STE VSW Call for Solutions 09.15.26.pdf

This is a Call for Solution (CFS) for the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Virtual Software (VSW) modernization effort, issued by the Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Grounds (ACC-APG) Orlando Division under Army Open Solicitation W9128Z-25-S-A002. Solutions are due by September 29, 2026 at 1300 Eastern Daylight Time.

The Government seeks to modernize Army virtual collective training across five capability Lots to deliver four core operational priority deliverables: a Doctrinal Gate to Live Fire, TC 3-04.3 Table VII & X Collective Gunnery Gate for Air, a True Combined Arms Environment, and Full Mission Command Concurrency. Lot 1 (Common Core Software) requires a scalable simulation and rendering engine with fully documented SDKs and APIs enabling third-party integration; Lot 2 (Simulation Application Software) involves specialized plug-in modules developed using the Lot 1 SDK; Lot 3 (Hardware-in-the-Loop Integration) handles real-time integration of the core simulation engine with GFE RVCT hardware; Lot 4 (Training Management & AAR Data Layer) provides instructor planning, execution, assessment, and automated after-action review capabilities; and Lot 5 (Enterprise Integration Support) serves as the Government's technical execution agent managing infrastructure, API administration, conformance testing, and maintaining the physical Software Integration Lab. The Government anticipates awarding multiple concurrent FAR-based contracts or OTA agreements with a combined value of approximately $250M. A mandatory two-vendor concurrent award for Lot 1 and separate awards for Lots 3 and 5 are planned initially, with Lots 2 and 4 deferred pending final Lot 1 selection.

Solutions must demonstrate Technical Readiness Level 8/9 maturity with fully developed SDKs/APIs at submission and comply with required attributes including COTS/GOTS/hybrid approaches, One World Terrain ingestion, modular open systems architecture, cybersecurity-by-design, rapid integration of emerging capabilities, and data segregation/releasability for multinational training environments. Volume I requires mandatory administrative and OCI compliance documentation; Volume II contains an anonymous technical concept addressing architecture, modernization path, schedule narrative, and licensing model; Volume III provides product demonstration artifacts including a five-minute video and API documentation links; Volume IV (collected for planning only, not evaluated) contains rough order of magnitude and licensing details; and Volume V documents three years of recent relevant experience. Evaluation follows a two-step process assessing mandatory readiness compliance, then weighted qualitative factors emphasizing schedule, technical merit, and solution viability. The Government will conduct a multi-phase down-select process with Phase 1 Solution Briefs, Phase 2 Demonstration Pitches for selected vendors, and Phase 3 Revised Solution submissions, with initial awards anticipated by November 13, 2026. An OCI firewall strictly prohibits any organization awarded or performing Lot 5 from simultaneously competing for or performing Lots 1, 2, or 4, and if selected for multiple conflicting lots, the offeror must elect a single award before Phase 3 execution.