P07 RPP HQ0034259JDEC Consortium Management Amd1 Q-A.pdf

HQ0034259JDEC

Amendment 1

HQ0034259JDEC Q&A

GENERAL QUESTIONS

GQ1. Please confirm this is an announcement to select a consortium management firm and not a request for technology projects.

GA1. This solicitation is for a consortium manager / Consortium Management Organization (CMO) for the Joint Directed Energy consortium.

GQ2: Please confirm whether management tasks such as invoicing, financial reporting, etc. that do not require elevated security levels can be accomplished at the unclassified level and in an unclassified facility.

GA2: Any work that does not contain classified information or controlled unclassified information (CUI) may be accomplished at the unclassified level and can take place in an unclassified facility.

GQ3: Are there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project?

GA3: This is a new project.

GQ4: Are there plans to hold a Q&A session or industry day to provide additional clarity.

GA4: WHS will accept additional questions until 16:00 ET Friday, September 5, 2025. Email questions to the contracting points of contact listed on page 1 of the Request for Prototype Proposal (RPP). Responses to questions submitted by the above deadline may be posted in a future amendment. There will not be a live Q&A session or industry day for this RPP.

GQ5: The RPP does not clearly specify the submission location or submission method for proposals. Please confirm submission via secure email is acceptable due to the proprietary nature of the response.

GA5: Proposal submissions shall be emailed to the Contracting Points of Contact provided on page 1 of the RPP.

GQ6: For the OTA award, has the decision been made on the type of award, i.e. FFP, T&M, Cost Reimbursable, for the Management aspect of the consortium?

GA6: Organizations are requested to submit a CMO proposed cost or price model. Reference the RPP Amendment 1 Section IV, Solution Instructions - b, Proposal Structure - 6, Attachment 4: Consortium Cost Model.

REQUIREMENT QUESTIONS

Clearance

RQ1: In reference to Section II. Problem Statement, Special Considerations on page 6 of 10, the Government states that “Existing level-6 TS/SCI personnel clearances will be required to work on-site in a classified facility;

companies that do not already possess a suitable clearance can make use of a pre-existing integration partner.”

Please confirm whether this requirement refers specifically to those instances where the work dictates TS/SCI personnel clearances?

RA1: See RPP Amendment 1 Section II, Problem Statement - Special Considerations.

RQ2: The RPP states: “All work must be completed by U.S.-based resources within classified facilities (DC, VA, HI, etc.).” Our interpretation of this requirement is that all classified project work must be conducted within classified facilities. Please confirm this requirement is in relation to project work.

RA2: See RPP Amendment 1 Section II, Problem Statement - Special Considerations.

Facility

RQ3: Please confirm that reference to “work on-site in a classified facility” applies to performer’s facilities when projects require elevated security levels, and not necessarily the consortium management organization?

RA3: The proposal will need to provide the organization’s plan to meet the security requirements in the PEP 3.0 Solution, and the Special Considerations in Section II of the RPP. See RPP Amendment 1 Section II, Problem Statement - Special Considerations.

RQ4: In reference to Section II. Problem Statement, Special Considerations on page 6 of 10, the Government states that “All work must be completed by U.S.-based resources within classified facilities (DC, VA, HI, etc.)

Please confirm that this requirement does not dictate that 100% of the work must be completed in a classified facility but only is referring to work that is classified in nature.

RA4: See RPP Amendment 1 Section II, Problem Statement - Special Considerations.

RQ5: Does the organization need to provide facilities for classified meetings / conferences or are those facilities provided by the Government?

RA5: Organizations do not need to provide facilities for classified meetings or conferences but are required to interface and coordinate directly with Government personnel and security representatives to utilize Government facilities and spaces for classified meetings/conferences.

RQ6: Can you confirm the specific requirements for the Top-Secret facility clearance at the time of award? In regard to requirement is the expectation for the CMO to be possessing at that level?

RA6: See RPP Amendment 1 Section II, Problem Statement - Special Considerations.

RQ7: For non-classified project opportunities is the preference for them to be publicly accessible, or will there be security restrictions required to view them? Additionally, will there even be non-classified opportunities?

