OTD Ethernet Sniffer-RFI

Request for Information (RFI)

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the FBI's Operational Technology Division (OTD) for market research purposes. The FBI is seeking information on commercially available Ethernet packet capture software and platforms to potentially meet future requirements for an "Ethernet Sniffer." This RFI is not a solicitation and does not obligate the FBI to award a contract. Responses will help formulate final requirements and identify qualified vendors for future competitive solicitations.

• High-performance, customizable Ethernet packet capture capability.

• Software application installable on industry-standard x86 physical & virtual computers running Ubuntu Server (24.04+).

• Unattended, headless service operation without requiring a Linux X server.

• Promiscuous, receive-only mode; no transmission of frames during capture.

• Ability to receive and make available all Ethernet frames regardless of type, size, or FCS validity.

• Compatibility with COTS PCIe-based Network Interface Cards (NICs), including current Intel Corp PCIe NICs.

• Containerized solution (Docker/OCI) support.

• Support for multiple, independent sniffer instances, each receiving a complete copy of packet data.

• No remote activation or ongoing remote network communication required for operation.

• Site license for unlimited installation within the OTD unit.

• Packet data storage only after capture criteria are met, with configurable filters for criteria definition.

• Filters supporting AND/OR/NOT logic combinations on packet data.

• Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for extending filtering, capturing, virtual adapter development, logging arbitrary events, and reporting statistics.

• REST API for full configuration, management, and monitoring.

• Output of captured packets in industry-standard, time-stamped PCAP format with file rotation.

• Must be a commercially available product.

• Interested manufacturers should submit capability packages.

• Responses should be succinct and address FBI requirements, assumptions, and contemplated approaches.

• Submissions must be in Word, Excel, or searchable PDF format, no more than 15 pages.

• Submissions are due by 12pm Eastern Time on March 23rd, 2026.

• Questions must be submitted via email using the RFI Question Template by March 4th, 2026, 12pm ET.

• Questions received by the deadline will receive a response by March 11th, 2026.

• Open to manufacturers offering software and platforms.

• Prioritizes COTS that adhere to stringent security, compliance, and data protection standards.

• Company name, business size, evidence of technical ability, personnel, and experience are requested.

• No funds are available to pay for response preparation.

• Submissions are strictly voluntary.

• The FBI may request demonstrations or issue a secondary RFI to respondents meeting initial requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing a template for Request for Information (RFI) questions. It appears to be a standardized format for vendors to submit questions to the government regarding an opportunity.

• The template includes columns for 'Question #', 'Question', and 'Government Response'.
• The provided sheet is titled 'RFCs' (likely meaning 'Requests for Clarification' or similar).

This template is relevant to bidders as it outlines the expected format for submitting questions during an RFI or solicitation process. Vendors should use this template, or a similar format if specified elsewhere, to ensure their questions are clearly presented and can be efficiently addressed by the government.