Ubuntu Pro

The Department of the Air Force Air Combat Command is seeking to procure 30 licenses for Ubuntu Pro, a specialized operating system with FIPS Module capabilities, to support the 505 CTG/CAOC-X Rancher Kubernetes Environment (RKE) Containerization platform. This brand name purchase is specifically designed to support research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) events and infrastructure management tools. The solicitation, posted on March 19, 2025, requires proposals to be submitted by March 26, 2025, with a desired contract structure including one base year and potential for four additional option years. The procurement will utilize AFFARS 5313.501 authority under 10 U.S.C. 2302b, emphasizing the critical nature of the Ubuntu Pro operating system in meeting stringent security requirements from NIST, CIS, and DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides. While specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed, the justification suggests a focus on the software's security features and compatibility with existing infrastructure.

The solicitation is not designated as a set-aside contract and will be performed at Langley AFB, Virginia. The period of performance is scheduled for one year, from April 26, 2025, through April 25, 2026, with the funding level positioned between the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) and $750,000. The contract falls under the Software Publishers NAICS category (513210) and the IT and Telecom Business Application Software PSC category (7A21). The procurement will be posted on 2GIT and SAM.gov to ensure broad source awareness, with the contracting activity being ACC AMIC/PKBC. Vendors are expected to provide separate pricing for the base year and each of the four potential option years, indicating the government's interest in long-term, flexible licensing arrangements for this critical infrastructure software.