RFI - Commercial Solutions Opening: Tactical Oceanography Supporting Full-Spectrum Undersea Warfare

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to industry questions regarding the "RFI - Commercial Solutions Opening: Tactical Oceanography Supporting Full-Spectrum Undersea Warfare" (CSO).

• Contract Type: Awards will be prototype Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. 4022. Sole source follow-on production is a possibility.

• Participation: Non-traditional defense contractors are allowed to participate as prime offerors or team members.

• Content: White papers will be limited to unclassified content, though classified addenda may be requested.

• Topic Areas: The CSO is open to various prototype concepts aligned with the Statement of Work (SOW) objectives, not limited to specific prototypes.

• Award Structure: Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Response Dates: Key dates include RFI response (2/6), CSO posting (2/13), Solution briefs/white papers (3/13), and Award timing (4/1). These dates are subject to change.

• Past Performance: References should be from a system of record (e.g., CPARS) or from a source with direct knowledge of performance.

• Technical Focus: Areas of interest include sensing, data fusion, modeling/analytics, operator training, and end-to-end system demonstrations. Environmental data integration and sensor limitations are also relevant.

• Evaluation: The Government currently plans to evaluate based on technical merit.

• Autonomy: While concepts can inform autonomy improvements, actual autonomy development is not included in the SOW.

• Clarifies the nature of the solicitation as a CSO for prototype OTAs.

• Provides specific dates for key milestones, including the due date for solution briefs/white papers.

• Outlines expectations for proposal content, evaluation, and contract type.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to industry questions regarding the "RFI - Commercial Solutions Opening: Tactical Oceanography Supporting Full-Spectrum Undersea Warfare" (CSO).

• Secret Level SOW: No secret level SOW will be accessible.
• Non-Traditional Contractors: Participation is allowed for non-traditional defense contractors, either as prime offerors or as part of a teaming arrangement.
• White Papers: Initial white papers will be unclassified. Classified addenda may be requested later.
• Award Structure: Awards will be limited to prototype Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. 4022. Sole source follow-on production is reserved by the Government.
• Topic Areas: The CSO is open to multiple companies for establishing OTAs and is not seeking proposals for specific prototypes.
• Industry Day: The Government does not currently plan to host an industry day or virtual information session but will consider it.
• Award Type: Multiple awards are anticipated under this CSO.
• Contract Type: Individual requirements may be Cost Plus Fixed Fee or Firm Fixed Price.
• Response Period: The CSO is expected to be open for approximately 30 days.
• RFP Release: Projected RFP release date is on or about February 13, 2026.
• Solutions Brief Due Date: Anticipated due date for responses is on or about March 13, 2026.
• Past Performance: References should be from a system of record (e.g., CPARS) or from a source with direct knowledge of performance.
• SeaPort Vehicle: A SeaPort Task Order is not relevant to this requirement except as it may relate to past performance.
• DD 254: DD 254s will be posted as attachments when the CSO is posted.
• New Contract: This is a new contract.
• Experimentation Interest: Interest exists in experimentation focused on deployment concepts, survivability, activation timing, and recovery of undersea devices, in addition to sensor performance and data exploitation.
• Undersea Systems: Concepts involving long-duration, dormant undersea systems that activate on command are considered responsive.
• Technical Focus Areas: All listed focus areas (analytical studies, modeling, operator decision aids, software-centric prototypes, sensor integration, end-to-end demonstrations) are of interest.
• Deliverables: Primary deliverables can include advanced analysis, modeling, simulation, operational assessment, and decision-support artifacts, with hardware development potentially as a follow-on.
• Execution: Both integrated technical execution across multiple areas and specialized contributions are welcomed.
• Follow-on Potential Criteria: Criteria for follow-on production or expanded prototyping include technical performance metrics, operational utility demonstrations, integration readiness, analyst/operator adoption, and transition partner alignment.
• Training Materials: Training materials, analyst/operator education, structured knowledge transfer, and institutional documentation are valued.
• TAC-O Origin: The Government is not prepared to answer questions about the origin and history of the TAC-O initiative at this time.
• Primary Users: Primary users include operators and mission planners coordinating hybrid fleet operations.
• Mission Thread: The Government cannot describe a mission thread beyond what is in the SOW; capabilities inform maneuver and system employment for performance and stealth.
• Environmental Data: Interest exists in using environmental data to inform operators about sensor limitations in real time.
• TAC-O Contribution: Industry is expected to inform the Government how they see themselves contributing to environmental knowledge in subsea and seabed warfare.
• Solution Brief Limit: A company can submit one proposal as a prime, with no limit on subcontractor proposals.
• Technical Requirements: Individual companies selected for an OTA will not necessarily be expected to execute "all" Technical Requirements in the SOW.
• Reporting Requirements: Will be indicated in individual projects as applicable.
• Agreements Officer Representative (AOR): Will be assigned at a later date.
• Maturity Levels: Multiple maturity levels for prototypes will be considered.
• Evaluation Criteria: The Government currently plans to evaluate based on technical merit.
• Higher Classification: Transitioning to higher classification levels (Secret or TS/SCI) is possible during the prototype period if the offeror can perform at those levels.
• Data Sources: Both Government-furnished and contractor-generated data will apply.
• Approach Valued: Both onboard environmental sensing and offboard data fusion/decision-support systems are equally valued.
• Follow-on Pathways: Potential follow-on production or transition pathways are anticipated under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 Agreements.
• Industry Events: No industry days, technical interchange meetings, or Q&A sessions are planned at this time following CSO release.

