Afrl-rvky-2025-shrec

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (AFRL) SPACE VEHICLES (RV) DIRECTORATE

SPACECRAFT COMPONENT TECHNOLOGIES (RVSV)

RFI ID: AFRL-RVKY-2025-SHREC

23 January 2025

OVERVIEW CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS AND POINTS OF CONTACTS 

Department of the Air Force Material Command (AFMC), Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, 3550 Aberdeen Ave, SE, Kirtland AFB, 87117-5776

CONTRACTING POINTS OF CONTACT (POC)

Mr. Francis Eggert (Primary)                                     Ms. Paige L. Thompson (Alternate)

Contracting Officer                                                     Contracting Officer

AFRL/RVKY                                                                AFRL/RVKY

Phone Number: 505-846-5935                                   Phone Number: 505-846-2070

Email: francis.eggert@us.af.mil                                 Email: paige.thompson@spaceforce.mil

TECHNICAL POINTS OF CONTACT (POC)

Dr. Andrew C. Pineda                                                Ms. Amanda P. Fetzer

AFRL/RVSV                                                              AFRL/RVSV

Phone Number: 505-853-2509                                   Email: amanda.fetzer.2@spaceforce.mil

Email: andrew.pineda.6@spaceforce.mil                  

PROGRAM MANAGER (POC)

Mr. Manuel V. Gonzales                                            

AFRL/RVFC f/RVSV                                                             

Email: manuel.gonzales.9@spaceforce.mil             

1.  Part:  U.S. Government Procurements Request for Information (RFI)

2.  Subpart:  R&D Memberships

3.  Procurement Classification Code:  A – Research and Development (R&D); Code # 18 – Space Vehicles Directorate

4.  Agency:  Department of the Air Force

5.  Responsible Office and Address:  Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV); Mail to: AFRL/RVKY (WEST AREA GENERAL MAIL ROOM); Attn:  Mr. Francis M. Eggert 3550 Aberdeen Ave. S.E.; Building 425, Room 100, 1st floor; Kirtland AFB, N.M.  87117-5773.

6.  North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code:  541715 – R&D in the Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)

7.  RFI ID: AFRL-RVKY-2025-SHREC

8.  Notice Type:  Sources Sought to Space Computing community for memberships

9.  Subject:  Develop leaders in technology, development, and science and technology working groups. Space, High-Performance, and Resilient Computing (SHREC) FY25 and beyond. Fault-Tolerant Techniques for Heterogenous Computing Architectures, and Reliable Non-Volatile Memory (NVM). Provide reliability testing for selected FPGAs, reliability testing of deep learning hardware in a radiation environment, reliability testing of high-performance memory, and general radiation testing of heterogenous computing devices. The Government shall determine the number of memberships and Option year(s) based upon offeror(s) recommendations and the funds available for the FFP. The Government can decide to award to one, more than one, or no memberships to one, more than one, or no offerors.

10.  Background. Center for Space, High-Performance & Resilient Computing, an NSF IUCRC, was founded in Sep. 2017, replacing the highly successful NSF CHREC Center. Under auspices of IUCRC Program at NSF, the program fosters university, agency, and industry R&D collaborations in space and high-performance computing. SHREC is both National Research Center and consortium, university groups serve as research base (faculty, students, staff), industry & government organizations are research partners, sponsors, collaborators, advisory board, & technology-transfer recipients.

11. Mission: MISSION CRITICAL COMPUTING, Basic and applied R&D to advance Science & Technology (S&T) on advanced computing that captures 20+ program needs for government and commercial space applications. Many common challenges, technologies, & benefits, in terms of performance, power, adaptivity, productivity, cost, size, etc. from architectures to applications to design concepts and tools spanning applications from spacecraft to supercomputers!

12. The Air Force Research Laboratory is issuing this "Request for Information" to Industry and Academic sources to gather current data on the existing market sector, identify potential market characteristics, best practices, emerging technologies, sources of supply, vendor capabilities, and to assist the government with leveraging opportunities so that an informed acquisition strategy can be accomplished. The Air Force Research Laboratory is interested in determining existing capabilities and future capacities to provide research and development in the areas of Space, High-Performance, & Resilient Computing (SHREC). The applicable North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code assigned to these activities is 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). This U.S. Industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and experimental development (except biotechnology research and experimental development) in the fields of engineering, electronics, computers, chemistry, physics, and other allied subjects.

13. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. This request is for capability information and does not constitute a request for proposal; submission of any information in response to this request for Information/market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

14. This notice is for planning purposes only and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

15. SAMPLE RESPONSE OUTLINE

There is a suggested total page count limit of 10 pages for each topic area response.  The following is a suggested outline for a response to this RFI.  The page limitation and outline to this RFI is intended to minimize the effort of the respondent.  Nevertheless, respondents are free to develop their responses as they see fit.

16. SECTION 1: CORPORATE EXPERTISE

Briefly describe your company, your products and services, history, ownership, financial information and other relevant information.  As part of your corporate expertise, please highlight critical elements in the envisioned solution to meet one the topic area outlined above.  Also, discuss your ability to perform work in a classified environment.  Identify any foreign ownership or investment.  It is expected that Section 1 from this sample response outline is less than 10% of the response.

