Air Force eyes OTAs, agile acquisition for next-gen air operations command and control system

The Air Force is in the early stages of a modernization effort for its command-and-control system for air operations.

Postings on Sam.gov signal that the service wants a faster and more flexible acquisition plan, including other transaction agreements to get artificial intelligence capabilities into the field more quickly.

The Air Operations Center wants to modernize the systems used by the Joint Force Air Component Command to manage air, space and cyberspace operations.

The Air Force released a request for information in February for the Next-Generation Air Operations Center Weapon system and has since posted several updates including two sets of Q&As.

The contract is being managed by Kessel Run division within the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for command and control and battle management, which is responsible for agile software development across the Air Force.

The RFI calls for a prime contractor to work as a systems integrator. The government is also looking at modernization and not a discrete product buy. But several of the documents, such as the statement of need, have not been publicly disclosed.

Some technical requirements include IL6 or higher for cloud, Secret or higher for edge computing, and a continuity of operations/disconnected state requirement.

The solicitation will include a requirement for a Top-Secret facility clearance. The Air Force expects to release a bidder’s library with the draft solicitation.

The documents ask industry to share ideas for an outcome-based approach to meeting the program’s objectives. They also ask about agreement structures including an OTA.

In Q&A documents released Tuesday, the Air Force again said it was considering all acquisition strategies.

An OTA with follow-on production is one approach that could bring the speed and flexibility the Air Force is looking for. But a traditional procurement will likely be used for sustainment, according to the Q&A.

No procurement timeline has been given, but the Air Force has signaled it wants a competitive field. Industry is already pressing the program office on that point.

One question submitted by a prospective offeror asked how the government would ensure a level playing field and avoid "carve outs and pay-to-play relationships with a small group of vendors."

The Air Force response was brief: "The government is engaging with industry as part of market research and seeks to maximize competition for this requirement."