C3M Enterprise Hardware Procurement Methodologies & Contract Structuring

The Air Force's Airspace Mission Planning Division (C3M) at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts is issuing a Request for Information on enterprise hardware procurement methodologies and contract structuring, with responses due July 8, 2026. This is market research only and does not constitute a solicitation; no set-aside applies.

C3M seeks unclassified industry feedback to maximize participation in hardware procurements, mitigate supply chain volatility, reduce pricing uncertainties, and evaluate alternative contract structures. Current C3M procurements are structured as Firm Fixed-Price commercial products awarded from Federal Supply Schedules on a lowest priced-technically acceptable basis, with military-standard tests, reports, and certifications required, plus four-year warranty periods. Award structures typically include Early Production (15 test units within approximately 45 days), First Article (within approximately 100 days), Completed Units (base quantity within approximately 190 days), and optional additional units exercisable within one year.

The RFI addresses three primary areas: Economic Price Adjustment mechanisms for volatile memory components (SSDs and RAM) as an alternative to FFP contracts; contract structures where initial award covers evaluation articles and test units with completed units as a contingent option, and impacts on pricing strategy and supply chain staging; and general hardware procurement methodology improvements, including whether military-standard testing requirements should be considered commercial and identification of time and cost-saving commercial best practices.

Responses must be unclassified Word or PDF documents with one-inch margins, professional fonts (11-point minimum), single spacing, not exceeding five pages (excluding cover page), and must include a cover page with company information, business type classification, relevant contract vehicles, and any objections to information sharing with FFRDC employees, SEIC engineers, and A&AS contractors.