Digital Engineering and Inclusion of Small Defense Contractors (Request for Information)
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- HQ003425RFIDEMS
- Agency
-
Washington Headquarters Service
Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- Total Small Business
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 54133 Engineering Services
- Place of performance
- Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Defense's Washington Headquarters Service, specifically the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (USD(R&E)), is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) to gather data on digital engineering implementation among small defense contractors. The RFI aims to prepare a Congressional briefing addressing the capabilities and challenges small defense contractors face in adopting Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 5000.97, which outlines strategic digital engineering practices across defense acquisition programs. Contractors are being asked to provide comprehensive information about their digital engineering methodologies, implementation strategies, and potential barriers to adoption. Submissions must be unclassified, limited to 12 pages, and include company details, digital engineering capabilities, challenges encountered, and recommendations for data exchange standards. The response deadline is December 17, 2024, with any questions due by December 4, 2024, and submissions must be made through the System for Award Management (SAM) website.
This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside, focused specifically on engineering services within the NAICS 54133 category. While no specific award value is mentioned, the RFI is strategically designed to understand how small defense contractors can be supported in transitioning to digital engineering practices, with a particular emphasis on bridging capability gaps between small and large defense contractors. The government is seeking to identify potential collaboration initiatives that could facilitate knowledge transfer and best practices across contractor sizes. The RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation but represents a critical information-gathering step to inform future policy and potentially create support mechanisms for small defense contractors. Responses will be analyzed to assess current digital engineering capabilities, implementation challenges, and potential strategies for inclusive participation in defense projects.
Notice text
In response to the House Report 118-529 for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the House Armed Service Committee (HASC) directed the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (USD(R&E)) to submit a briefing to the Congressional Defense Committees regarding the implementation of digital engineering by small defense contractors. Digital Engineering Modeling and Simulation (DEM&S) intends to use the data gathered from the submissions received in response to this RFI to facilitate the response to the Congressional Defense Committees.
Background. The HASC commended the Department for the December 2023 release of Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction (DoDI) 5000.97, which outlined the strategic implementation of digital engineering across defense acquisition programs. The HASC noted that digital engineering can offer significant improvements in efficiency, costs, and capabilities in procurement and lifecycle management, and that the DoDI provides needed direction for the Department and contractors supporting the Department. However, the HASC also documented its concern that while large defense contractors maintain the resources and knowledge to seamlessly adopt digital engineering practices, small defense contractors may face challenges in adapting to these new requirements. The transition to digital engineering methodologies, while beneficial, poses significant financial and technical challenges for small defense contractors, potentially leading to a disparity in capability and heightened barriers to participation in DoD programs.
Scope. The data provided in response to this RFI will be analyzed and assessed to formulate a briefing that will address the capabilities and challenges small defense contractors face in implementing digital engineering. The briefing will include an analysis of the current capabilities of small defense contractors in terms of digital engineering, including an assessment of the challenges and barriers they face in adopting DoDI 5000.97, and an overview of any initiatives to facilitate digital engineering collaboration between large defense contractors and small defense contractors to ensure knowledge transfer, best practices, and inclusive participation in defense projects is implemented and addressed throughout the Department.
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