSO is open to all business types and small business participation is encouraged. Specific Calls or RFPs released within the Marketplace will have their own requirements descriptions and set-aside status. |
| Paragraph 2.5 says full and open competition is satisfied at the white paper evaluation. When a program office chooses a Selectable white paper, can it still use small business, 8(a), or SDVOSB procedures for that award? | Yes. |
| I am having trouble accessing the posting and all attachments say "deleted". Please advise. | The best way to review the most up-to-date posting at any time please search “BES CSO” on the SAM.gov website. Any URL to the posting changes as edits are made to the posting. Please do not rely on a URL for access to the SAM posting. |
| When a FOPR is issued under this CSO for a specific BES program, is it released only to offerors holding Selectable white papers in the Marketplace, or is it openly solicited? | FOPRs are not released under the CSO. FOPR refers to solicitations released under an IDIQ. This CSO is a solicitation that allows for open or closed calls. Each call specifies how vendors will be selected. Call 0001 - The BES Marketplace under this CSO specifies all pertinent information regarding the mechanics of the Marketplace including post-award. |
| If a white paper is assessed Not-Selectable, may it be revised and resubmitted in a later monthly collection? | White Papers are collected at the end of a calendar month and evaluated during the next calendar month. If a White Paper is deemed, Not Selectable, a vendor can absolutely re-submit at any time. |
| Can the Government recommend the proper Focus Area for my White Paper? | The Government is unable to recommend a Focus Area for your White Paper. However, please remember that a single White Paper can be submitted against multiple Focus Areas. |
| Is the November collection deadline 12:00 noon Central Time on November 30, 2026? | Yes |
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