The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is looking for vendors to help it modernize and operate its network infrastructure across the service, including at Guard and Reserve bases, according to a request for proposal (RFP) from the branch’s Enterprise IT and Cyber Infrastructure Division.
The Base Infrastructure Modernization RFP – posted to SAM.gov on March 7 – will result in multiple indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts totaling $12.5 billion.
“The goal is to increase integration through a modern streamlined network keeping up with the industry standards, utilizing best practices, performance, and modern management techniques to provide the DAF with a mission capable network,” the RFP states. “This IDIQ intends for the network to be treated as an investment for future mission sets.”
The Air Force said its current state of environment is a “complex array of fragmented and disconnected approaches” to its network “caused through an overall lack of integration, direction, prioritization, and dedicated funding.”
“This fragmentation and decentralized approach applies to every aspect of the network, metrics tools and otherwise. Every base has been responsible for their own network maintenance, which overall, has occurred on an irregular basis, only when critically needed and resolution of this problem has consistently been deferred to out-years,” the RFP reads.
The Air Force says its network has never kept up with industry.
“Some bases are decades behind the industry in terms of infrastructures, others are only a few years behind,” the department said. It noted that most Air Force bases have semi-modern equipment across their networks, but that they have been “dilapidated or misused.”
The Air Force said through its Base Infrastructure Modernization project it is seeking a “unified, performant, and uniformly maintained network environment that will be a game changer for Multi-Domain Operations.”
“This effort intends to meet the overarching goals of the DAF Chief Information Officer (CIO) to innovate for competitive advantage, optimize for efficiencies and improved capability, evolve cybersecurity for an agile and resilient defense posture, cultivate talent for a ready digital workforce, and the Enterprise IT as a Service Risk Reduction Effort transition,” the RFP states.
This IDIQ will establish a pool of qualified sources to modernize, operate, and maintain the network infrastructure on all Air Force locations globally. It will feature a basic ordering period of five years, plus one five-year optional ordering period and a total program ceiling of $12.5 billion.
The contracts will be full and open competition, with a portion of the awards reserved for small businesses, including women-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Offerors will be able to begin to submit questions and comments on March 22, when the Air Force said it plans to post the final solicitation.
