General Services Administration (GSA) Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) is releasing this Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for the Shadow Raptor requirement. Shadow Raptor is a recompete to the current AAS AFRL RAZOR Task Order (TO).
Background
AFRL plays a crucial role in enhancing the United States’ military capabilities through innovative research and development. AFRL is dedicated to advancing the United States Air Force (USAF) Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems and programs. AFRL activities include architecting, designing, developing, enhancing, prototyping, integrating, testing, and transitioning Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems. AFRL’s support extends to AFRL’s Information Handling Branch (RIEB) and various Department of Defense (DoD) entities, Major Commands (MAJCOMs), and the Intelligence Community (IC). The organization supports the AF Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), ACC, AFSPC, U.S. Navy, U.S. Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation System (BICES), and the National Security Agency (NSA).
In alignment with the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS), AFRL/RIEB is committed to delivering a wide array of services that ensure cybersecurity, system functionality, and operational excellence. These services are strategically designed to support the DoD’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) and future budget priorities. AFRL/RIEB offers the following critical services to its clients:
Information Assurance and Assessment (IA&A): AFRL/RIEB, as an Agent of the Security Control Assessor (ASCA) and licensed by Air Combat Command (ACC/A6) for the AF Enterprise, Headquarters USAF A1, Secretary of Airforce (SAF/CDM and SAF/AAI), United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), conducts risk assessments for ACC/A6, AFSPC, and IC systems. AFRL/RIEB facilitates the transition of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems in compliance with Risk Management Framework (RMF), aligning with the NDS’s emphasis on rigorous cybersecurity measures.
Test and Evaluation (T&E): AFRL/RIEB performs Lab-Based Security Assessments (LBSA), Functional and Security Testing (FaST), and Software Assurance Penetration Testing. These activities support the NDS’s goal of enhancing defense systems’ resilience and effectiveness through comprehensive testing and evaluation. LBSA is essential for researching, developing, and transitioning advanced IT solutions that enhance intelligence information access and analysis. Technical Assessment (TA): AFRL/RIEB delivers cybersecurity engineering, IA T&E services, and Assessment and Authorization (A&A) support. This includes preparation for Command Cybersecurity Readiness Inspections (CCRI) and managing RMF packages to secure various operational approvals. These efforts are crucial for adapting to emerging threats and technological advancements, as outlined in the NDS. Software Development and Maintenance: AFRL/RIEB is involved in the full systems engineering lifecycle management of software-intensive C5ISR systems, including development, enhancement, integration, testing, transition, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. The organization prioritizes the rapid advancement of ISR capabilities and supports various activities such as experimentation, prototyping, piloting, fly before you buy, and modeling and simulation.
These efforts are integral to its Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) initiatives, which are aligned with the NDS’s emphasis on innovation and agility in technology development.
As part of the solution, and in order to implement the NDS, AFRL/RIEB will be tasked with providing cybersecurity support to the Joint Forces. As part of this upcoming requirement, AFRL will need an increased ability to rapidly move from discovery to operations through abbreviated limited operator/user evaluations, and then directly into full operations transition. Further, in response to NDS, AFRL/RIEB is tasked with establishing an AFRL-wide repository for Certificate to Field (CtF).
The AFRL/RIEB IDHS portfolio is actively being upgraded to enhance and sustain the readiness of the Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) and IC systems. This includes transitioning pplications from dedicated hardware to cloud-based environments. Given the critical nature of these missions, there is a heightened requirement for robust hybrid cloud solutions, edge computing capabilities, and comprehensive disaster recovery and continuity of operations strategies.
As cybersecurity threats and demands evolve, AFRL/RIEB has seen increased requests for software development and system testing. The increase in cybersecurity incidents around the world is requiring AFRL/RIEB to support accelerated ATO processes and enhance cross-domain solutions. AFRL/RIEB, among the three labs designated by the National Cross Domain Services Management Office (NCDSMO), manages a significant workload, including simultaneous assessments of multiple complex systems and increased T&E requirements.
In response to the current 2022 NDS, which underscores the need for modernization beyond hardware to include organizational and operational changes, AFRL/RIEB is focused on providing rapid and effective cybersecurity support to Joint Forces. This includes establishing a cybersecurity center of excellence and becoming instrumental in bringing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to multiple disciplines including Electronic Warfare. The IDHS portfolio is also undergoing enhancements, including migrating applications to cloud environments and supporting Electronic Warfare efforts. Key focus area of the FY25 DoD Budget is countering China as the Pacing Challenge, countering Russian Aggression, and Near-Term threats in the Middle East.
