SKL New General Engineering RFI.docx

NOTICE INFORMATION

Notice Type: Request for Information Response Date: 30 September 2025 Product Supply Code: 5810 -- Communications Security Equipment and Components NAICS Code: 334220 -- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing Agency/Office: Army Contracting Command ACC - APG Location: (W15P7T) APG Request for Information (RFI): W15P7T-25-F-0053 Title: Simple Key Loader Sustainment

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

THERE WILL NOT BE A SOLICITATION, SPECIFICATIONS, OR DRAWINGS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME

This RFI is subject to the provisions of FAR 52.215-3 and is issued solely for information and planning purposes. This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) nor is it a promise to issue an RFP in the future. Requests for solicitations will not receive a response. This RFI does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary. The United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will the United States Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided. Furthermore, the Army is not seeking proposals at this time, nor will the United States Government accept any unsolicited proposals. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the System for Award Management (SAM) website (https://sam.gov). Potential offerors have the responsibility to monitor the SAM website for additional information or opportunities pertaining to the Simple Key Loader (SKL) requirement.

The United States Army and Project Manager (PM) Tactical Radio (TR) is seeking information on how an interested contractor could provide sustainment support services for the SKL including systems engineering, software development, software upgrades, technology insertion, testing, integration, training, obsolescence management, and configuration management for all SKL and PANDA versions (V2.0, V2.1, V3.0, V3.1, and V3.2) based on the Performance Work Statement (PWS) provided by Product Manager (PdM) Communications Security (COMSEC) as delineated below.

1.0 Background

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), Sparks, NV is the original equipment developer and the sole supplier of SKL products and sustainment services since 2005. The production-level technical data package is not available. The estimated performance period will be five (5) years consisting of a base year and four (4) one (1) year options to extend the performance period. Services will be acquired on a Firm Fixed Price and Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (Completion) basis.

PM TR will require a new Task Order to provide a seamless transition that mitigates risks associated with a break in services supporting the SKL V2.0, V2.1, V3.0, V3.1, and V3.2. This RFI describes the tasks and efforts that will be required by the vendor for sustainment support production and delivery of the Army, NSA Type 1 certified SKL units.

2.0 Company Profile

Provide company name, CAGE Code, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail of designated point of contact.

Business type (large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUB Zone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business) based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334220, RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING.

Provide your company’s NAICS code(s) as it relates to this effort. This effort is projected to require at a minimum secret or higher facility clearance from the Defense Industrial Security Service with secret safeguarding capabilities. Please describe your company's current facility clearance level.

2.1 Company Experience

Describe your company’s experience with COMSEC and Key Management, relative to National Security Agency (NSA) Type-1 certified fill devices by listing contracts where your company was either a Prime contractor or a Subcontractor and the sustainment support services your company provided under the contract. Provide examples and include contract number(s) and value(s), including percentage of overall organic support provided by your company; government /agency point of contact, e-mail, address, phone number and timelines of such work.

The response shall answer the questions/topics of interest addressed in this RFI. The synopsis should provide evidence of vendor experience and briefly summarize the capabilities of the vendor to support the requirement. Potential respondents shall answer the following questions and/or provide the requested data:

2.1.1 What information, technical or otherwise, would your company need to propose on a solicitation for this effort?

2.1.2 What specific technical skills and experience does your company possess that enables sustainment support of the SKL? Include your management processes with/for: obsolescence management, testing, Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), maintaining NSA Type-1 Certification, and supply chain /vendor validation for Tier 3 Fill Devices.

2.1.3 Describe your personnel staffing plan.

2.1.4 Describe any technical and programmatic risks in executing this requirement and your company’s risk management strategy.

2.1.5 Describe your company’s accredited network for handling classified information and if so, describe the highest classification level of data the network can protect.

2.1.6 Describe your experience with developing software code (bugs, fixes, patches, profiles and updates) and associated software documentation for Tier 3 Fill Devices.

2.1.7 Describe your strategy to ensure that the applicable operating system(s) are maintained and interoperable with all versions of the overall SKL software across all SKL variants and supported End Cryptographic Units (ECU).

2.1.8 Provide a schedule illustrating the steps necessary to establish the full sustainment capability with timelines.

3.0 Responses

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI in the form of a white paper limited to ten (10) pages submitted via e-mail only to the following individuals on or before _30 September_2025, 11:59 p.m. EST:

Riley Deacon, Contract Specialist Army Contracting Command (ACC) riley.c.deacon.civ@army.mil

Your response to this RFI, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via aforementioned email addresses utilizing Times New Roman, 12 point font and should contain a Title Page (Section 1) and a Synopsis (Section 2).

All data received in response to this RFI that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.

All questions must be submitted to the contract specialist identified above. The Government is not committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided, and no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI.

4.0 Industry Discussions

PM TR representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential responders. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks.

5.0 Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted electronically via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, candace.o.hough.civ@army.mil and the Contract Specialist, riley.s.deacon.civ@army.mil. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. All questions received will be answered and posted by the contracting officer to the SAM website at BETA.sam.gov; accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 30 September 2025, 11:59pm EST will be answered.

6.0 Summary

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide general engineering and sustainment services for the SKL and provide software sustainment, systems engineering, software development, software upgrades procurement, technology insertion, testing, integration, training, and helpdesk support for all SKL versions (V2.0, V2.1, V3.0, V3.1, and V3.2) based on specifications provided by PdM COMSEC. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the part of the Government in any way shape or form. The Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the services discussed, and 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. In addition, all information submitted in response to this RFI becomes Government property and will not be returned in whole or in part.

This RFI is not an RFP and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals nor will any award be made as a result of this synopsis.

All information contained in the RFI is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government. FAR clause 52.215-3, “Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes”, is incorporated by reference in this RFI. The Government does not intend to pay for information received in response to this RFI. Responders to this invitation are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. This RFI will be the basis for collecting information on capabilities available. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received in this RFI that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

CUI