RFI_Muti-Domain Comms Amnd 1.pdf

U.S. Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces (ISR/SOF) Directorate

Offensive Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) System Program Office (SPO) Low- Size, Weight, and Power and Cost (SWaP-C) Multi-Domain Communications and Data Relay End Items Request for Information (RFI) Solicitation Number:

Agency: Department of the Air Force (DAF)

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) / WISS

Location: Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433

Notice Type: Pre-Solicitation

Posted Date: See SAM.gov Response Date: See below

Original Response Date: See SAM.gov Archiving Policy: Manual Archive

Original Set Aside:

N/A

Set Aside:

N/A

Classification Code:

Archive Date:

NAICS Code:

334220

1. Introduction This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and includes questions that the United States Government (USG) may use to understand current Industry capabilities to deliver Low- SWaP-C end items (i.e. radios, antennas, datalinks) that can be integrated into a Group 2 and/or Group 3 sUAS to provide:

a. Dynamic multi-domain communications capabilities/services within, and/or to, a sUAS swarm in contested and denied environments

b. Data relay (ranging in size and complexity from simple status messages to full motion video) to/from stations inside denied and contested environments

The integration and fielding of these capabilities may begin within 18–30 months of this RFI.

This is NOT a request for quotations or proposals or a promise to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quote (RFQ) in the future and does not commit the USG to contract for the supplies/services contained herein. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201 (e), USG will not accept responses to this notice as offers to form a binding contract. USG will not reimburse costs incurred by Respondents in response to this RFI or for participating in information exchange regarding details of the RFI. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on USG. Any information submitted in response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents must clearly mark any proprietary information and trade secrets on all submitted materials. USG will not share vendor proprietary information with the public. USG hereby notifies Respondents that (a) USG may disclose submitted information to support Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors supporting this program, (b) submission of information in response to this RFI constitutes consent to such handling and disclosure of submitted information to those parties, and (c) USG will handle such proprietary information in a manner consistent with applicable federal law. Please be advised that all submissions become USG property, and USG will not return submissions to Respondents. USG advises Respondents that USG is under no obligation to provide feedback to Respondents with respect to any information submitted.

USG may meet with Industry partners in a 1:1 setting during market research. USG may decide to hold 1:1 sessions with Industry partners based on responses to this RFI. Additional opportunities for Industry partners to request 1:1 sessions may be shared at a later date.

The U.S. Air Force Offensive sUAS SPO (hereinafter referred to as “the SPO”) may share any information submitted in response to this RFI with current and future contractor support personnel involved with this program. All USG and contractor personnel reviewing submitted responses understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described in 41 U.S. Code (USC) 423.

2. Synopsis The SPO is performing market research to determine Industry’s ability to provide dynamic multi-domain communications and data relay capabilities for Group 2 and 3 sUAS. Industry responses will inform the SPO on the market availability and diversity of Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) compliant, high Technological Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) solutions to fulfill AFSOC/SOCOM requirements.

Responses may inform the potential development of acquisition approaches, RFPs, statements of work, and possible future contract actions.

To ensure that USG casts the widest possible net—for both familiar as well as new technologies—the SPO’s strategy development process will include significant outreach and engagement with industry. The SPO encourages non-traditional performers and innovators with relevant capabilities and technology to participate in this process. USG is interested in all solution sets TRL 7 or higher, particularly those from entities that may offer novel or unconventional approaches that can fulfill or enable the multi-domain communications and data relay capabilities of this RFI. USG may ask for additional clarification on RFI responses.

USG will provide detailed instructions in correspondence outlining any follow-up questions.

USG will use the data gathered through this RFI process to inform USG acquisition strategies for initial and future capabilities and other efforts requiring Offensive sUAS, which may lead to contract awards.

This RFI informs sUAS capabilities that USG expects to begin integrating and fielding in 18–30 months. There is an expectation to field additional platforms beyond the initial effort.

