The Rapid Sustainment Office Capabilities

NOTICE: This is not a solicitation but rather a Sources Sought Synopsis to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes only.  The Government may or may not award a contract as a result of this Sources Sought Synopsis. 

The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if qualified sources exist for capabilities in support of The Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO), AFLCMC/ROD.  The Government is interested in all sources and all small businesses, to include 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, HUB-Zone, and Woman-Owned small business concerns.  The Government requests that interested parties respond to this notice.  

The Government may use this information for acquisition planning purposes.  

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) RSO is in search of an Identify, Apply, and Scale (IAS) Hub capability in Dayton, Ohio to serve as the central resource to aid the RSO in accomplishing its objective to identify, assess, develop, validate, verify, and deploy new technologies across the sustainment enterprise to improve readiness and reduce sustainment costs.  The sustainment enterprise is inclusive of the warfighter, depot maintenance, field maintenance, the enterprise supply chain, and weapon system program offices.  A “spoke” capability to complement the IAS Hub is desired in the Warner-Robins, Georgia vicinity. 

The IAS Hub will serve as a collaborative center that brings together government, industry, and academia experts across a wide array of disciplines and technology areas to discover and recommend new technological methods, processes, and techniques—efficiently developing, acquiring, and fielding capabilities that increase readiness and reduce life cycle sustainment costs. 

Product and process-focused solutions will involve activities that include, but are not limited to, technical and program management planning, coordination, design, prototyping, testing, and evaluations including cost-benefit analyses, certification and verification, demonstration plans, and sustainment-related production.  Additionally, product support management activities will ensure solutions consider the 12 integrated product support elements.  Solutions shall also consider cybersecurity requirements, and the performer should have experience with the Department of Defense (DoD) Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Authority to Operate (ATO) processes.  The IAS Hub will extend its capabilities throughout the enterprise via spokes that seamlessly connect both key sustainment centers and remote field units.     

The RSO’s specific desired capabilities and areas of interest include: 

• Specialized Capabilities – This includes capabilities to support and perform additive manufacturing, repair with additive manufacturing, robotics, and coatings, and other advanced manufacturing techniques which are crucial for enhancing aircraft sustainment, optimizing parts availability, reducing life cycle expenses, and elevating weapon system readiness.  The contractor shall implement the ISO 9001 and AS 9100, as applicable, to comply with an industry standard supporting production process controls and to enhance parts traceability and develop/track performance metrics. 

• Developmental Operations Environment – At the core of the IAS Hub is a developmental operational environment located in the Dayton, Ohio locale near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with sufficient capacity for developmental operations, demonstration labs, collaboration space, and technology integration to conduct the full range of day-to-day programmatic and operational capabilities to include:  

  • Integrated and configurable tech labs supporting RSO mission sets.  This includes a lab/workspace, equipment, and infrastructure that will foster the creation of new technology demonstrations in a central location/marketplace.  Labs will offer hands-on learning opportunities and demonstrations of technology, support to startups of interest to the RSO, projects, risk reduction efforts, and corporate innovation programs designed to prototype new solutions for the USAF. 

  • Pitch Hub – Auditorium space and support to enable Pitch Days, on demand, including layout for events, demonstrations, and programming for various leadership and decisionmakers to be able to experience the technology before including it in the RSO portfolio. 

  • Integrated Hardware, Software, and Network Services – The environment includes dedicated network bandwidth, Wi-Fi, power, and security suitable to meet USAF requirements for a development, security, and operations environment to support RSO mission needs 

  • Software License Management – The contractor shall provide personnel authorized by the USAF to install, maintain, and manage licenses for software and business tools that support the RSO mission. This includes tasks such as (1) conducting software security assessments, (2) software and business tool product research, recommendations, and procurement, (3) monitoring license expirations and renewals, (4) system administration, and (5) addressing integration issues.  Other services include providing situational awareness of which Product Teams are using what tools, when the subscriptions expire, and providing recommendations to continuously improve our tools. 

  • Subject matter expertise that aids in the development of strategic plans and guidance documents to guide modernization and sustainment activities and investments across the USAF enterprise, ensuring alignment with broader Air Force objectives. 

• Sustainment Solutions Identification - Establish, update, and operate technology and training centers in the Dayton, Ohio and Warner-Robins, Georgia areas.  The centers shall specialize in problem identification and technology assessment in relation to existing or new technology needs aligned with material characterization, process and machine qualification, reverse engineering, parts and technical data development, process deployment, digital material management, and training.  The contractor shall have expertise in integrating emerging technologies like advanced manufacturing, robotics, AI/ML, advanced materials, and electrical components, motors, and electronics. 

• Sustainment Solutions Application and Scaling – Establish, update, and operate a dynamic multifunctional center focusing on the application, integration, and scaling of cutting-edge defense systems, equipment, and technologies. This capability embodies principles of innovation, flexibility, and readiness, playing a pivotal role in ensuring that defense capabilities meet the highest standards before deployment for operational use.  The center will support a variety of technologies, including aircraft maintenance, additive manufacturing, avionics and electronics, precision machining, automation and robotics, incremental sheet forming, non-destructive inspection techniques, and environmental technologies.  Additionally, the center may serve as an interim production facility, responsible for transitioning prototypes or pilot projects into full-scale production, ensuring meticulous verification of equipment against all requisite specifications, standards, and regulations before military deployment.  The center will facilitate the refinement, troubleshooting, and optimization of processes, products, and services, ensuring rigorous quality and performance standards are met before integration into the organic/inorganic industrial base, thereby enhancing overall effectiveness and reliability. 

Interested parties who feel they possess the necessary capabilities should respond by providing the Government via email a (8 ½ X 11, 10pt minimum font) Cover Sheet, three-page Summary of Capabilities, and company point of contact to the Advanced Manufacturing Program Office (AMPO) (aflcmc.ro.am@us.af.mil) no later than 5:00 pm EDT on Thursday, Jun 12, 2025. 

1. Cover Page to Include: 
 

• Who/Where are you? List your organization name, location(s) (city/state) and organization overview.  

2. Three-page Summary of Capabilities should include answers to the following questions:  

• Does your company have the capability to perform all required services in this request for information? 

• What are your existing facilities, and which facilities would you need to obtain to support the requirements outlined in the RFI?  For existing facilities, please describe, in square footage, how much space could be allocated for collaborative space, demonstration labs, and manufacturing, respectively.  For the pitch hub auditorium, please describe in terms of number of seats. 

• Please describe your company’s similar or previous experience with the type of work outlined in the RFI.  Please highlight work with the Department of Defense. 

• To successfully meet all the performance objectives outlined in the RFI, would you require significant subcontracting or teaming arrangements? 

• Is there any aspect of this requirement that may limit or restrict your ability to bid?  Please explain. 

 All information marked as proprietary information will be safeguarded to prevent disclosures to non-government personnel and entities