Small Business Concern Interest in the Software Engineering Center’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) Program

Request for information (RFI): Small Business Concern Interest in the Software Engineering Center’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) Program

Response date: Two weeks from posting.  

Contact information and where to send information: Andrea Armstrong, Acquisition and Business Manager, 520-671-4414, usarmy.apg.cecom.mbx.sec-cite-p3@army.mil

This RFI is issued solely for information-gathering purposes only. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), Software Engineering Center (SEC) is seeking information from small business (SB) concerns to assess the community’s interest in learning more about the SEC’s public-private partnership (P3) program. This is not a request for a quote, request for proposal, request for a proof of concept, or an invitation to bid. This is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.  The Government will not reimburse or pay for responses provided regarding this RFI.

Background:

In fiscal year (FY) 2024, the U.S. Army adopted a continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) model for software.  Under this model, software is continuously and iteratively developed and upgraded throughout the system’s lifecycle.  Therefore, software support activities no longer transition to life cycle management commands and no longer use a central sustainment fund.  Software lifecycle support funding is now allocated directly to program offices (program managers, in turn, will fund organizations they deem most appropriate for execution of software support activities).

Since the 1980s, CECOM SEC has provided software acquisition and maintenance support to the U.S. Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) capabilities.  Currently, SEC manages software maintenance, to include cyber updates for more than 60 tactical weapon systems that transitioned to SEC prior to FY24. SEC also provide software capability support for five enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (AESIP Hub, GFEBS, GFEBS SA, GCSS-Army, LMP).

Opportunity to Discuss Small Business Concern Partnerships:

CECOM and SEC leadership supports the U.S. Army’s shift to CI/CD, recognizing that P3s with industry are essential for enhancing software capabilities and delivering timely, resilient solutions. As the U.S. Army’s largest software organization and a designated Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence (CITE) for C5ISR software maintenance, SEC offers industry partners access to our core capabilities in software development, testing, cybersecurity, electromagnetic warfare reprogramming, CI/CD infrastructure, enterprise resource planning, field support, and acquisition support services. We are confident that partnerships can bring significant value to industry, the U.S. Army, and the Department of Defense (DoD), fostering innovation, efficiency, and mutual success.

There are three different types of DoD P3s:

• Direct Sale: An arrangement that allows a commercial entity performing under a DoD contract to enter into a quasi-subcontractual relationship with a CITE-designated activity for sale of goods and/or services from the CITE-designated activity to the commercial entity.
• Lease: An arrangement that allows a commercial entity to have access to, and beneficial use of, a CITE-designated activity’s facilities or equipment.
• Workshare: An arrangement in which a DoD buying activity, in collaboration with a commercial entity and CITE-designated activity, determines the best mix of work capitalizing on each partner’s capabilities. The workload is then allocated to each partner. The DoD buying activity funds the commercial activity through a contract and funds the CITE-designated activity through a project or work order.

Purpose of the RFI:

SEC is committed to establishing strong, value-driven partnerships with SB firms as P3 partners. This RFI aims to assess the interest of the SB community in collaborating with CECOM SEC by aligning SEC’s core capabilities with industry needs to support critical Government contract requirements. SEC is also eager to understand what specific information SBs need to fully leverage its capabilities and maximize partnership value.

Questions for Industry:

1. Interest, Capabilities and Support Needs:

• As a SB concern, would your company be interested in a P3 with SEC?
• Are there specific software capabilities within SEC (e.g., CI/CD infrastructure, cybersecurity, ERP support) that your company would find beneficial in a partnership?
• What types of software support or services would be most valuable to you in a partnership with SEC?

2. SB Industry Day Participation:

• Would your company be interested in attending an SEC-hosted SB Industry Day focused on exploring partnerships?
• Are there particular topics or demonstrations you would like SEC to cover during an Industry Day?

3. P3 Structure and Implementation:

• What partnership models or structures (e.g., direct sale, lease, or workshare) would work best for your company in a P3 with SEC?
• Is there additional information or areas of interest that you would like to discuss with SEC regarding a potential partnership?

Your responses to the questions above will help us better understand your needs and enable us to tailor an SEC SB Industry Day to provide valuable insights into potential partnerships with SEC. We welcome your feedback and suggestions to make this engagement as beneficial as possible. In your response, please include a brief overview of your company and any previous experience with Government P3s.