17. SECTION 2: TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

Describe your company’s concept for the proposed solution addressing one of the topic areas outlined above.  The proposed concept should address the various capabilities and capacity.

Describe any technologies in your current product line, as well as products currently under development that meet the capabilities identified in Section 10.  Provide performance and physical specifications for each product, as well as anticipated performance for products under development.  The technical solution should also include test plan outlining a series of tests/experiments to increase Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of proposed architecture.  

18.  SECTION 3: COST AND SCHEDULE ESTIMATES

Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost and schedule estimates for design/build to properly scope a United Acquisition Strategy.

19. SECTION 4: ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Please provide any other materials, suggestions and discussions you deem appropriate.  Include any recommended structure of the requirements in the event the Government decides to issue a Request for Proposal.

20. SUBMISSIONS OF RESPONSES

There is a recommended total page count limit of 6 pages for topic response.  This page count does not include the coversheet.  The page limitation to the RFI is intended to minimize the effort of the respondent.

 Responses to the RFI should be submitted in MS Word format in 12-point font, double-spaced with one-inch margins and use the standard letter size (8.5”x11”) paper.  Responses are due no later than 25 FEB 25.  Responses to all or part of this RFI will be accepted. 

Responses to this RFI must be submitted to AFRL.  Responders shall provide one electronic copy (MS Word or editable PDF) of their unclassified response via DoD SAFE (https://safe.apps.mil/). NOTE: See Paragraph 6 for the instructions DoD SAFE submittal(s). DO NOT send via e-mail.  Submission of marketing information, existing commercial documentation and product literature is NOT an acceptable response.  Responses to this notice must be unclassified.  

Responders are advised that employees of commercial firms under contract to the US Government may be used to administratively process responses or perform other administrative duties requiring access to other contractors’ proprietary information.  These support contracts include nondisclosure agreements prohibiting their contractor employees from disclosing any information submitted by other contractors or using such information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished.

To complete its review, AFRL must be able to share the information within the Government and with its support contractors; therefore, any responses marked in a manner that will not permit such internal Government review will be deleted without being assessed/considered.

Any response to this RFI may be subject to review by non-Government personnel.  The role of these advisory and assistance services (A&AS) contractors, University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) employees and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) employees are to function as technical advisors to the programmatic decision making. 

21. FORMAT

The responses shall be formatted as follows: 

• Cover Sheet
• Paper Title        
• Name of Company       
• Mailing Address           
• Business Size to NAICS 541715         
• Company's Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number           
• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number          
• Contracting and Technical POC (names, telephone/fax numbers, and email addresses)            
• Classified level at which company is cleared              
• Cognizant security office (name, address, zip code), and Offeror's security officer's name and telephone number         
• Proposed Period of Performance (allow 90 days for drafting final report)      
• ROM cost estimate      
• Proposed Contract/Agreement/OTA Type       
• Proposed Government Furnished Property or Base Support  
• Proposed Data Rights  
• Date Paper is valid       
• Teaming Arrangement or
• Subcontractors/consultants, including Cage codes     
• Narrative – should include but not be limited to the following

1.         Discussion of the nature and scope of the research; the problem statement; the Offeror’s proposed objectives and technical approach/solution; all relevant assumptions; an overview of tasks and methods to achieve each objective; and expected results

2.         Evidence of current TRL and a description of state-of-the-art knowledge or methods to be employed, along with a clear strategy, resources and schedule for maturing the technology to the proposed level

3.         Description of final products to be delivered (prototypes, demonstrations, software, etc.)

4.         Mapping of effort to specific need(s) outlined in the topic area description, with a strategy for transition of deliverables to a Government Acquisition Program.  Transitions can be specific to an existing/future system or have broad application to several existing/future systems

5.         Any restrictions on Government use, release or disclosure of technical data

6.         Key personnel, consultants or subcontractors to support he effort and evidence of expertise and experience to accomplish the proposed tasks (resumes, descriptions of facilities and equipment and proposed Statement of Work are not required at this point)

-           ROM Cost – Provide a ROM cost estimate for planning purposes.  The ROM should provide top level details on major cost items such as labor (# of FTEs), special equipment that will need to be purchased, materials and any subcontracts, consultants or other organizations’ costs (to include Government furnished facilities, equipment or personnel) for the proposed effort

22. TIMELINE: Deadline for RFI 25 FEB 25.        

23. SUMMARY

The AFRL is interested in continuing research and development efforts supporting space computing. The questions listed in this RFI are not all-inclusive and we strongly encourage each respondent to provide any additional information that you think may be vital to support our efforts accurately scoping the technological thresholds and objectives, realistic schedule estimations and budgetary programming for this key, high-interest mission area.

Attachment 1: DODSAFE Submission Instructions 

1.         Send intention to submit response to Mr. Francis Eggert for assigned drop-off request code

a.         The drop-off request code is valid for 14 days

2.         The requestor will receive file drop-off instructions via e-mail

3.         Drop off files, uploading to the DoD Safe Access File Exchange website (https://safe.apps.mil/)

a.         Note, file sizes > 8 GB will not be accepted

4.         Enter the following e-mail address for the recipient information

a.         francis.eggert@us.af.mil

b.         paige.thompson@spaceforce.mil

c.         manuel.gonzales.9@spaceforce.mil