RA7: There will be Distribution A (Public Release) opportunities, but the majority of meeting/conference material will be at the Distro C CUI, or classified Secret levels. Distro C will also be the standard default.

Estimates

RQ8: How many project opportunities are expected to be generated annually through the consortium?

RA8: It is estimated between 15-30 per year; however, there may be fewer or more than this estimate.

RQ9: What is the anticipated frequency and scope of Joint-international participation in technology demonstrations?

RA9: It is estimated between 1 to 3 major test events per year, as well as routing test data exchange. However, the estimate is subject to change.

RQ10: What is the anticipated volume and frequency of research and prototype project agreements to be awarded annually by the CMO?

RA10: See RA8.

RQ11: Can you clarify the assumptions behind the $450 million total cost estimate for consortium management and project agreements over five years? Is this a set ceiling or just for proposal purposes only?

RA11: The $450 Million is not a ceiling and is an estimate.

RQ12 For the $450M in funding over the 5-year base period, is there an intended/planned funding profile for each year that we should use a basis for our planning?

RA12: See responses to RA8, RA9, and RA11.

Location

RQ13: Please confirm that the locations provided of DC, VA, HI are suggested locations versus required locations.

Further, is the consortium managing organization required to have TS facilities in DC, VA, and HI?

RA13: See RPP Amendment 1 Section II, Problem Statement - Special Considerations.

RQ14: Are there specific classified facilities (e.g., in DC, VA, HI) that the CMO is expected to use, or can the CMO propose alternative locations?

RA14: See RPP Amendment 1 Section II, Problem Statement - Special Considerations.

General Requirement Questions

RQ15: What are the expectations for the CMO’s role in fostering international collaboration, particularly with allied partners like Great Britain and Australia?

RA15: As an element of the JDETO Consolidated Meeting Model, International partners are planned to attend, participate, and present material at all levels. The CMO is responsible for facilitating.

RQ16: What are the specific responsibilities of the CMO in managing the quarterly program book reviews, and how will these reviews integrate with JDETO’s strategic planning?

RA16: CMO will have the responsibility of managing attendance to the reviews and require technical and programmatic knowledge and awareness. Additionally, the program books and reviews serve as a Fiscal Year (FY) planning and execution tool, is a living document for the FY Appropriation, which contains strategic roadmaps and priorities for the JDETO focus areas.

RQ17: What is the expectation for vetting project requirements through the quarterly program book reviews, and how will the CMO be involved?

RA17: See RA 16.

RQ18: Can you clarify the CMO’s role in coordinating the annual DE Technology Conference, DE Systems Summit, and DE Annual Review, including logistical and content responsibilities?

RA18: CMO’s role is to be the meeting/conference planner, organizer, and facilitator. While the CMO may have input as to the content, the responsibility of technical content will ultimately be the Government’s.

RQ19: The RFP states: “The CMO shall take ownership of the due-diligence process set up by the DE-CoE Program within the JDETO to assess the risk associated with awarding research projects to university Consortium Members.” Can the Government please clarify the scope of this requirement and expectations of what due diligence the CMO is to perform?

RA19: The JDETO provides research project funding to U.S. based colleges and universities under the Center of Excellence program area. Although these projects consist primarily of fundamental research and do not require access to classified material, the JDETO, IAW National Security Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33) has developed a vetting process to assess any risk-based security issues and potential conflicts of interests & commitment of applicants.

RQ20: Are there existing templates or frameworks for the Directed Energy Weapon System (DEWS) MOSA Reference Architecture that the CMO should adopt? If so will this be provided as GFE?

RA20: DEWS MOSA reference architecture can be provided post award.

RQ21: What are the expectations for the CMO in maintaining and updating the DEWS MOSA Reference Architecture over the life of the consortium?

RA21: There is minimal activity occurring with the continued development of the reference architecture.

RQ22: Will the CMO need to coordinate with JDETO’s Public Affairs (PA) team for public promotion, or will it have autonomy?

RA22: Public Affairs, engagements, and releases are continually changing landscapes at JDETO and OUSD R&E, but the CMO can assume they will not have complete autonomy.