GARDEM RFI C2 RD Order Final 25MAR25.docx

1. ACTION CODE: Request for Information (RFI)

2. REFERNCE NUMBER : RFI-RIKF-B004

3. TITLE: GARDEM 2 COMMAND & CONTROL - SPACE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE & RECONNAISANCE (C2-SpISR)

4. CLASSIFICATION CODE : AC13

5. NAICS CODE: 541715

6. IS THIS A RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT ACTION? No

7. POSTING DATE: 25 MAR 2025

RESPONSE DATE: 01 APR 2025

8. POINT OF CONTACT.

Contracting:

Erica L. Ogundadegbe Contracting Officer

AFRL/RIKF

(315) 330-3945 erica.ogundadegbe@us.af.mil

Catherine Hulser Contract Specialist

AFRL/RIKF

(315) 330-2287 catherine.hulser.1@us.af.mil

Technical:

Michael Paul

AFRL/RIEBB

(315) 330-2329 Michael.Paul.22@us.af.mil

9. DESCRIPTION

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a RFP in the future. Responses to this RFI may be used for market research purposes (e.g. to determine responsibility of potential offerors) and/or a possible small business set-aside determination. Both large business (LB) and small business (SB) entities are invited to respond to this RFI. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative 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.

Submission of a response is voluntary. Respondents are advised that the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is under no obligation to provide feedback with respect to any information submitted under this RFI.

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Information Directorate, Rome NY (AFRL/RI), has a requirement is to perform research, development, engineering, prototyping, integration, testing and demonstration of technologies and concepts as well as enhancements, modifications, integration, testing, deployments and maintenance of technologies and concepts in support of Global Application Research, Development, Engineering and Maintenance 2 (GARDEM 2) Command and Control, Space and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C2-SpISR) software baselines. This effort will fulfill requirements of Research and Development (R&D), software enhancement, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities supporting the functional and technical requirements of the Air Force, Department of Defense, Intelligence Community (IC), and other federal agencies. The work may include, but is not limited to: acquire hardware and software analytical studies, system feasibility studies, system design, system trade-off studies, rapid prototyping, system demonstrations, software development, system(s) simulations, mission application enhancement, rapid implementation, sustainment, installation (hardware and software), functional test and evaluation analyses, security test and evaluation analyses, technology transition, training, training documentation, technology integration and program management, on-site engineering support, analysis of software implementation options and alternatives, and program management. In the course of performance, the contractor will interface with various DoD and Government agencies through visits and electronic means, and technical visits that will take place at various sites, worldwide. Anticipated deliverables include software, hardware, and technical documentation.

Anticipated contract type - cost-plus-fixed-fee. Anticipated period of performance - sixty (60) months. Taking into consideration real world events constantly changing and unfolding, we presently contemplate the maximum order amount to be approximately $99,000,000.00.

Security Clearances: Taking into consideration real world events constantly changing and unfolding, we presently contemplate an estimated fifty (50) Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) with Top Secret/Special Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) access are required to perform the tasking under this contract immediately upon award. These estimates are in addition to any unclassified positions that may be proposed. TS safeguarding capability will also be required.

No foreign participation is allowed.

A technical library relating to the subject area of this acquisition is available for review by potential offerors via DOD SAFE only. Interested vendors may request a DOD SAFE Drop-Off of the technical library by contacting Michael Paul, 315-330-2329, e-mail: michael.paul.22@us.af.mil. A DOD SAFE drop-off will be sent to interested parties every Monday morning until the RFI closes. Only one recipient per company will be allowed to receive the drop-off. The library contains technical data subject to export control. Prior to review, potential offerors must submit a copy of an approved DD Form 2345, "Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement" (may be obtained at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd2345.pdf with instructions at Https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/J3LogisticOperations/FIC/JCP/J3_DDForm2345Instructions(Oct2022)_221005.pdf?ver=dLEK75KpKWRfj3e5wMI8BQ%3D%3D ) along with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the Data Custodian designated on that form, authorizing access by whomever will be reviewing the library. This MOA will be provided by Michael Paul upon request to access this technical library. The form and MOA request along with the email address of the recipient can be emailed to: michael.paul.22@us.af.mil, at the time request for files is requested.

For further information on Certified Contractor Access List (CCAL), contact the Defense Logistics Agency at 1-877-352-2255 or on the web at https://www.dla.mil/Logistics-Operations/Services/JCP/. It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to obtain an export license from the U.S. Department of State and to comply with the federal laws and regulations. Questions concerning the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and export licensing must be directed to the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and not the Air Force Program Manager, Contracting Office, or Air Force Foreign Disclosure Office.

