Novel Approaches & Research for Warfighting That Hastens Artificial Learning (NARWHAL) RED

AFRL/RIKD is conducting market research for a potential requirement.  Please note this Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only.  The information obtained from responses to this notice may be used to form a future acquisition strategy and solicitation, should one be issued. The general scope for this potential effort is to develop, improve, and advance radio frequency (RF) spectral characterization and automated machine-to-machine signal processing capabilities for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) tactical and strategic warfighting forces. Please refer to the Special Notice, Attachment No. 2, Draft Statement of Work (SOW), for additional information. To fulfill this requirement, Contractor employees will need to obtain Common Access Cards (CACs), perform on Government facilities in the United States and other locations, and access up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).  It is anticipated that only United States (US) citizens may perform under this effort.

The Government is considering establishing one or more contracts / task orders / other transactions with an overall performance period of 5-7 years.  Anticipated contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF).  Anticipated funding types are Research Development Test & Evaluation, Procurement, and Operations & Maintenance.  Please note that the contract type and duration are subject to change as the acquisition strategy is developed.

All Responses shall be submitted via email to jacquelyn.cavano@us.af.mil and shelley.dormio@us.af.mil by 12PM (EST) THUR 18 Sep 2025

FOREIGN PARTICIPATION EXCLUDED. Foreign participation is excluded at the prime contractor level. 

OMBUDSMAN. In accordance with DAFFARS 5301.91, an Ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerers, poten­tial offerers, and others for this acquisition. Before consulting with an Ombudsman, in­terested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the Contracting Officer, Shelley Dormio, (315) 330-(2116), Shelley.Dormio@us.af.mil, for resolu­tion. DAFFARS Clause 5352.201-9101 Ombudsman, will be incorporated into the resultant contract. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confiden­tiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the Ombudsman does not af­fect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection offi­cial. Further, the Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudi­cation of protests or formal contract dis­putes. The Ombudsman may refer the party to another official who can resolve the con­cern. Consulting an Ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for de­briefings, employee-employer actions, con­tests of 0MB Circular A-76 competition per­formance decisions). If resolution cannot be made by the Contracting Officer, con­cerned parties may contact the following AFRL Ombudsman: AFRL/PK Technical Director; Alternate Ombudsman: AFRL/PK Deputy Director 1864 4th Street, WPAFB OH 45433; FAX (937) 656-7321; COM (937) 904-9700, afrl.pk.workflow@us.af.mil. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and rec­ommendations that cannot be resolved at the AFRL level, may be brought by the con­cerned party for further consideration to the Air Force Ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (571) 256-2395, facsimile number (571) 256-2431. The Ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency. Do not contact the Ombudsman to request copies of the solici­tation, verify offer due date, or clarify tech­nical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer. 

FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENTS. 

It is important to note that this Request for Information is not a Request for Proposal.  No solicitation is being issued at this time.  This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach.  Any information provided to the Government as a result of this Request for Information is voluntary.  No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses or the Government’s use of such information.

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AFRL/RIKD is conducting market research for a potential requirement.  Please note this Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only.  The information obtained from responses to this notice may be used to form a future acquisition strategy and solicitation, should one be issued. The general scope for this potential effort is to develop, improve, and advance radio frequency (RF) spectral characterization and automated machine-to-machine signal processing capabilities for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) tactical and strategic warfighting forces. Please refer to the Special Notice, Attachment No. 2, Draft Statement of Work (SOW), for additional information. To fulfill this requirement, Contractor employees will need to obtain Common Access Cards (CACs), perform on Government facilities in the United States and other locations, and access up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).  It is anticipated that only United States (US) citizens may perform under this effort.

The Government is considering establishing one or more contracts / task orders / other transactions with an overall performance period of 5-7 years.  Anticipated contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF).  Anticipated funding types are Research Development Test & Evaluation, Procurement, and Operations & Maintenance.  Please note that the contract type and duration are subject to change as the acquisition strategy is developed.

All Responses shall be submitted via email to todd.howlett@us.af.mil and shelley.dormio@us.af.mil by 12PM (EST) THUR 18 Sep 2025

FOREIGN PARTICIPATION EXCLUDED. Foreign participation is excluded at the prime contractor level. 

OMBUDSMAN. In accordance with DAFFARS 5301.91, an Ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerers, poten­tial offerers, and others for this acquisition. Before consulting with an Ombudsman, in­terested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the Contracting Officer, Shelley Dormio, (315) 330-(2116), Shelley.Dormio@us.af.mil, for resolu­tion. DAFFARS Clause 5352.201-9101 Ombudsman, will be incorporated into the resultant contract. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confiden­tiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the Ombudsman does not af­fect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection offi­cial. Further, the Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudi­cation of protests or formal contract dis­putes. The Ombudsman may refer the party to another official who can resolve the con­cern. Consulting an Ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for de­briefings, employee-employer actions, con­tests of 0MB Circular A-76 competition per­formance decisions). If resolution cannot be made by the Contracting Officer, con­cerned parties may contact the following AFRL Ombudsman: AFRL/PK Technical Director; Alternate Ombudsman: AFRL/PK Deputy Director 1864 4th Street, WPAFB OH 45433; FAX (937) 656-7321; COM (937) 904-9700, afrl.pk.workflow@us.af.mil. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and rec­ommendations that cannot be resolved at the AFRL level, may be brought by the con­cerned party for further consideration to the Air Force Ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (571) 256-2395, facsimile number (571) 256-2431. The Ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency. Do not contact the Ombudsman to request copies of the solici­tation, verify offer due date, or clarify tech­nical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer. 

FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENTS. 

It is important to note that this Request for Information is not a Request for Proposal.  No solicitation is being issued at this time.  This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach.  Any information provided to the Government as a result of this Request for Information is voluntary.  No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses or the Government’s use of such information.

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