Silent Warrior Industry Day Collaborative Event Coordination and Strategic Partnership RFI.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

Description: Silent Warrior Industry Day: Collaborative Event Coordination and

Strategic Partnership

Solicitation Number: Pending

Agency: U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA)

Location: Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). This RFI is for Market Research purposes only and shall not be considered as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for information, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the

Government to form a binding contract. No contract awards will be made from this notice and no solicitation is available at this time. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise because of submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information.

Event Overview and Partnership Opportunity

The United States Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) is seeking interested organizations/associations to engage in a one year strategic co-sponsorship agreement, with an option to renew for the next three years to plan, coordinate, and execute the annual Silent Warrior military-to-military event's Industry Day in calendar year 2025. Silent Warrior 2025 is scheduled for 08 to 12 December 2025 in

Nairobi, Kenya with 10 December 2025 planned as the Industry Day.

About Silent Warrior

Silent Warrior is the continent's leading strategic engagement for senior commanders of

Special Operations Forces (SOF) in Africa, providing a unique platform to set conditions for a durable peace on the continent. Hosted by SOCAFRICA in partnership with host nations like the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) for SW25, this premier event fosters cooperation and coordination among African Special Forces, enhances regional security, and promotes a unified response to emerging threats by empowering partners to defend themselves. It serves as a critical forum for senior military leaders from allied nations and key civilian stakeholders to discuss shared concerns at the strategic and operational levels regarding the full spectrum of SOF operations in Africa. The goal is to develop a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities, identify tangible actions to enhance integrated deterrence, cultivate knowledge exchange to understand

SOF capabilities and requirements, and maintain an ongoing professional development platform. SW24, for example, brought together 219 participants from 40 countries, including 28 African nations, facilitating over 100 mil-to-mil interactions.

Silent Warrior Industry Day Concept

The Silent Warrior Industry Day concept targets security companies that are interested in presenting their capabilities, technologies, and solutions to African partners and attending US allies from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Each year, a new theme and specific topics will be developed for the Industry Day, which will serve as the basis for industry to base their presentations and exhibits on. These themes and topics will typically be presented approximately one year prior to the event taking place. For Silent

Warrior 2025, the theme is "Evolving Threats in Africa - SOF and the Future of African

Security " with a plenary session and related interactive exhibits to follow during the week of the event. The Industry Day will be held on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, and will include "Industry Day Welcome Remarks," a "Plenary 5" session on technology and innovation, an "Industry Hosted Lunch," and a "Visit Industry vendors / booths" session, culminating in an "Industry Hosted Social / Dinner." The objective is to highlight

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) approved vendors and relevant commercial solutions for African invitees. Focus areas for industry solutions include

Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), Tactical UAS, Counter-Improvised

Explosive Devices (C-IED), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Disinformation, Ops Intel Fusion, Information

Operations/Message Development, Digital Media Dissemination and Maritime Domain

Awareness.

Industry Partner Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the selected organization/association will include, but are not limited to: managing relationships with interested vendors, crafting an Industry Day agenda that incorporates exhibits and networking social events, developing and maintaining a website to promote the event to relevant industry, provide resources for participants to establish contact, and foster sustained growth in vendor participation. Additionally, the partner will designate a dedicated planner to collaborate closely with both SOCAF and host nation planning staff throughout the event's development. Proposed concepts for

Silent Warrior 2025 should offer a refreshed perspective on maximizing available spaces in proposed locations and include any suggested changes to format or concepts that strengthen SOCAFRICA’s relationships with Industry and partner nations. It is envisioned that the selected organization/association would also provide for digital broadcast/web streaming for select 2025 Silent Warrior Industry Day events, including keynote presentations and industry capability briefings.

