DCGS Enterprise Field Support (DEFS)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) is conducting market research via a Sources Sought to identify potential sources for DCGS Enterprise Field Support (DEFS). This effort aims to consolidate existing DCGS GEOINT Field Support (DGFS) and DCGS SIGINT Field Support (DSFS) into a single enterprise contract. The objective is to provide comprehensive 24/7/365 sustainment and field support for the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS) weapon system across approximately 20 global locations, maintaining a 99.5% Operational Availability (Ao) rate. Responses are due April 1, 2026.
Scope of Work
The DEFS contractor will provide all personnel, management, and services for complete sustainment of the AF DCGS enterprise, including:
- Global Field Support: On-site field service engineers and technicians at all AF DCGS locations.
- System & Network Administration: Management and maintenance of complex server architecture, workstations, and networks processing data up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level.
- Cybersecurity: Continuous compliance with DoD and Intelligence Community directives, including patching, vulnerability scanning, and incident response.
- Hardware Maintenance & Logistics: Preventative and corrective maintenance, and global spares inventory management.
- Program Management: Centralized oversight to ensure performance standards across all sites.
Critical Capabilities & Challenges
Interested parties must demonstrate the ability to meet significant requirements:
- Workforce: Provide and maintain several hundred personnel with active TS/SCI security clearances and relevant technical certifications.
- Global Footprint: Possess infrastructure and management capability to support approximately 20 geographically dispersed CONUS and OCONUS locations.
- Transition without Service Disruption: Execute a full transition within 60 days of contract award without degrading service or failing the 99.5% Ao requirement.
- System-Specific Experience: Demonstrated experience supporting the complex hardware and software components of the AF DCGS weapon system.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Market Research
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Response Due: April 1, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT
- Published: March 16, 2026
Requested Information
Interested parties should submit a Capability Statement (not to exceed 15 pages) addressing:
- Company Information (CAGE, UEI, small business status).
- Detailed Workforce Capability plan for recruiting, clearing, and retaining TS/SCI personnel globally.
- Transition Plan explaining how a 60-day transition will be executed without service disruption.
- Summary of 2-3 recent (within 5 years) contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity.
- Direct experience with the AF DCGS weapon system or comparable ISR ground systems.
Submission Instructions
- Request the Performance Work Statement (PWS) via email.
- Submissions via email to barry.frank@us.af.mil and samantha.taylor.12@us.af.mil.
- Subject line: "Response to Sources Sought: DEFS."
Additional Notes
This is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment to award a contract. The Government will not reimburse costs for response preparation.