Project Sabre - Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding "CSO Project Sabre, Call 001". It clarifies requirements, submission guidelines, and technical details across several focus areas.

• Response Requirements: Individual call instructions take precedence over base CSO instructions. Responses must be limited to the specific requirements of the call (e.g., five pages or ten slides).
• Submission Format: Briefing slides are allowable for submission. There are no specific formatting or font restrictions for presentation slides, and cover pages do not count towards the page limit.
• Contract Vehicle: The determination of whether the procurement will utilize a FAR-based contract or an Other Transaction (OTA) will depend on the offeror's proposal and justification for an OT.
• Focus Area 1 (Jamming): Many technical parameters for jamming (e.g., target frequencies, number of nodes, range, power output, duration) are up to the vendor to decide, with demonstrations required to prove functionality and adhere to the desired form, fit, and function as presented in the Call.
• Focus Area 2 (SOSA Compliance): The government desires to test SOSA 3U PICs for conformance, and vendors can propose testing all or part of SOSA 3U PIC conformance.
• Focus Area 4 (MPUs): Vendors are expected to provide their own MPUs and convert existing Big Iron 4.0 MPUs to AMS GRA MPUs; the USG will not provide an MPU.
• Focus Area 5 (AMS GRA Rules): The intention is to automate AMS GRA rules as much as possible. Vendors are encouraged to provide updates to AMS GRA rules that maintain intent while increasing automation. AMS GRA change packages consist of documented proposed changes to the standard.

This document clarifies ambiguities in the original solicitation, providing vendors with specific guidance on submission requirements, technical expectations for various focus areas, and the nature of deliverables. It emphasizes that vendor-specific decisions are often permitted within defined parameters, particularly in technical areas like jamming and MPU development.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) titled "Project Sabre – Call 001". The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) is seeking innovative commercial items, technologies, and services to mature, prototype, and develop tooling for Open Architectures (OAs) for various weapon systems and platforms. The CSO procedures are being used in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 3458 and DoD Class Deviation 2022-00007. The government intends to award FAR Part 12, Firm Fixed Price contracts or Other Transaction for Prototype Projects (pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 4022), with a preference for fixed-price instruments.

The solicitation is divided into five distinct technical Focus Areas:

• Focus Area 1: Sensor Open System Architecture® (SOSA) Consortium Nano Hardware: Develop a modular, reconfigurable nano-sized Radio Frequency (RF) payload for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and tube-launched systems. This includes addressing thermal dissipation, ruggedization, and secure boot/reprogramming. A down-select after an initial three (3) month technical sprint is planned.
• Focus Area 2: SOSA 3U Hardware Conformance Tool: Create a reconfigurable test tool to verify that 3U Plug-In Cards conform to the SOSA hardware standard, including system management and automated report generation.
• Focus Area 3: MBSE Automated Documentation, Code Generation, and Analysis: Apply Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) best practices to develop and manage MBSE artifacts (SysML, FACE UDDL) and provide changes within the SOSA Consortium, Agile Mission Suite (AMS) Government Reference Architecture (GRA), and Universal Command and Control Interface (UCI) consortia.
• Focus Area 4: Big Iron (BI) and AMS GRA Transition Guide Maturation and Training Material: Migrate BI software components to the AMS GRA, including developing integration guides and training materials.
• Focus Area 5: AMS GRA Software Conformance Tool: Develop a scalable software tool to automatically verify that service components (MPUs) conform to the AMS GRA software interface and behavior standards.

The government may award multiple awards. The contract type will be fixed-price instruments. The period of performance is not explicitly stated but involves initial sprints and potential follow-on efforts.

This is a two-step solicitation:

• Step 1: Solution Brief: Due by 6 March 2026. Offerors submit Solution Briefs addressing one Focus Area. Clarifying questions are due two weeks after the call is posted, with responses anticipated sixteen days after posting. Solution Briefs and questions should be submitted via email to aflcmc.wa.projectsabrecso@us.af.mil.
• Step 2: Technology Demonstration: Offerors whose Solution Briefs are deemed "Selectable Plus" or "Selectable" may be invited to Step 2, which includes an oral presentation, technology demonstration, full price proposal, and a Task Order Statement of Work. Demonstrations are anticipated within 30 days of Solution Brief selection.

Evaluation criteria for Step 1 include vendor's ability to work in a CUI environment, novelty of the commercial product application, technical approach, data rights, and scope relative to price. Technical evaluation is prioritized over price in Step 2.

This solicitation is open to commercial items and services. Specific eligibility for Other Transaction (OT) agreements is mentioned, particularly for non-traditional defense contractors.

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) documents related to MBSE artifacts, AMS GRA, and SOSA are available upon request via email to aflcmc.wa.projectsabrecso@us.af.mil, along with CMMC Level 2 Self-Attestation Form or equivalent documentation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document establishes the framework for a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) under Project Sabre, managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). The CSO aims to solicit and award innovative commercial solutions for mission system capabilities, focusing on open architectures and standards to revolutionize warfighting capability delivery. It seeks to leverage commercial technologies to solve integration challenges, acquire platform-agnostic hardware and software, and reduce vendor lock-in. Awards may be made via FAR Part 12 Contracts or Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022.

The CSO is designed to inject commercial best practices into Air Force architectures, create standard-compliant software, and leverage the commercial marketplace. Specific solution requirements will be detailed in future "Calls" (amendments) to this CSO, which will outline Areas of Interest (AOI), problem statements, and evaluation criteria. Key technology focus areas include:

• Robust Digital Infrastructure
• Mission Engineering & Analysis
• Integrated Open Architectures & Standards
• Cybersecurity, Compliance, Verification, & Test
• Design and Instantiation
• Marketplace Development

Awards may be FAR Part 12 Contracts or Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs). The Government will seek either Firm Fixed Price (FFP) or Fixed Price Incentive (FPI) contract types. The period of performance for any Solution Brief or proposal submitted under this CSO should generally not exceed 24 months.

The process typically involves three steps:

1. Solution Brief: A 2-5 page summary or 10-slide deck addressing the AOI.
2. Pitch Session: An invited oral presentation and/or product demonstration for down-selection and clarification.
3. Final Proposal: A full technical and price proposal for negotiation and potential award.

Evaluation will be based on merit against criteria in each specific Call. The Government is not obligated to make any awards and reserves the right to modify requirements.

While not explicitly detailed as a set-aside in this overarching CSO document, specific Calls may include requirements. The document notes that OTAs may require participation from nontraditional defense contractors or small businesses, and at least one-third of total cost may need to be provided by non-Federal sources.

No specific proposals or solution briefs are requested at this time. All requests will be issued via Calls published as amendments to this CSO. Vendors are encouraged to check SAM.gov frequently for new Call postings. Vendors must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov prior to award.