SOCAFRICA's Interest and Intent

SOCAFRICA is interested in innovative and unique ideas on how to make Silent Warrior

Industry Day 2025 events successful. SOCAFRICA requests information information from qualified sources to evaluate interested organizations/associations' capabilities for a SOCAFRICA Silent Warrior 2025 Strategic Partnership. Responses to this RFI will be used by SOCAFRICA in developing Silent Warrior's agenda, content, and the parameters for any resultant Memorandum of Agreement for meeting this need going forward.

White Paper Requirements

The Command seeks white papers illustrating how interested organizations/associations plan to execute a 2025 Silent Warrior Industry Day.

SOCAFRICA is also interested in industry ideas regarding the most effective methods for Government-industry partnership and partner selection. Historically, the Government has found co-sponsorship agreements with recognized scientific, technical, educational, or professional organizations to be most beneficial. In your white paper, explain why your proposed approach is more beneficial to the Government or how it would effectively utilize this previous approach.

SOCAFRICA is requesting that interested organizations/associations submit a 5-page

(maximum of 20 pages) white paper demonstrating their ability to accomplish Silent

Warrior Industry Day 2025. Each submission should address the following key areas:

1. Executive summary;

2. Interested organization/association name and address;

3. Point of contact with email address and phone number(s);

4. Experience conducting conferences within and outside Department of Defense, in particular any relevant experience conducting conferences similar to military-to-military events or security industry showcases;

5. Description of proposed Silent Warrior Industry Day execution methodology;

6. Estimated schedule with recommended dates and critical milestones for each annual event;

7. Identification of multiple panels to discuss current security issues/challenges relevant to African partners and US allies – white paper responses should provide recommendations and potential solutions with current and former military leaders, as well as appropriate leaders/topical speakers from industry and academia;

8. A plenary session designed to facilitate discussions and collaboration on security issues and challenges facing African partner nations and international SOF today and in the future;

9. An industry component designed to expose African partners and US allies to the latest security technology innovations and solutions;

10. A formal social function funded by industry;

11. A keynote speaker for the social function;

12. Proposed topical areas for Silent Warrior Industry Day events, specifically focusing on security and defense;

13. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the event using technology to reach target audiences in countries unable to attend in person;

14. Recommendations for changes to streamline and enhance Silent Warrior

Industry Day and/or its events;

15. Recommendations for proposed Memorandum of Agreement with the

Government, and identify who is responsible for what, associated assumptions, constraints, and terms and conditions;

16. Recommendations for future Silent Warrior event locations, considering factors such as host nation capabilities, regional security dynamics, and logistical feasibility.

Opportunities for Industry to Enhance Event Effectiveness and Engagement

Information should detail how the prospective partner will leverage the Industry Day to maximize industry visibility, enhance the attendee experience, strengthen brand recognition, and drive engagement leading to calls for action for services or products.

Specific areas for consideration include:

• Future Event Locations: Propose future event locations that optimize industry visibility and engagement, considering host nation capabilities, regional security dynamics, logistical feasibility, and market access.

• Lodging Optimization: Detail strategies for optimizing lodging arrangements to facilitate industry-attendee networking and collaboration, enhancing the overall experience.

• Partnership and Resource Sharing Models: Outline proposed models for partnership and resource sharing that clearly define support required from

SOCAFRICA, minimizing direct costs while maximizing value for industry partners.

• Comprehensive Cost Estimates: Provide comprehensive cost estimates that demonstrate the value proposition for industry investment, outlining anticipated returns in terms of brand recognition, networking, and potential service/product adoption.

• Robust Marketing and Communication Plan: Develop a robust marketing and communication plan that effectively promotes industry participation, highlights their contributions, and drives engagement with the target audience before, during, and after the event.

• Streamlined Registration Processes: Propose streamlined registration processes that enhance attendee experience and provide opportunities for industry data collection (with consent) and targeted outreach.

• Attendance and Exhibitor Projections: Include projections for attendance and exhibitor numbers, along with strategies to attract key decision-makers and ensure a high-quality audience for industry engagement.