A primary goal of AFRL/RIEB is to assist the USAF Command Control Communications Battle Management (C3BM) Program Executive Office (PEO) in executing the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) program. AFRL/RIEB offers specialized expertise to ensure the effective integration of related programs and technologies across the UASF, thereby supporting this essential initiative. This support is a vital part of the Department of Defense’s broader Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) strategy.
III. Functional Areas
a) Program and Project Management – The contractor shall provide Program and Project Management support services to holistically integrate all aspects of the portfolio across each functional area. Effective Program Management will enable AFRL/RIEB to trace
requirements and funding through to project completion, deliver products/services and capability on-time, within scope and budget, manage stakeholder relationships and establish a collaborative environment to manage knowledge. Program Management
functions also include tracking deliverables and timelines for multiple projects, asset management, and purchasing tools. As part of the Program Management functional area, the contractor will establish a development and integration environment to provide a seamless and collaborative domain that contains all data for the project.
b) Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Services – The purpose of this functional area is to provide AFRL/RIEB with the ability to reduce the time-to-field of critical ISR and C2 mission sets through development of containerized AI and ML capabilities supporting Title 10/50 mission partners, including the DoDIPP and PED missions.
c) Cybersecurity Testing Services – The contractor shall provide AFRL/RIEB and its mission partners with cybersecurity and testing services to comply with the Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements and assist with Authority to Operate (ATO) processes and the Air Force (AF) Fast Track ATO processes. This task includes support of all six phases of testing identified in the National Institute Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-37 (Guide for Applying the RMF to Federal Information Systems) and NIST SP 800-53 (Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations).
d) Data Analytics Research Development and Integration – The contractor shall provide support to AFRL/RIEB with data science across various domains (e.g., open source and operational sensor data), ML including generating labeled data sets, developing
algorithms for rapid implementation of analytics and deployment within the modern Cloud IaaS infrastructures and associated SaaS/PaaS environments based on evolving mission areas and threats
e)IT Systems Architecture, Development, Integration, and Maintenance – The purpose of this functional area is to provide AFRL/RIEB the ability to rapidly move from discovery to full operations, with limited operator/user evaluations, including assessment
and rapid deployment of application and associated transition of key Position Navigation and Timing (PNT)/Global Positioning System (GPS) technological advances to achieve an enhanced operational dominance in Anti Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments.
f) War Gaming and Experimentation – The contractor shall conduct systems engineering processes, including performing development tests and operational tests, that provide a structured framework for simulating and evaluating potential scenarios and decisions.
This includes support services to meet, maintain, and execute requirements and activities defined in the ISO/IEC 17025 (Testing and Calibration Laboratories), the NIST Handbook (HB) 150 (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) Procedures and General Requirements), and NIST HB 150-872 (Federal Warfare Systems (FWS) Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP)). This process enhances operational readiness by identifying potential challenges and optimizing resource allocation.
g) Edge Computing and Disconnected Operations – The contractor shall design, develop, and enhance a hybrid cloud infrastructure to support edge computing capabilities in disconnected operations. This involves creating robust solutions that integrate both onpremises edge computing and cloud resources to provide seamless functionality even in environments with intermittent connectivity. The contractor shall implement Zero Trust security principles to safeguard data and systems by ensuring continuous verification of all users and devices, regardless of their location or network status. The contractor shall address size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints by developing scalable solutions that optimize both HW and SW, bringing computational capabilities as close to the mission as possible. The contractor shall ensure effective communication with cloud enterprise services to maintain mission assurance and operational continuity. The contractor shall perform comprehensive processing of mission data by leveraging advanced computing, networking, and storage technologies that support uninterrupted user functionality.
Additionally, the contractor shall establish and maintain robust disaster recovery and continuity of operations plans, including failover and failback procedures, to ensure system resilience and reliability in the face of unexpected disruptions.
h) Full Digital Systems Engineering Supporting Converged Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (C3BM) – The contractor shall provide enhancement, development, integration, and operationalization in support of a unified digital environment for C2, ISR, as well as targeting capabilities for the United States Space Force (USSF) and USAF. The solution will leverage the Air Force Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System (AF JWICS) Wide Area Network (WAN) and associated enclaves to provide a comprehensive, resilient, and scalable infrastructure for joint operations and combat support. The scope includes leveraging the AF JWICS WAN as the foundational infrastructure, integrating organic cloud services, and ensuring comprehensive, resilient, and interoperable communications across all services, components, coalition, and Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOMs). The contractor shall provide the following services to meet the requirements specified for unified communications, architecture integration, cloud services, network connectivity, and team organization supporting ISR, C2 and Targeting system.
See and download The full RFI Document Below
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