Sources Sought - CDAO_Final.pdf

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD)

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES (WHS)

ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE (AD)

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

The Department of Defense (DOD)

Office of the Chief Digital & Artificial Intelligence Officer (OCDAO)

Information Technology (IT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) &

Machine Learning Programmatic Support Services

AMI #SM011420251625

General Information

Document Type: Sources Sought Notice

Title: Information Technology (IT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning

Programmatic Support Services

Sources Sought Post Date: March 21, 2025

Sources Sought Response Date: April 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time)

NAICS Code: 541512 – Computer Systems Design Services

Product Service Code: R499: Support – Professional: Other

Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Acquisition Directorate (AD) is conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced and interested potential 8(a) Small Businesses capable of providing Information Technology (IT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning

Programmatic Support Services for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the services outlined in the “Task Elements” document (attachment A).

Sources Sought Notice

This source sought announcement is for informational purposes only. This notice should not be construed as an obligation on the part of Washington Headquarters Services/Acquisition

Directorate (WHS/AD). This is not a request for proposal (RFP), nor does it restrict the

Government as to the final acquisition strategy. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. At this time, no solicitation exists. Therefore, please do not request a copy of the solicitation. Responses in any form are not offers. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this Notice. The results of this sources sought notice will assist the Contracting Officer in determining the best strategy for this procurement. Responses to this synopsis may also be used to aide in establishing realistic and achievable small business participation goals. Responses are open to 8(a) Small Business

Participants ONLY.

In order to proactively plan for future requirements, WHS/AD is conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced, and interested parties who have the capability to provide

Information Technology (IT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning Programmatic

Support Services under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The

NAICS code assigned to this procurement is 541512 – Computer Systems Design Services; Size

Standard: $34 M.

This is a new requirement. The estimated minimum dollar amount is $90,000,000.00, and the estimated maximum dollar amount is $140,000,000.00.

Background

The OCDAO is the Principal Staff Assistant (PSA) and advisor to the Secretary of Defense

(SecDef) and Deputy Secretary of Defense (DepSecDef) to enable the Military Departments and

Services, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands (CCMDs), Office of the Secretary of Defense

(OSD), and other DoD Components, to swiftly introduce new capabilities and effectively experiment with new operational concepts in support of DoD's warfighting missions and business functions with the overarching goal of accelerating the delivery of Artificial Intelligence

(AI) enabled capabilities, scaling the Department-wide impact of AI, and synchronizing DoD AI activities to expand Joint Force advantages.

To achieve its mission, the OCDAO was established in February 2022, as a peer to the Chief

Information Officer (CIO). OCDAO is the successor to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center

(JAIC), Office of the Chief Data Officer (CDO), Advana platform, and Defense Digital Service.

Objective/Scope

The objective of this requirement is to:

• Provide Information Technology Program Management support services that are tailored and aligned to OCDAO’s organizational construct and processes.

• Provide Infrastructure Architecture support services as the OCDAO standardizes processes with respect to data, and AI projects to establish new standards that will be repeatable across additional projects / programs and immediately relevant to the Joint

Force.

• Provide data integration and development support services;

• Support data engineering activities that will allow the OCDAO to quickly introduce AI capabilities throughout the DoD.

• Support the OCDAO’s Policy directorate as they provide delivery products associated with data and AI policy and governance and foreign partner engagement.

• Provide, public affairs, and strategic communications support.

• Provide personnel security, physical security, facilities management, and human capital development.

• Support the OCDAO budget office, facilitating successful budget execution and financial analysis.

• Provide Plans & Analysis support, which will enable ops research, the development and coordination of program plans, and a myriad of analytical methodologies for evaluating projects/programs.

• Provide support services to the OCDAO such as Intel Analysis, Program Protection, Protect and Counter activities, legislative and high taskers / communication coordination.

Furthermore, the contractor is to provide the DoD CDAO support in the accelerate adoption of data, analytics, and AI to generate decision advantage The contractor shall provide a range of support services to enable OCDAO to accelerate the delivery of data analytics and AI enabled capabilities, scale for Department-wide impact of data analytics and AI and synchronize DoD data analysis and AI activities to expand Joint Force advantages.

Place of Performance

For informational purposes, the place of performance for this notice consists of the National

Capital Region (NCR) to include Alexandria, Virginia.

Anticipated Period of Performance

The estimated period of performance is for a Base Period of twelve (12) months with four (4)-twelve (12) month Option Periods.

Incumbent

Koniag IT Systems,LLC. under contract # HQ0034-25-C-E012.

Security Requirement

For this requirement, the contractor must have an active Top Secret Facility Clearance.

8(a) Partnerships and Joint Ventures

For interested 8(a) Joint Ventures (JV), the firm shall indicate if the 8(a) JV itself or the individual partner(s) to the 8(a) JV hold the required security clearance.

