AMC/A6 Information Technology Needs Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) - Amendment 03

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains questions submitted by potential offerors and the Government's responses regarding the AMC/A6 Information Technology Needs Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO).

• Set-Aside Status: The CSO itself is not restricted, but the Area of Interest (AOI) for this specific effort (FA445226SC001) is set aside exclusively for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). Future AOIs may have different set-aside statuses.
• Contract Type: The resulting award for this AOI will be a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract under FAR, not an Other Transaction (OT).
• White Paper Submission:
  • White Papers shall not exceed 10 pages or 15 slides, excluding the title page/slide and table of contents. Font should be 12 pt Times New Roman.
  • The Statement of Work (SOW) and detailed project schedule are excluded from the page/slide limit.
  • A Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate is required for the Total Project Price (Section C), not a binding FFP price.
  • The SOW and project schedule for Step One are simple and will be updated in Step Two.
• Scope of Work:
  • The effort includes modernization of Base Area Networks (BAN), encompassing Wide Area Networks (WAN), wireless, voice, and cloud readiness.
  • It includes Outside Plant (OSP) infrastructure assessment and repair, and potentially replacement.
  • Flight line and airfield communications infrastructure are included.
  • Geographically Separated Units (GSUs) are included on a case-by-case basis.
  • The effort is focused on CONUS locations.
  • The scope is design and implement only, not operate-and-sustain.
• Technical Requirements:
  • The Government requires solutions that are modular, scalable, and ready for AI demands, emphasizing high-bandwidth, low-latency architectures with Zero Trust security.
  • NAICS code 541512 was initially selected but is not solidified; offerors can propose alternative NAICS codes (e.g., 541715 for R&D) with reasoning.
  • Cross-Domain Solutions (CDS) are not required for this effort.
  • The Government will provide assistance with RMF/ATO updates, but the contractor must provide artifacts.
  • Comply-to-Connect (C2C) integration or optimization is expected.
  • Zero Trust maturity should align with DoD targets.
  • eMASS is the system of record for GRC.
• Evaluation: White Paper evaluation factors (Technical, Importance to Agency, Price) are equally weighted.

Several amendments have been issued to clarify guidance on White Paper content, page limits, pricing, and technical requirements. Offerors should ensure they are referencing the latest amendments for accurate submission details. The White Paper due date was extended.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 03 to the solicitation, dated 04/28/2026. It notes that all amendment changes are highlighted in red font.

• The document clarifies that responses will only be accepted from Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) for Area of Interest 1: Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6 – Base Information Technology Modernization.

• The White Paper Due Date has been extended to 12 May 2026, at 14:00 CST, due to changes resulting from questions during the Q&A period.

• A detailed updated Statement of Work (SOW) is required in Step Two, identifying all work to be performed, key deliverables, and a project schedule, incorporating any new information learned or provided during Step Two.

• The White Paper Due Date has been extended to 12 May 2026, at 14:00 CST.

• Offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments to the solicitation.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 03 to the solicitation for Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6 – Base Information Technology Modernization. All changes are noted in red font.

• The document introduces the "Introduction & Mission Objective" and "The Challenge: Critical Infrastructure Vulnerabilities" sections, outlining AMC's need to transform its IT infrastructure due to outdated systems, operational inefficiencies, limited data sharing, poor scalability, and degraded warfighter effectiveness.

• It details a two-step selection process: Step One: White Paper Submission and Step Two: Detailed Approach (By Invitation Only).

• Key deadlines have been updated: Questions Due Date is no later than 10 April 2026, and the White Paper Due Date is on or before 12 May 2026. The White Paper due date was extended due to changes from the Q&A period.

• The "White Paper Content & Technical Approach" section has been expanded to include specific requirements for Sections A, B, C, and D, including a Statement of Work (SOW) and detailed project schedule.

• The "White Paper Evaluation" criteria are clarified as Technical Merit, Importance to Agency, and Price, with proposals categorized as Acceptable or Not Acceptable.

• "Contract Administration & General Information" details that the award will be a firm-fixed-price contract, requires a Tier 3 Security Investigation with "SECRET" eligibility and "SECRET" facilities clearance, and lists potential "Location of Work" sites.

• Attachment 1 is identified as a "Q&A Matrix – With Answers Provided."

• The White Paper due date has been extended to 12 May 2026.

• The evaluation factors for proposals are clarified.

• Specific requirements for the White Paper content and the subsequent Detailed Approach have been elaborated.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains questions submitted by potential offerors and the Government's responses, clarifying various aspects of the solicitation for the Air Mobility Command (AMC) Base Information Technology (BIT) Modernization Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO).

