Mass Storage Device - COMET

The United States Air Force is seeking vendors to provide a centrally managed mass storage solution for its Mission Planning Systems (MPS) program under "Project: Comet." The procurement requires a secure Network Attached Storage (NAS) device with FIPS 140-2 validation, featuring 8TB of net usable storage, hardware-accelerated AES-256 bit encryption, and hot-swappable drives capable of supporting up to eight Ethernet-connected clients. The Air Force requires two End Item configurations: one packaged within a reusable transit case (End Item A) and another within a durable cardboard box (End Item B), both including essential peripherals such as a Gigabit Ethernet hub and ten Ethernet cables. Vendors must demonstrate robust data protection capabilities, user access controls, Microsoft Active Directory integration, and comprehensive security management features with a four-year warranty period. Critical deadlines include questions due by 12:00 PM EST on June 25, 2025, answers posted by close of business on July 1, 2025, and RFI responses due by 12:00 PM EST on July 10, 2025.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified vendors, with Lenovo specifically mentioned as a potential contractor if they meet technical evaluation criteria. The total procurement includes 260 End Item A units and 19 End Item B units, with potential for additional quantities beyond the base requirement. The contract timeline requires vendors to provide up to six evaluation devices before award, submit Early Production Items within 45 days post-award, deliver a First Article within 100 days, and complete full production delivery within 190 days. The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334111, and deliveries will be distributed across multiple locations including Hill AFB, Leidos Inc., and Langley AFB. The contractor will be responsible for device integration, configuration, packaging, and labeling at their own facility to provide a ready-to-deploy solution for immediate operation upon delivery.