Should USG field initial operational systems, conceivable upgrade cycles could follow regularly. USG may replace any component or integrator during such cycles to maximize operational capabilities with best-in-class technologies.

The SPO will use this RFI to understand the readiness of existing solutions and better equip USG to identify potential candidate technologies for initial and future sUAS acquisitions.

Vendors who do not participate in the initial fielding may still have opportunities for future involvement.

3. Objective

This RFI is for market research purposes only. It aims to obtain information from vendors that are capable of delivering technological solutions for dynamic multi-domain communications and data relay solutions (i.e. radios, datalinks, antennas) that can be integrated onto Group 2 and/or Group 3 sUAS within 18–24 months. Any solutions that vendors design and put forward in response to this RFI must be in accordance with low SWAP-C and MOSA principles for future integration.

Vendor responses to this RFI will provide a view of readily available and developing solutions expected to reach maturity in time to fulfill the targeted initial fielding date (within 30 months). USG will analyze responses to understand the current market landscape, determine the prioritization of its efforts and identify current technology gaps requiring further industry investment.

4. Responses

Responses shall consist of two parts, with each part being a separate file. Part One is a Product Specification or Data Sheet. Part Two is a technology synopsis to provide further details on the solution.

a. Part One (Specification/Data Sheet)

i. Classification: Part One shall NOT contain Classified Information.

ii. Length: Part One shall not exceed two (2) standard letter pages (8.5” x 11”).

iii. Format: There is no mandated format (Word, PowerPoint, etc.). It is at the discretion of the Respondent to decide the best way to highlight the capabilities, features, and specifications of the technology. However, Respondents are advised against utilizing any non-standard Microsoft format which USG reviewers may be unable to open and view

iv. Contents: Respondents are not expected to generate a new specification or data sheet to address this RFI but are not prohibited from doing so. USG anticipates Part One’s contents will provide summary information for some, but not all, of the topics to be discussed in more detail through Part Two.

b. Part Two (Technology Synopsis)

i. Classification: Part Two may contain Classified Information. If Part Two includes Classified Information, pay special attention to the directions for submission in Section 5.

ii. Length: Part Two shall be no longer than ten (10), standard letter size (8.5” x 11”) pages. Title page and Acronym/Glossary pages do not count against the ten

(10) page limit.

iii. Format: Font size must be 12 point or larger. Aside from font size, there is no mandated format (Word, PowerPoint, etc.). However, Respondents are advised against utilizing any non-standard Microsoft format which USG reviewers may be unable to open and view.

iv. Content: Part Two is intended to give the respondent a forum to provide a more thorough narrative of the submitted technology. The contents of Part Two should address the below topics, if applicable, as pertains to the submitted technology:

1) TRL/MRL

- Current TRL and if not TRL 9, TRL roadmap

- Current and future anticipated manufacturing capacity

2) SWaP data

3) Cost data (i.e. average unit cost, expected NRE costs, integration costs, sustainment costs and rates of refresh) and brief description of Government Intellectual Property Rights

4) Architecture (USG desires an IP-based architecture; solutions based on other architectures are encouraged to submit with an explanation of how the solution will meet or exceed the performance of an IP-based architecture)

5) Networking capabilities and limitations. USG is particularly interested in MANET-like (Mobile Ad-Hoc Network) frameworks that allow a collection of mobile nodes to be connected wirelessly in a self-configured, self-healing network without having fixed infrastructure. Nodes should be able to act as both routers and hosts in an ad-hoc configuration that relay information from node-to-node to provide adequate network information.

- Is it a flat Layer 2? Can it support Layer 3?

- How does it manage unicast / multicast?

- Does it allow Quality of Service (QoS) / Traffic Shaping?

6) Bandwidth(s) operating in and range needed within the bandwidth(s) Range(s)

7) Number of nodes that can be handled and number of hops

8) Data rate(s) and throughput

9) Low Probability of Jamming (LPJ), Low Probability of Interception (LPI), and/or Low Probability of Detection (LPD) of capabilities of the solution

- What is the basis of the LPJ/LPI/LPD claim (i.e. associated testing)?