Task Elements

Interested 8(a) Participant parties submitting capability responses to this Notice should address their performance experience and capability related to the service requirement Tasks Elements

(listed in attachment A). Interested parties should NOT submit marketing materials; but rather, speak directly and specifically to the required capabilities and services, in the tasks elements of

Attachment A.

Submission Requirements

Interested 8(a) firms should submit their response to include a capabilities statement covering experience, staffing and technical capabilities. The capabilities statement should address the

Task Elements identified in Attachment A. For each of the Task Elements demonstrate how the firm’s recent past performance (within 3-5 years) is relevant to the Task Elements listed including the dollar value, period of performance, size and scope of the firm’s prior contracts.

Capability statements should not exceed 15 pages in “Times New Roman” 12-inch font on 8.5 x

11 paper. Respondents must submit documents in Word or PDF format. Zipped files and/or telephone requests will NOT be accepted/honored.

Vendors must demonstrate their ability to comply with the requirements in this Sources Sought

Notice in order to be considered capable of satisfying the Government’s requirement.

Confidentiality

Do not include proprietary, trade secrets, classified, confidential, or sensitive information in your response to this Sources Sought Notice. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is submitted, as it is clearly stated this type of information shall NOT be submitted.

The Government reserves the right to use any information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate, including using technical information provided by respondents in any resultant solicitation. Responses to this Notice will not be returned.

Submission of Responses

Interested 8(a) Participant parties having the capability to provide Information Technology (IT)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning Programmatic Support Services, shall submit responses no later than, April 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time). Capability statements/responses shall be submitted to the following contacts only:

kealon.d.wallace.civ@mail.mil and servia.a.mendez.civ@mail.mil, with the Subject Line:

Response to Sources Sought – Information Technology (IT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) &

Machine Learning Programmatic Support Services | <Business Name> | <Business Size (i.e.

small or other than small)

No hard copy submissions will be accepted. Submissions to any contact other than the one listed above will NOT be considered. Submissions after this date will NOT be considered. Cover letters and extraneous materials (marketing, brochures, etc.) will NOT be considered.

No questions or phone calls will be accepted concerning this Sources Sought Notice. All firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice are advised that the Government will not provide or acknowledge receipt of the information received, provide feedback to firms with respect to any information submitted, or provide any follow-up information well after the deadline of this sources sought notice.

Capability Statements

To facilitate a timely and comprehensive review of all submitted responses, firms should respond using the format requested in this Notice. Any deviation from this format may lead to the rejection of the response.

Please provide the following information for your firm and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

***PLEASE ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS WITHIN YOUR CAPABILITY STATEMENT***

General Information:

1. Company name, address, point of contact name, telephone, email address and website address.

2. Unique Entity Identifier (UIE), Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and

Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code.

mailto:kealon.d.wallace.civ@mail.mil mailto:servia.a.mendez.civ@mail.mil

3. Business size and classification (e.g., large, small, small-disadvantaged, SBA Certified 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned) based on NAICS: 541512 – Computer Systems

Design Services.

4. If applicable, potential proposed teaming arrangements to include business size and classification of prime and subcontractors.

5. Provide any Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Numbers (FSS must include NAICS code

541512 – Computer Systems Design Services).

6. Identify contracts your company has been awarded under NAICS: 541512 – Computer

Systems Design Services. Additional information on NAICS codes can be found at www.sba.gov

Security Capability: (Page 1)

1. Respondents must provide evidence of an active Top Secret Facility Clearance

Technical Capability:

1. Provide a brief synopsis to support the firm’s ability to perform all of the Task Elements identified in Attachment A. Identify each task element and provide information to support the firm’s experience, staffing and overall ability to perform the technical area.

2. Evidence of experience and past performance should include contracts/task orders from the past three to five (3-5) years similar in scope to this requirement.

3. Examples must include contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts, periods of performance, and Government points of contact (telephone numbers or email addresses)

Documented information to support the firm’s ability to provide the personnel required for this effort in a timely fashion who are United States citizens and have the ability to work within 100 miles of the National Capital Region (NCR).

4. Provide any data on previous contracts/task orders on personnel retention.

Critical Task Elements That Should be Addressed:

1. Describe your firm’s experience performing and managing the following critical tasks:

Critical Task Element Description

Data and AI Program

Management Support

Services

5.1.1 Support OCDAO with tracking and managing

OCDAO Mission Initiatives (MI). This includes management of project plans, schedules, budgets, briefings, and risks. The contractor shall assist in developing metrics and coordinate with appropriate

OCDAO personnel to track project metrics (e.g. schedule, http://www.sba.gov/ cost, and performance).

5.1.6 Provide subject matter expertise and guidance on

agile software development, providing insights and documentation on recommended frequencies and durations of software releases and sprints during project planning and execution. The contractor shall have a firm understanding of agile code development, integration, test, quality, and configuration control processes and procedures.

