RFI_Sentinel NSCCA_Draft_FPGA.pdf

Request for Information (RFI) For

Sentinel Nuclear Surety Cross Check Analysis (NSCCA)

14 April 2026

UNCLASSIFIED

Request For Information, 14 April 2026

UNCLASSIFIED

Section 1: Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather market research information for understanding the Government’s options regarding Nuclear Surety Cross Check Analysis (NSCCA)/ Nuclear Safety Analysis and Technical Evaluation (NSATE)/ Independent Verification/Validation (IV&V) for the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) hardware/ software integration for the Sentinel Weapon System. NSCCA/NSATE is defined in AFMAN 91-119/ AFMAN 91-118; test, simulations, and other evaluation techniques must be used to prove the safety and surety of the weapon system. The Government is evaluating Independent Verification/Validation options for Nuclear Surety for FPGA hardware/software integration for the Sentinel Weapon System.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY

This RFI is issued solely for information/planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. Further, the Government is not seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised the Government will not pay for any information or costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

Section 2: RFI Questions

1. Demonstrate your ability to test, simulate, and evaluate FPGA's in accordance with

AFMAN 91-119/AFMAN 91-118. Define the tools, modeling capabilities, and simulations environments you use to assess potential failure modes, unauthorized access pathways, and inadvertent launch scenarios. Responses should speak to the process for tracing and verifying surety requirements from top-level system specifications to component-level and software-level implementation.

2. Demonstrate your capability to provide a comprehensive security infrastructure for performing analysis for Special Access Programs (SAP). Your response must detail your methodology for complying with DoDM 5205.07 (SAP Security Manual) and DoDI 8510.01 (Risk Management Framework). This must include the qualifications and number of personnel holding active Top Secret clearances with nuclear enterprise experience, the accreditation status of your facilities for processing Top Secret/Restricted Data, and your documented processes for managing CUI, NATO, and CNWDI material.

3. Describe in detail the steps you would take to perform a Nuclear Surety Cross Check Analysis on a system undergoing modernization with new components or hardware.

Responses should speak to the technical approach to verifying the modified system remains compliant with AFMAN 91-119/AFMAN 91-118. This response must include analyzing emergent vulnerabilities introduced at the hardware, software, and network interface levels and assessing electromagnetic interference and other environmental factors to prevent impacts on safety-critical components.

Request For Information, 14 April 2026

4. Describe your program management approach for interfacing with government stakeholders and delivering a high-level schedule approach.

Section 3: Responses

RFI responses are due no later than 15 May 2026, 1700 MDT. Responses are limited to 10 pages, single spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font. Please provide answers to questions 1.

and/or 2. as applicable, then 3. and 4. Please submit all responses by email to Cameron Hutzley, cameron.hutzley@us.af.mil.

Your response shall be unclassified.

All respondents please provide the following information:

Company name:

Address:

CAGE Code:

Point of Contact:

Phone Number:

Fax Numbers:

Email Address:

For NAICS codes 541330 - Engineering Services _____Other than Small Business (large business, educational institution, non-profit, etc.)

_____Small Business _____8(a) _____Woman-Owned/Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned _____Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) _____Veteran-Owned _____Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned)

Permission to Release Responses must also include a statement that the responder will allow the Government to release its RFI responses and/or any associated proprietary data to the below-listed Government support contractor personnel:

BAE Systems The MITRE Corporation The Aerospace Corporation Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Applied Physics Lab Utah State University (USU) Space Dynamics Lab Carnegie Mellon University mailto:kenneth.tilby@us.af.mil

Request For Information, 14 April 2026

UNCLASSIFIED

The responding company may require each such covered Government support contractor to enter into a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) directly with the contractor (or the party asserting restrictions) regarding the covered Government support contractor’s use of such data, or alternatively, that the contractor (or party asserting restrictions) may waive in writing the requirement for an NDA. If the interested contractor objects to release of its RFI responses or any proprietary data, please indicate so in writing.

Questions Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted via e-mail to the following contracting officer: Cameron Hutzley, cameron.hutzley@us.af.mil.

Section 4: Summary

This announcement constitutes an RFI issued pursuant to FAR 52.215-3 – Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes. No solicitation exists; therefore, please do not request a copy of the solicitation. This RFI is only to support market research for Nuclear Surety Cross Check Analysis (NSCCA)/ Nuclear Safety Analysis and Technical Evaluation (NSATE)/ Independent Verification/Validation (IV&V) for the Field Programmable Gate Array hardware/software integration for the Sentinel Weapon System. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The United States Air Force has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed herein, and the release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.