Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E)

Submit NLT 24 March 2025 11:59 PM ET
U.S. Citizens Only

Purpose
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM Program Executive Office Fixed Wing (PEO-FW), will host a series of events to identify vendors that will be asked to evaluate a government-owned Mission Autonomy Software solution. Subsequently the government will select a subset of providers to augment the Mission Autonomy software stack with industry provided best-of-breed solutions to close gaps in system limitations.

Background/Synopsis
Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E), is an interoperable system of systems, enabling ISR capabilities through expendable autonomous sUAS platforms, resilient data paths, and common control architecture. A2E leverages access and theater presence of Special Operation Forces (SOF) crewed and uncrewed aircraft to deliver on-demand and scalable support of Special Operations peculiar missions. A2E closes current mission gaps via mission autonomy capability increments that provide increased operational support to the SOF warfighter.

Objective
USSOCOM is soliciting the support of industry providers to offer enhancements to a government-developed and owned Mission Autonomy solution. This Assessment Event is to identify and select vendors that can evaluate and augment the USSOCOM Mission Autonomy solution. 

Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by PEW-FW Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Timeline
Phase 1 - 03 March 2025 to 24 March 2025 Submissions to the SDK Vendor Evaluation Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide evaluation/assessment of USSOCOM’s current Mission Autonomy software are encouraged to submit their solution for USSOCOM review. To submit for potential Phase 3 attendance, please review the SDK Vendor Evaluation assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions at the bottom of this webpage. (Submit NLT 24 March 2025 11:59 PM ET) 

Phase 1a - 17 March 2025 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 17 March from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET. RSVP at the bottom of this webpage. 

Phase 2 - 25 March 2025 to 04 April 2025 Downselect for Vendor Evaluation of Software Developer Kit (SDK): USSOCOM will downselect those respondents they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their needs. Selected vendors will receive a stipend to fund this evaluation. Vendors will be sent invitations to perform their evaluation on/around 07 April. 

Phase 3 - 07 April to 02 May 2025 Vendor Evaluation of SDK: USSOCOM will request the vendor to answer more specific questions about the software capabilities and where they believe they can provide augmentation to improve its functionality. Questions will be specific to what they are looking for in the evaluation of the software AND where the vendor believes they can add value to the mission autonomy by integrating their capability. (Submit Evaluation NLT 02 May 11:59 PM ET) 

Phase 3a - 14 April 2025 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 14 April from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET. RSVP at the bottom of this webpage.  

Phase 4 - 05 May to 16 May 2025 Downselect: USSOCOM will evaluate the submissions/recommendations from Phase 3 and select several vendors to integrate their proposed enhancement/improvement of the government-owned SDK (FANTOM Core). Selected vendors will receive a stipend to fund this integration. Favorably evaluated solutions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on/around 19 May. 

Phase 5 - 27 May to 29 May 2025 SDK Integration Assessment Event (AE): During the AE, selected participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation panel to discuss their solutions. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event. Solution brief presentation guidelines will be outlined in the event invitation and solutions will be assessed according to the SDK Integration assessment criteria in the link provided below.  

This event will be held virtually.

Phase 6 - 29 July to 31 July 2025 Demonstration: Those who were selected for the SDK Integration Assessment will support a demonstration of their capability near the end of the summer.

• Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
  • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each prototype project.
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations

How You Can Participate
Government, Industry, Academia, National Labs, and Non-Traditional Attendees

1. RSVP to the 17 March Virtual Q&A Telecon: Click Here to RSVP (NLT 16 March 11:59 PM ET)
2. Review SDK Vendor Evaluation Assessment Criteria: Click Here to Review
3. Download the White Paper Template: Click Here to Download
4. Complete the Submission Form: Click Here to Submit (NLT 24 March 11:59 PM ET)
5. RSVP to the 14 April Virtual Q&A Telecon: Click Here to RSVP (NLT 13 April 11:59 PM ET)
6. Review SDK Integration Assessment Criteria: Click Here to Review