*** UPDATE 28 FEB 2025: The Army is conducting a review of the AIS@P contract vehicle. We anticipate providing additional information in the near future. ***

***UPDATE 10 February 2025: A Questions and Answers (Q&A) document is posted in the Attachments section. This Q&A document includes questions and comments received in response to this Draft RFP, as well as questions received during the virtual Industry Day.***

***UPDATE 16 December 2024: The Draft RFP document (located in the Attachments section), encompassing Sections L and M of the draft RFP, has been added to this posting. Please see the updated information and instructions in the revised sections below.***

***UPDATE 27 November 2024: PWS attachment was revised by removing CUI header. This document contains no CUI.***

INTRODUCTION:

Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) is releasing this Draft Request for Proposal (RFP). This is not to be construed as a commitment by the US Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not reimburse or pay for information submitted in response to this Draft RFP. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. This Draft RFP is open to all business types.

This Draft RFP is issued for the purpose of developing a viable solicitation that will best communicate the Government's requirements to industry through this exchange of information. Responses to this Draft RFP are voluntary and will not affect any contractor's ability to submit a proposal if, or when, a solicitation is released. This Draft RFP is for planning purposes only and does NOT constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued.

No entitlement to payment by the Government of direct costs or charges will arise because of the submission of information in response to this Draft RFP. Proprietary information shall NOT be submitted in response to this Draft RFP, nor will the Government be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. No award will be made as a result of this Draft RFP. This Draft RFP is for informational purposes only to promote exchanges of information with industry. The Government will not pay for any information and/or materials received in response to this Draft RFP and is not obligated by the information received.

BACKGROUND:

The primary mission of Program Executive Office Intelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) is to provide affordable, world class Intelligence, Sensor, and Electronic Warfare capabilities enabling rapid situational understanding and decisive action. PEO IEW&S currently leads the charge for the Army’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) efforts, with Project Linchpin (PL) being the Army’s Program of Record (PoR) for Artificial Intelligence Operations and Services (AIOps+). AIOps+ includes the industry recognized practices of AI/Machine Learning Operations (AI/MLOPs) and PL AI ecosystem, PL standardized approaches (e.g. AI Risk Framework), PL design principles, and the secure trusted environments and services which enable the delivery of AI solutions to AI-enabled programs. Additionally, Software (SW) Development is the cornerstone of the programs that allow the Army to develop the capabilities which enable Spectrum and Cyberspace superiority. SW is key to each piece of the Army’s networked Intelligence, Electronic and Cyber Warfare capabilities. PEO IEW&S leverages modern SW development practices as it supports future Army efforts such as Electronic Warfare (EW) re-programming as it paces the threat.

SCOPE:

The PEO IEW&S’ MATOC, entited Artificial Intelligence and Software at Pace (AIS@P), will support rapid awards of AI/ML and SW development requirements to support PL and other entities in response to a constantly evolving threat environment, swift on/off ramping of vendors, and the ability to quickly transition between vendors in the event of contractor performance concerns. This contract will provide the Warfighter the best capabilities at the best value – in the quickest and most efficient manner possible.   

The PEO IEW&S AIS@P contract vehicle includes two vendor pools supporting PEO IEW&S focusing on the areas AI/ML and SW Development. The AI/ML pool will focus on supporting the Project Linchpin efforts. The SW Development pool shall include design, development, fabrication, and testing of developmental systems covering the complete range of the PEO IEW&S portfolio.  Example efforts may include signal det