10) Currently implemented and planned (provide expected date of implementation) encryption of the solution (i.e. AES 256, FIPS- 140)

11) Is the solution certified to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) / Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) or Secret data?

12) If not currently certified, identify where in the certification process the solution is.

13) Identify if the solution is Line of Sight or Beyond Line of Sight.

14) What other users are currently using the solution?

15) For Antennas, provide information regarding: Gain, Polarization, Placement (i.e. Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), nulling) and directionality

16) For Radios/Data Links, provide information regarding: Spectrum Use, Frequency Agility, IP Networking, Ranging, Timing, LPI/LPD, Encryption

5. Submission Instructions:

a. UNCLASSIFIED Submissions. If Part Two does NOT contain classified information:

i. Files should be named: Company Name – Part One and Company Name – Part Two

ii. The subject of the RFI submission should read as follows: “Multi-Domain Communications and Data Relay End Items RFI Submission – Company Name”.

iii. Submit Part One and Part Two in one email, as separate files, to the USG organizational email address: USAFOffensiveSmallUAS@groups.af.mil through DoD SAFE or an encrypted email.

iv. If you do not have access to DoD SAFE or encrypted email, send an email with subject “SAFE Request for Multi-Domain Communications and Data Relay End Items” requesting a DoD SAFE Drop-Off Request be sent.

b. CLASSIFIED Submissions. If Part Two contains classified information:

i. Respondents must have SIPRNet access to submit classified documents via email.

ii. Please ensure the subject of the email reads as follows: “sUAS Mesh Network and Data Relay Technology RFI Submission – Company Name”

iii. Submit Part Two via SIPR email to these USG representatives:

a. Security: William McCoy, william.h.mccoy4.civ@mail.smil.mil

b. Program Office Representatives:

i. Jim Koth, james.c.koth.civ@mail.smil.mil

ii. Timothy Huddleston, timothy.a.huddleston2.civ@mail.smil.mil

iii. Kate Holder, kathryn.i.holder.civ@mail.smil.mil

iv. Tony Shope, james.a.shope4.civ@mail.smil.mil

iv. Part Two will be sent via SIPRNet with appropriate markings in the subject, body, and file contents.

v. Part One will be sent in encrypted email or DoD SAFE via NIPRNet.

- Respondents should make note in the email containing Part One that Part

Two is being submitted via SIPRNet

- The file for Part One should be named: Company Name – Part One

- Submit ONLY Part One to the USG organizational email address:

USAFOffensiveSmallUAS@groups.af.mil through DoD SAFE or an encrypted email

- If you do not have access to DoD SAFE or encrypted email, send an email with subject “SAFE Request for Multi-Domain Communications and Data Relay End Items” requesting a DoD SAFE Drop-Off Request be sent.

- The subject of the RFI submission should read as follows: “Multi-Domain Communications and Data Relay End Items RFI Submission – Company Name”

USG representatives will not be taking telephone inquiries on this RFI. Please ensure the subject of the RFI submission reads as follows: “sUAS Mesh Network and Data Relay Technology RFI Submission – Company Name”. Submit via email to:

USAFOffensiveSmallUAS@groups.af.mil

As described in the introduction above, USG may use the information provided to form USG’s acquisition strategy, which USG may present in a public forum. Failure to appropriately mark document rights is the responsibility of the vendor and USG holds the right to replicate and duplicate the material provided, as needed.

RFI responses (Parts One and Two) are due no later than June 13, 2025.

USG may request additional details related to one or more parts of the RFI responses. In correspondence, USG will provide detailed instructions outlining any follow-up questions.

6. Questions

If you have any specific questions (relating to the above-referenced information only), please submit them in written format to the Contracting Officer: Ms. Marissa Greenleaf, marissa.greenleaf@us.af.mil

MARISSA S. GREENLEAF

Contracting Officer

AFLCMC/WISS