Responses to this RFI may be used for market research purposes and possible small business set-aside determination. Both large and small business organizations are invited to respond by email in a document not exceeding 10 pages. Microsoft Word or PDF files are preferred. If the file size exceeds 10MB, please utilize the Department of Defense Safe Access File Exchange (SAFE) site at https://safe.apps.mil/ and follow up with an email stating a submission has been sent. Please respond to the following items below, referencing the question number with each response:

10. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS

AFRL/RIKF is seeking capability statements from all interested parties.

1. Describe your organization’s ability to meet the technical requirements in the draft SOW (attached). Please do not simply restate the technical requirements in your response. Be sure to:

a. Provide sufficient information and references to describe the majority level of knowledge and/or experience in each of the organizations listed in the SOW mission set and potential capabilities they may use. This includes knowledge and/or experience of computer software systems in the following areas:

i. Semantic analysis and AI/ML enhanced recommendations

ii. Data exploitation including trend and pattern detection

iii. Multi-source, Multi-Intelligence (Multi-INT) disparate data fusion

iv. Space domain awareness and operational tasking, modeling

v. Multi service Command and Control

vi. Workflow for military intelligence and operations reporting

vii. Kessel Run DevSecOps R&D and deployment

viii. Operational tasking of air and cyber domains

ix. Over the horizon targeting (OTH-T)

x. Dynamic targeting

xi. Beyond line of site (BLOS) data exploitation for in-theater tactical users, targeting

xii. Long range kill chains of Joint and coalition exercises/operations

xiii. Weapons target pairing

xiv. Certified hosted applications on Tactical data links (TDLs), Link-16, IBS/CIB, CMF message set transfers

xv. Joint Interoperability Controls (JICs)

xvi. Operational Task LINK (OPTASKLINK), OPTASKLINK Network Enabled Systems (OTLNEWS), Air Tasking Order (ATO) generation

xvii. Combat Network Radio (CNR) time characterization for OPTASKLINK

xviii. Data visualization

xix. Data analysis

xx. Database schema manipulation

xxi. Database replication

xxii. Full domain knowledge of Air Operation Centers (AOC) strategy, planning, tasking, assessment

xxiii. Legacy support to Fortran-based systems for modernization efforts

xxiv. DoD Authorization and Assessment (A&A) procedures

xxv. DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF)

xxvi. Agile software development and project management practices

xxvii. User and maintenance training xxviii. Deployments in operational military environments

xxix. Help desk activities

xxx. Specific organizational alignment with Secretary of the Air Force operational imperatives

b. Include a brief description of your organization’s quality control, risk management, and safety practices as they would be applied to this service.

2. Describe the experience and qualifications of personnel and other organizational resources that would be used to meet the technical requirements. Provide information describing the level of knowledge and capabilities in the ISR domain. Address the availability of personnel with security clearances, to include TS/SCI and Secret/Collateral and how your organization proposes fulfilling the remaining positions within the required time frames indicated above.

3. Identify up to three (3) previous or ongoing contracts / programs / efforts with Government, commercial, academic, or other customers performed within the last five (5) years which are relevant to the technical requirements. Include a brief description of the work, an explanation of its relevance to the technical requirements, and the performance period, value, and current customer points of contact.

4. Indicate any factors concerning your organization’s ability to perform the technical requirements.

5. Indicate if your organization intends to submit a proposal in the event that a RFP is issued for the attached technical requirements.

6. Indicate whether your company is a foreign-owned/foreign-controlled firm and if you contemplate the use of foreign national employees on this effort.

7. Responses should identify any current or potential future regulatory and / or security concerns which could impact your company’s ability to perform on the upcoming effort.

8. Indicate if your organization belongs to any GWACs. If so, please list them.

9. Confirm that your organization’s business systems currently are adequate for performing a cost-type task order.

10. Identify any areas which likely would require subcontracting or a teaming arrangement. Also state if it would be necessary to subcontract or team with another prime contractor on the same contracting vehicle.

11. Address how your organization would meet the requirement of FAR 52.219-14 “Limitations on Subcontracting,” whereby at least 50% of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel must be expended for employees of the prime Contractor.

Responses: All responses shall be submitted via e-mail to catherine.hulser.1@us.af.mil, erica.ogundadegbe@us.af.mil, and michael.paul.22@us.af.mil by 3 PM (EST) 01 APR 2025.

Attachment – Draft Statement Of Work (SOW) titled, “GARDEM 2 COMMAND & CONTROL - SPACE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE & RECONNAISANCE (C2-SpISR)”

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