Sources Sought Synopsis_Central Oklahoma Partner.pdf

Sources Sought/Request for Information

A. BACKGROUND

The Air Force Sustainment Center Software Directorate (AFSC/SW) has an ongoing need to leverage academic, community, and industry partners, as part of the broader aerospace and defense ecosystem, for access to improved networks and infrastructure, workforce development initiatives, and collaborative efforts including research in advanced technologies, all aimed at strengthening the 76th Software Engineering Group, as part of AFSC/SW. Having a partner skilled in facilitating such a collaboration would benefit the software workforce and collectively aid in solving problems impacting Air Force mission execution.

B. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

AFSC/SW has an urgent and ongoing need to significantly increase technical competencies and capabilities of its software professional workforce to meet current and projected mission directives pertinent to advanced Department of the Air Force (DAF) programs. Additionally, AFSC/SW requires consistent access to improved and dependable networks and infrastructure to meet complex and highly advanced customer requirements. Lastly, in order to remain technically relevant within an increasingly unique and critical mission set, AFSC/SW must accelerate its knowledge and understanding of advanced and emerging technologies with industry and academic stakeholders. To this end, AFSC/SW requires a partner with the capability of facilitating access to academic, community, and industry partners, which possess the skills, expertise, and technologies to meet these objectives. To support this mission need, AFSC/SW is issuing this RFI to identify a potential partner with proven experience in providing access to improved networks and technologies, as well as academic, community, and industry partners with expertise in these areas. This RFI is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to award a contract.

C. SCOPE OF INTEREST

AFSC/SW is seeking information regarding available or potentially available partners that meet the following criteria:

• Workforce development: Partner must have proven experience in enabling the growth and expansion of workforce development opportunities within central Oklahoma, demonstrated through partnerships with higher education.

• Connection to strategic collaboration opportunities: Partner must have proven experience in facilitating strategic collaborations across multiple stakeholders, specifically within the aerospace and defense ecosystem across central Oklahoma.

• Access to academic, community, and industry partners: Partner must be able to facilitate access of AFSC/SW personnel to academic, community, and industry stakeholders in a space in which those partners currently operate to facilitate active partnership of personnel between all parties.

• Access to improved and dependable networks and infrastructure: Partner must be able to facilitate access to improved and dependable networks and infrastructure capable of supporting software engineering and development of DAF advanced programs by AFSC/SW personnel.

D. INFORMATION REQUESTED

Respondents are requested to provide the following information (responses should be limited to no more than five total pages):

• Company Information:

• Name and contact information of the responding organization.

• Brief overview of the organization's history, organizational structure, and experience in providing access to the items outlined above.

• DUNS number and CAGE code (if applicable).

• Description of partner’s proven ability to provide access to:

• Workforce development and training opportunities

• Strategic collaboration opportunities, specifically within the aerospace and defense ecosystem across central Oklahoma

• Academic, industry, and community partners which possess skills and expertise benefiting the Air Force mission

• Co-located space equipped with improved and dependable networks and infrastructure to support the above initiatives

• Description of co-located space to which partner can provide access:

• Physical address of the co-located space.

• Total square footage available.

• Current configuration and floor plans (if available).

• Brief description of features (e.g., number of offices, conference rooms, common areas, data infrastructure, power capacity, etc.).

• Photographs of the interior and exterior of space.

• Detailed description of the current condition of the space, including any recent renovations or upgrades.

• Estimated time and cost required to make the space fully "move-in" ready for AFSC/SW occupancy.

• Description of existing data infrastructure and connectivity options.

• Description of security features.

• Availability date for occupancy.

• Potential terms (duration, renewal, termination, etc.).

• Estimated cost (including any applicable operating expenses).

Please submit your response using the following format:

Section 1: Company Profile (please limit this section to a single page)

1. Please describe your company’s general experience in providing the aforementioned requirements to an organization.

2. Describe similar products offered to the Government.

3. What is your business size and type (i.e., small, woman-owned, veteran-owned, etc.)?

Section 2: Capability (please limit this section to no more than two pages)

4. Workforce development and training opportunities

5. Strategic collaboration opportunities, specifically within the aerospace and defense ecosystem across central Oklahoma

6. Academic, industry, and community partners which possess skills and expertise benefiting the Air Force mission

7. Co-located space equipped with improved and dependable networks and infrastructure to support the above initiatives

Section 3: Proposed Approach (please limit this section to a single page)

8. The Government anticipates this to be a firm-fixed price contract.

9. The Government believes the appropriate NAICS code for this requirement is 541513 Computer Facilities Management Services. Do you agree with this selection? If not, what NAICS code would you suggest?

10. Please provide a simple outline and schedule (lead time) for this effort.

11. If subcontracting is a part of the solution, what percentage will be subcontracted?

12. Can you provide a total cost estimate for this contract?

Section 4: Additional Comments/Information (please limit this section to a single page)

12. Please provide any comments/questions regarding this effort to the Program Manager, Tiffany Penrod, tiffany.penrod.2@us.af.mil or Contract Manager, Joni Avila, joni.avila@us.af.mil.

This RFI is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or a commitment by the U.S. Air Force to award a contract. The U.S. Air Force will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing and submitting their responses to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI will be treated as business confidential and proprietary information.

mailto:tiffany.penrod.2@us.af.mil mailto:joni.avila@us.af.mil