• Set-Aside Status: The CSO itself is not restricted by socioeconomic category. However, the specific Area of Interest (AOI) for base modernization is set aside exclusively for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). Future AOIs may be unrestricted or set aside.
• Contract Type: The resulting award for this AOI will be a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract under FAR. Other Transaction (OT) for prototype is not being considered for this AOI.
• White Paper Submission: White Papers shall not exceed 10 pages or 15 slides, excluding the title page/slide and table of contents. Font should be 12 pt Times New Roman. The Statement of Work (SOW) and detailed project schedule are excluded from this page limit.
• Scope of Work: The effort includes modernization of Base Area Networks (BAN), encompassing Wide Area Network (WAN), wireless, voice, and cloud readiness. It covers design, installation, and system acceptance testing, with a focus on CONUS locations. Outside Plant (OSP) and flight line/airfield communications infrastructure are included. The scope is design and implement only, not operate-and-sustain.
• Government-Furnished Data: Offerors should budget for fully independent discovery and documentation of the existing infrastructure. A sample topology can be provided in Step 2, but the government reserves the right to limit detailed topology that would highlight critical ITNs and IPNs.
• NAICS Code: NAICS code 541512 was selected during initial market research but is not solidified. Offerors can propose alternative NAICS codes (including 541715 for R&D) with reasoning. The government is open to changing the selected NAICS.
• Pricing: A Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate with stated assumptions is required for the White Paper. Supporting pricing data is included within the page limitations.
• Teaming: SDVOSBs may team with large business subcontractors, provided the SDVOSB prime performs at least 51% of the work.

Several amendments have been issued to clarify guidance, particularly regarding White Paper content, page limits, SOW/schedule inclusion, and pricing. Offerors should refer to the latest amendments for updated requirements. The response date for the White Paper has been extended.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 03 to the solicitation for Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6 – Base Information Technology Modernization. Key points include:

• Acquisition Status: Due to questions received during the Q&A period, the CSO and AOI are currently on pause while the acquisition strategy is further examined. Bidders should monitor SAM.gov for future updates.
• White Paper Due Date Extension: The White Paper due date was extended to 12 May 2026, at 14:00 CST, due to changes resulting from the Q&A period.
• Q&A Matrix Posting: The Q&A Matrix will be posted once the Acquisition Strategy is determined.
• Updated SOW: An updated Statement of Work (SOW) is to be included in Step Two, reflecting any new information learned or provided during that phase.

• The White Paper due date has been extended.

• The posting of the Q&A Matrix is contingent on the determination of the Acquisition Strategy.

• An updated SOW is required for Step Two.

• The deadline for White Paper submissions has been extended to 12 May 2026.

• Bidders should continue to monitor SAM.gov for further updates regarding the acquisition strategy.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 02 to the solicitation for Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6 Base Information Technology Modernization. All amendment changes are noted in red font.

• The document indicates that due to questions received during the Q&A period, the CSO and AOI are currently on pause as the acquisition strategy is further examined and determined. Offerors are advised to monitor SAM.gov for future updates.

• The "Questions Due Date" is no later than April 10, 2026, at 14:00 CST. The "Q&A Matrix" will be posted on the 10th following the question deadline, or once the Acquisition Strategy is determined.

• The "White Paper Due Date" is on or before XX Month 2026, at 14:00 CST, and will be extended when the Acquisition Strategy is finalized.

• Proposals will be evaluated on Technical Merit, Importance to Agency, and Price, all of equal importance, categorized as Acceptable or Not Acceptable.

• The resulting award will be a firm-fixed-price contract.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 02 to the solicitation for the Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6 Base Information Technology Modernization. All amendment changes are noted in red font.

• The Q&A period has concluded, and due to questions received, the CSO and AOI are currently on pause as the acquisition strategy is further examined and determined. Offerors are advised to monitor SAM.gov for future updates.

• The Q&A Matrix will be posted once the Acquisition Strategy is determined, due to potential changes resulting from questions received during the Q&A period.

• The due date for the White Paper submission is on or before 24 April 2026, at 14:00 CST.

• The Q&A Matrix posting date is dependent on the determination of the Acquisition Strategy.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 01 to the solicitation for Area of Interest 1: Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6 – Base Information Technology Modernization. All amendment changes are noted in red font within the document.

This amendment does not explicitly list changed sections but indicates that all changes are noted in red font throughout the document.

This amendment does not appear to modify proposal deadlines or submission requirements, but offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments to the solicitation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Question/Comment Matrix intended for offerors to submit questions or comments regarding the solicitation FA445226SC001. It also includes a section for Government Only answers.

