E-4B National and Nuclear Communication Support (N2CS) Services

Quick Summary

The Department of the Air Force is seeking E-4B National and Nuclear Communication Support (N2CS) Services to sustain and modernize mission communication systems aboard E-4B aircraft. This is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with an estimated ceiling of $984M over a 10-year ordering period. The government intends to award this to Joint Venture Strategic Mission Systems (7NF16). Responses are due September 16, 2026.

Scope of Work

This ID/IQ will procure comprehensive sustainment and modernization services for E-4B mission communication systems. Key services include:

• Engineering, program management, and Field Service Representative (FSR) support.
• Specialized software sustainment and modernization.
• Cybersecurity support.
• Facilities management support and expansion of the System Integration Lab (SIL).
• Liaison engineering, logistics, certifications, test support, maintenance, troubleshooting, tech refreshes, and upgrades.
• Studies for system upgrades and obsolescence issues. The E-4B aircraft serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), a critical component of the National Military Command System (NMCS) for the President, Secretary of Defense, and Joint Chiefs of Staff, providing survivable command and control communications.

Contract & Timeline

• Type: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ)
• Estimated Ceiling: $984,000,000
• Ordering Period: Up to 10 years, broken into 3-year increments.
• Minimum Order: $500,000 (met with the first order).
• Set-Aside: None specified.
• Response Due: September 16, 2026, 1:00 PM Z
• Published: July 18, 2025
• Funding: Includes Sustainment (3400), Research and Development (3600), and Modifications (3010) appropriations.
• Intellectual Property: CLIN structure includes separately priced CLINS for IP rights; applicable data rights clauses will be in the base ID/IQ and task orders.

Additional Notes

• Access to draft RFP documents requires an approved DD 2345 form.
• A Justification & Approval (J&A) was approved on July 4, 2025, under FAR 6.302-1.
• The acquisition is subject to Free Trade Agreements and the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement.
• The government intends to award to Joint Venture Strategic Mission Systems (7NF16), comprising Enclave Management, Inc., Crescent Systems, Inc., and Executive Airborne Solutions, Inc.
• All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation for consideration.