This document clarifies numerous aspects of the upcoming Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), including award types, submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and technical focus areas. It confirms that the CSO will utilize Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) for prototype development and provides key dates for release and response. It also clarifies that initial submissions will be unclassified and that multiple awards are anticipated. The document addresses potential follow-on production and the types of contractors that can participate.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to industry questions regarding the RFI - Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) for Tactical Oceanography Supporting Full-Spectrum Undersea Warfare.

• Question 16: Confirms that this is a brand new contract, not a continuation of incumbent services.
• Question 17: NUWC anticipates interest in experimentation for prototype projects under this CSO, focusing on deployment concepts, survivability, activation timing, and recovery of undersea devices, in addition to sensor performance and data exploitation.
• Question 18: Concepts involving long-duration, dormant undersea systems that activate on command are considered responsive to the TAC-O objectives described in the CSO.

This Q&A clarifies the nature of the contract and the scope of interest for prototype projects, which may influence how vendors prepare their responses.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to industry questions regarding the "RFI - Commercial Solutions Opening: Tactical Oceanography Supporting Full-Spectrum Undersea Warfare" (CSO).

• SOW Access: There is no secret level version of the SOW available through alternate channels.
• Non-Traditional Contractors: Non-traditional defense contractors are permitted to participate as prime offerors or as part of a teaming arrangement.
• Content Classification: White papers will be limited to unclassified content only; classified content is not anticipated prior to award.
• Award Structure: Awards will be limited to prototype Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. 4022. The Government reserves the right for sole source follow-on production.
• Proposal Scope: The CSO seeks to establish OTAs with multiple companies and is not anticipated to require proposals related to specific prototypes, but rather concepts aligned with the synopsis objectives.
• Industry Day: An industry day or virtual information session is not anticipated at this time but will be considered.
• Award Type: The Government anticipates making multiple awards.
• Contract Type: Individual requirements executed against awards may be Cost Plus Fixed Fee or Firm Fixed Price.
• Response Period: The CSO is expected to be open for approximately 30 days.
• RFP Release: The CSO is projected to be released on or about February 13, 2026.
• Solutions Brief Due Date: Responses to the CSO are due on or about March 13, 2026.
• Past Performance: References should be from a system of record (e.g., CPARS) or from a source with direct knowledge of performance on previous requirements.
• DD 254: DD 254s will be posted as attachments when the CSO is posted.

This Q&A document clarifies several aspects of the upcoming CSO, including award types, contract vehicles, submission requirements, and timelines, which bidders should consider when preparing their responses.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) to solicit proposals for commercial technologies and related modeling, simulation, and data analysis. The goal is to accelerate the attainment of defense capabilities through prototype projects. These projects may involve commercially-available technologies, concept demonstrations, pilots, or agile development activities aimed at improving existing capabilities or concepts for defense application. The CSO is soliciting Solution Briefs in response to an attached Statement of Work (SOW).

• The CSO seeks proposals for prototype projects relevant to enhancing undersea warfare (USW) capability.

• Areas of support include oceanography, ocean acoustics, non-acoustics, USW system simulation, experimentation, prototype sensor and device development, systems engineering, operations research and analysis, and submarine tactics.

• Solution Briefs should describe the technology concept, its potential impact on USW systems, and the proposed work.

• Proposals may involve commercially-ready and viable technology, pilot or demonstration of existing technology, or development of new technology for defense application.

• Work may be required at Unclassified/CUI, Secret, and TS/CSI classification levels, as specified in the SOW and DD-254.

• The Government intends to award Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) of up to $20,000,000.

• Awards will be made using OTAs, with the Agreements Officer negotiating terms directly with the selected company.

• The period of performance for a Solution Brief or proposal should generally not exceed 5 years.

• The CSO allows for iterative prototyping and potential follow-on production contracts or agreements without further competition upon successful completion of a prototype project.

• Bidders must submit Solution Briefs in response to the attached SOW.

• Solution Briefs should not exceed five (5) written pages or fifteen (15) briefing slides.

• Evaluation will be based on the merit of the proposed concept in addressing the SOW, not against other submissions.