• Question #: Unique identifier for each question.
• Attachment: Reference to any specific attachment related to the question.
• Pg #: Page number in the solicitation where the question originates.
• Par. #: Paragraph number in the solicitation where the question originates.
• Comment/Question: The specific question or comment from the offeror.
• Answer: The official response from the Government.

This matrix serves as the official channel for bidders to seek clarification on the solicitation requirements. Bidders should use this form to submit any questions they have, and the provided answers will help them understand the requirements more clearly and prepare a compliant proposal.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for the Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6, seeking innovative methodologies and solutions to support secure, scalable, multi- and cross-domain IT transformation, encompassing the core, edge, and cloud components of Air Force IT infrastructure. The government is looking for innovative solutions or potential new capabilities to fulfill requirements, close capability gaps, or provide technological advancements.

• The solicitation is a Hybrid Two-Step Solicitation, open until February 26, 2031. Submissions will only be accepted following specific Area of Interest (AOI) submission due dates and times.

• Offerors must submit unclassified White Papers.

• A Secret Clearance is required for all responders.

• White Papers must include Section A: Company Information (Title of Project, Name of Company, Business Size, CAGE number, UEI number, POCs, Facility Clearance if required) and Section B: Technical Solution (specified in posted AOI(s)). Additional sections may be posted in individual AOI(s).

• The second step involves submitting a Detailed Approach, which includes a technical approach, PWS, project schedule, and required government support, as well as a price schedule.

• The Air Force anticipates the award of Firm-Fixed Price type contracts or agreements.

• The government reserves the right to award one or more, or no, contracts/agreements.

• Awards are subject to the availability of funds.

• White Papers are due by dates and times specified in each AOI. Offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for amendments.

• White Papers will be evaluated based on Technical, Importance to agency, and Price. The evaluation factor importance will be determined in the applicable AOI(s).

• Evaluation method: Scientific, technological, and/or other subject-matter experts peer review process.

• Those whose White Papers are of interest will be notified for Step Two: Detailed Approach submission.

• All responses to AOIs shall be valid for 180 calendar days after the submission date.

• This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose.

• Participation at the prime level is prohibited. Subcontracting arrangements will be handled in accordance with ITAR.

• Foreign national participation is limited to public domain information only.

• Deliverables/Schedule and Base Support/Network Access will be specified in each AOI.

• Program Security Classification, Export Control, and Government Furnished Property (GFP) availability will be specified in each AOI.

• Offerors must complete Annual Representations and Certifications in SAM.gov.

• Ineligible for award if CSO and AOI requirements are not met by the due dates.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines a solicitation for the Air Mobility Command (AMC) A6 Base Information Technology Modernization. The objective is to transform AMC's current outdated and inefficient IT infrastructure to enable data-driven, globally maneuverable airpower. The existing system suffers from operational inefficiencies, limited data sharing, poor scalability, and degraded warfighter effectiveness.

This is a two-step process:

• Step One: White Paper Submission: Requires a technical approach including a title page, technical approach narrative, and identification of government support needed. The white paper will be evaluated for "Selectable" or "Not Selectable" status.

• Step Two: Detailed Approach (By Invitation Only): "Selectable" offerors will be invited to submit a fully written detailed approach. This includes:

  • Assessment & Analysis Methodology for existing IT infrastructure.
  • Proposed Future State Architecture (secure, scalable, resilient, including cloud and edge).
  • Transition & Implementation Roadmap with KPIs and a detailed SOW.
  • Core Technical Capabilities & Approach (System Integration, Network Design, Multi-Solution Testing, Large-Scale Installation).
  • Cybersecurity & Compliance Framework (RMF, C-SCRM, Classified Operations).

• The resulting award will be a firm-fixed-price contract.

• Funding is subject to availability and will be sought for innovative and affordable solutions.

• Questions Due Date: 10 April 2026, 14:00 CST.

• White Paper Due Date: 24 April 2026, 14:00 CST.

• Evaluation: Proposals will be evaluated on Technical Merit, Importance to Agency, and Price (all equal importance), categorized as Acceptable or Not Acceptable.

• Submission POCs: Lisa Pendragon (lisa.pendragon@us.af.mil) and Elijah Dodd (elijah.dodd@us.af.mil).

• Responses will only be accepted from Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBS).

• Offerors will require access to classified information up to the SECRET level.

• Personnel must have a minimum Tier 3 Security Investigation with "SECRET" eligibility and be enrolled in Continuous Vetting.

• A "SECRET" facilities clearance is required.

• Offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for amendments.

• Work will primarily be performed at government-furnished facilities at AMC installations.

• Travel may be required to various AMC installations listed in the document.