• Engaging Social Events: Suggest creative social event concepts that offer unique branding opportunities for industry sponsors and enhance the overall attendee experience, fostering informal networking and collaboration.

• Advanced Audiovisual Plans: Detail advanced audiovisual plans that support dynamic industry presentations, interactive displays, and high-impact product demonstrations.

• Promotional Video Production: Present a plan for capturing key industry events in a summary video to be used for promotional purposes for future events, extending brand visibility and providing digital engagement opportunities.

• Innovative Badging Solutions: Propose innovative badging solutions that improve event flow, facilitate networking, and offer subtle branding opportunities for industry partners.

• Medical Technology and Services Showcase: Detail opportunities for medical technology and services companies to present and demonstrate capabilities that enhance treatment and healthcare outcomes for partner nations, adhering to ethical guidelines.

• Strategies for Government Collaboration Booths: Detail strategies for

Government collaboration booths that encourage direct interaction between industry and government stakeholders, fostering dialogue and identifying areas for future partnership.

• Local Business Integration Plan: Provide a detailed plan for integrating local businesses into the event, enabling them to present, participate, and showcase their services and products. This plan should include collaboration with the local defense partner to highlight eligible vendors, in accordance with U.S. regulations, ensuring their services are effectively presented to the event's audience.

• Robust Contingency Plans: Present robust contingency plans that demonstrate adaptability to external influences (e.g., health crises, travel restrictions), including scalable in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats that ensure continuous industry engagement and service delivery.

• Detailed Plan of Action and Milestones: Include a detailed Plan of Action and

Milestones leading up to the December 2025 event (assuming a September 2025 agreement date). This plan should be applicable to future events, clearly stating the time required for all major events and coordination to occur, using SW25 as the first event to be executed, and highlighting key opportunities for industry involvement and collaboration at each stage.

General Submission Requirements

All proposed submissions to this RFI shall include clear, factual documentation demonstrating the organization’s/association’s ability to participate in Silent Warrior

Industry Day 2025+. Interested parties should demonstrate a clear understanding of conference/event planning to include scope and magnitude for an international security-focused event. White papers shall not include any proprietary markings or competition sensitive information. The Government does intend to utilize information submitted in response to this RFI to inform Silent Warrior planning and execution.

White papers should be no longer than 20 pages but preferably 5 pages, 12 font, Arial, and indicate past performance references (name of conference, number of attendees, number of exhibitors, dates and a point of contact with phone number and e-mail address) of at least 2 conferences that your organization/association hosted in the last

10 years with the similar size, scope, and complexity of an international security industry day.

Following a review of submitted white papers, interested organizations/associations may be invited to provide an oral presentation outlining their concept to support Silent

Warrior Industry Day 2025+. A slide presentation (not to exceed 20 slides) for this oral presentation, along with a recording of the presentation, must be submitted concurrently with the white paper.

Inquiries and Submission

All inquiries and responses concerning this action shall be sent in writing via email to the Contracting Officer (SSG Jermaine T. Sharples) at jermaine.t.sharples.mil@socom.mil and the Contracting Officer Representative (LTC

Cesar N. Feliciano) at cesar.n.feliciano.mil@socom.mil with the subject “SOCAFRICA-

Silent Warrior-2025.” Submit white papers to their email addresses, same subject, not later than 1600 CET on 01 September 2025.

Contact Information

Contracting Officer:

SSG Jermaine T. Sharples

SOCAFRICA J42

Kelley Barracks Stuttgart, Germany

Commercial: +49-711-7077-9471

NIPR : 324-379-9471

NIPR: jermaine.t.sharples.mil@socom.mil

Contracting Officer Representative:

LTC Cesar N. Feliciano

SOCAFRICA J5-International Cooperation & Engagements

Kelley Barracks Stuttgart, Germany

Commercial: +49-711-7077-9553

NIPR : (324) 379-9453

NIPR: cesar.n.feliciano.mil@socom.mil