• Evaluation factors include:

  1. Technical merit and feasibility of the solution.
  2. Past Performance (at least one reference within the last three years).
  3. Potential impact of data rights assertions.
  4. Facilities.

• Offerors are encouraged to provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) price, but price will not be an evaluation factor for the Solution Brief.

• Submissions must be sent electronically via email to the Government Point of Contact (POC): Julianna Ricci – julianna.b.ricci.civ@us.navy.mil.

• Key deadlines are not explicitly stated in this document but are implied to be within the solicitation period.

• The CSO utilizes Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, which allows partnership with nontraditional and traditional defense contractors and non-profit research institutions.

• Definitions for "Nontraditional Defense Contractor," "Nonprofit Institution," and "Small Business" are provided.

• Foreign-Owned businesses may submit solutions independently or as part of a teaming arrangement, but may require additional clearances.

• The Government will not pay for costs associated with Solution Brief submissions.

• Companies must have a Dunn and Bradstreet (DUNS) number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to receive an award.

• The agreement will include a mandatory clause for Comptroller General access to information for payments exceeding $5,000,000.

• Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) standards apply to all agreements awarded under this CSO.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide scientific and engineering prototype deliverables in areas of meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) sciences, tactical systems analysis, acoustics, signal processing, and information systems design to support the Naval Undersea Warfare Center's (NUWC) efforts in Tactical Oceanography (TAC-O) and the Full Spectrum Undersea Warfare Innovative Naval Prototype (FSUSWINP).

• Develop prototype concepts for USW systems (onboard and offboard) and related interfaces.

• Analyze data through mission evaluation, modeling, and simulation.

• Define employment tactics, rulesets, and test cases for technical insertion.

• Provide human systems integration and human factors engineering analysis.

• Conduct systems engineering to evaluate new technologies for integration into platforms and payloads.

• Provide systems engineering, innovation engineering, and subject matter expertise for events like brainstorming sessions and wargaming.

• Gather USW platform information to support engineering modifications and deliver Technical Data Packages (TDPs).

• Assemble IT artifacts, implement controls, and manage firmware for system testing and authorization.

• Conduct analysis, modeling, and simulation of new concept prototypes and capabilities.

• Analyze requirements for marine robotics sampling and their impact on subsea warfare systems.

• Provide systems engineering support, including Model Based System Engineering.

• Evaluate capability concepts using analytical or modeling tools, assessing impact on submarine operational performance and tactics.

• Conduct data analysis using GFI or generated modeling data.

• Perform feasibility studies and support Analysis of Alternatives.

• Not explicitly defined in the provided sections, but includes various Naval facilities and contractor facilities.

• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling and security protocols.

• Adherence to applicable FAR, DFARS, and NMCARS clauses.

• Development and implementation of an Operations Security (OPSEC) program.

• Potential for work at multiple Government sites with specific security and OPSEC instructions.

• Deliverables include prototype algorithms, feasibility studies, analysis reports, ruggedized oceanographic sensors, and prototype operator interfaces.

• All technical data and computer software developed will be delivered with Government purpose rights.

• Security classification will include Unclassified/CUI, Secret, and TS/SCI levels, requiring appropriate DD254.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a draft "Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreement" between the United States Government, represented by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), and a "COMPANY NAME". It outlines the terms and conditions for a prototype project related to undersea warfare (USW) capability, specifically expanding Tactical Oceanography (TAC-O) prototyping efforts. The agreement is authorized under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 and is based on a prototype project proposed by the company in response to NUWC's Commercial Solutions Offering (CSO).

This document establishes the foundational agreement for potential prototype projects. Key sections relevant to bidders include:

• Scope of the Agreement: Details the background and purpose of the OTA, focusing on NUWC's role in USW and the expansion of TAC-O prototyping.
• Statement of Work (SOW): Placeholder for the specific scope of work, deliverables, and reports for individual projects under this OTA.
• Security Requirements: Outlines adherence to NISPOM, DD254 requirements, and handling of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
• Term: Defines the duration of the agreement and provisions for early termination.
• Agreement Administration: Identifies key points of contact for administration.
• Inspection and Acceptance: Details the Government's rights to inspect and test materials and services.
• Obligation and Payment: Outlines project payments, accounting system requirements, and payment terms (Net 30 days).
• Allowable Costs: Specifies criteria for allowable costs under the agreement.
• Data Rights: Defines various categories of data and the rights associated with them.
• Patent Rights: Addresses the allocation of principal rights for inventions made under the agreement.
• Foreign Access to Technology and Export Control: Details restrictions and procedures for transferring technology to foreign entities.
• Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting: Outlines requirements for protecting sensitive information and reporting cyber incidents.

This OTA structure allows for flexibility and is generally not subject to FAR/DFARS, making it a distinct acquisition instrument.