Infrastructure

Architecture Support

Services

5.2.1 Provide Senior Technical Expertise and

recommendations according to IT and AI engineering standards and best practices to support OCDAO in establishing a computer infrastructure for the Program’s projects, and eventually for projects across DoD.

5.2.5 Track OCDAO’s implementation, management, and

lifecycle planning to ensure they align with ODAO’s strategy. The contractor shall provide OCDAO with information regarding other potential stakeholders including engineers, commercial, governmental, and academic partners to strengthen the DoD data analytics, AI and IT and computer infrastructure and software that is scalable and sustainable while reducing operational overhead across DoD;

5.2.7 Support OCDAO in understanding potential

operational risks of migration strategies (via engineering analysis) to include:

- Hardware/software configurations and architecture impacts;

- Environmental infrastructure considerations

(terrestrial data center, cloud, etc.); and

- Information access and control considerations

Data Engineering, Integration and

Development Support

Services

5.3.3 Provide systems integration SME to support the

design, development, deployment and networking of command-and-control products and their experimentation in exercises.

5.3.9 Provide senior technical expertise to work with key

engineers, commercial, governmental, and academic partners to model, design, and deliver tools and identify opportunities that empower users throughout DoD to build high-quality datasets and data products. This data includes structured and unstructured text documents and massive scale video, image, and other forms of data identified by the Government;

5.3.14 Support the establishment of an advanced

technology pipeline to prove out capabilities and technologies better enabling adoption of AI and ML across the enterprise. The pipeline will address data quality and volume, accelerate implementation cycles, refine data management processes, and assist in understanding policy compliance. Support the crafting of the optimization model for how the OCAO engages external partners and leverages the pipeline process.

Strategy & Policy Support

Services

5.4.1.3 Support the development of DoD data, analytics, and AI governance documents, support and provide analysis for cross-cutting issues for DoD wide implementation, coordinate and synchronize activities across components, provide situational awareness reports for the OCDAO.

5.4.2.1 Writes and reviews Responsible Artificial

Intelligence (RAI) Policy for DoD.

5.4.3.1 Provide technical guidance on AI Ethics and

Responsible AI for priority projects within the Department of Defense, spanning the disciplines of system safety engineering, cybersecurity, test and evaluation, human factors, ethics, and policy.

5.4.5.1 Assist the client with the implementation and

management of the DoD responsible artificial intelligence program.

Digital Talent

Management Support

Services

5.5.1.1 Support the data, analytics, and AI competency

development and work role refresh. Create competency models for data, analytics, and AI. Leverage developed competencies to inform Work Role (KSAT) updates.

5.5.1.2 Create, iterate, and publish guidance materials for

the data/AI and work role coding guide.

5.5.1.5 Support the development of the Workforce

Planning People Strategy.

1) Describe your company’s ability and depth of experience providing a cross functional team of Systems Engineers, Data Analyst, Data Architects, Data Scientist, Policy SMEs, Human

Capital SMEs, Budget Execution Support, Public Affairs Support, Personnel & Physical

Security Support, Facility Support, Intelligence Support, Legislative Affairs Support, and

Executive and Administrative Management contractors to Federal Clients.

2) What is your understanding and experience related to supporting the unique needs of the

OCDAO on high-profile experimentation and exercises that promote data analysis and artificial intelligence adoption across the Department of Defense. How is your company best positioned to provide this support?

3) What is your understanding and experience related to supporting the development of a

Digital Talent Workforce career series and training program for the Department of Defense civilian and military workforce?

4) What experience do you have with strategy, policy and governance development and management for a DOD wide data and artificial intelligence program?

5) Please cite 3 federal contracts performed in the past 3-5 years and how they might relate to this requirement? (Provide contract number, scope of project, dollar value, agency, and CO

POC)

Additional Information

1. Indicate if your firm will submit a proposal if a Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued, and if your firm’s interest is for Prime contracting, teaming agreement or Joint Venture.

2. Validation of, or recommended NAICS codes for this effort.

3. Validation of, or recommended contract type.

4. In each task elements, indicate any Small Business Subcontracting opportunities, as applicable.

5. Identify in each task elements listed above the percentage that will be performed by the

Prime and what percentage will be performed by Small Business Subcontracting opportunities, as applicable.

6. Other Recommendations

a) Any information missing from Attachment A, that would provide a better understanding of the effort desired.

b) Any information that is unduly restrictive to performance, specifically small business.

c) Please submit any other questions or comments along with your response.

Contracting Office Information

Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate

4800 Mark Center, Suite 09F09

Alexandria, VA 22350

POINTS OF CONTACT

Contract Specialist:

Servia Mendez

Email: Servia.a.mendez.civ@mail.mil

Contracting Officer:

Kealon D. Wallace

Email: Kealon.d.wallace.civ@mail.mil mailto:Servia.a.mendez.civ@mail.mil mailto:Kealon.d.wallace.civ@mail.mil mailto:tara.n.upchurch.civ@mail.mil