Air Force Special Operations Command-2023-Air Force Special Operations Forces Week

Identification Number: AFSOC-2023-AFSOFWeek Agency: Other Defense Agencies Office: Air Force Special Operations Command Location: In Vicinity of Hurlburt Field, FL Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is seeking interested organizations/associations to plan, coordinate, and execute the annual Air Force Special Operations Forces (AFSOF) Week in calendar year 2023+. AFSOC would like to keep the venue within 20 miles of Hurlburt Field. AFSOF Week is planned to run three days. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is seeking a co-sponsorship running a symposium for special operations airpower focusing on the development of future AFSOF capabilities in accordance with the National Defense Strategy/Interim National Security Strategic Guidance and AFSOC Strategic Guidance. The components of this service are the hosting of a multi-day symposium bringing in keynote speakers and arranging thought provoking panels. The co-sponsor will conduct the recruitment of speakers/panelists, advertising, organizing, planning, and running of the event with government oversight, guidance, and approval. Planning, coordinating, and execution services will be required annually in FY23-26 and the symposium will be hosted initially in the immediate area surrounding Hurlburt Field, FL to allow for ease of travel for AFSOC personnel. The unique requirements of the event involve a focus on the future operating environment with international partners and the problem sets such as Conflict, Competition, Counter-Violent Extremist Organization (C-VEO), Crisis. This will allow AFSOC members an opportunity to focus on the problem of how AFSOC will transform to conduct competitive activities and prepare for combat against peer and near-peer adversaries while remaining engaged and finding efficiencies to optimize the C-VEO effort. Interested organizations/associations will be responsible for the following but not limited to advertising, registration, collection of all monies, agenda with Government input, scheduling of large plenary rooms as well as breakout rooms, exhibit hall, food service for breakfast and lunch, lodging, designing and developing a AFSOF week website, perform advertising and marketing operations, establish and execute online and on-site automated registration process, and coordinate with AFSOC and local law enforcement to ensure adequate security. There will be no contract signed between the organization/association and AFSOC; rather a Memorandum of Agreement will be put in place outlining the roles and responsibilities of each party. For planning purposes organizations/associations should plan on the following information to help them understand the size, scope, and complexity of coordinating the symposium. Attendees: Approximate capacity of 2,400 Countries involved: Plan to have foreign country involvement Exhibitors: Industry and Government booths Exhibit Hall: Approximately 32,000 sq ft indoor space (rough estimate of Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center footprint, does not include surrounding hotel/other venue square footage that may be required based on event design, the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center location is not mandatory to be used and is being provided as a possible local option). AFSOC is interested in innovative and unique ideas on how to make AFSOF Week 2023+ events successful. The intent of this RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and to explore interested organizations/associations capabilities for an AFSOC AFSOF Week 2023+ effort. Responses to this RFI are for informational purposes only and may be used by AFSOC in developing AFSOF Week's agenda, content, and the parameters for any resultant agreement for meeting this need going forward. The command is looking for white papers that illustrate how interested organizations/associations plan on executing a 2023+ AFSOF Week. AFSOC is requesting that interested organizations/associations submit a 15-page (maximum) white paper demonstrating their ability to accomplish AFSOF Week 2023+. Each submission should address the following key areas: (1) Executive summary; (2) Interested organization/association name and address; (3) Point of contact with email address and phone number(s); (4) Experience conducting conferences within and outside Department of Defense, in particular any relevant experience conducting conferences similar to previous AFSOF Week events; (5) Description of proposed AFSOF Week execution methodology; (6) Estimated schedule with recommended dates, location and critical milestones; (7) Identification of multiple panels to discuss current U.S. AFSOF issues/challenges - white paper responses should provide recommendations and potential solutions with current and former SOF leaders, as well as appropriate leaders/topical speakers outside the SOF community; (8) An industry component designed to expose the AFSOF community to the latest technology innovations; (9) Information or sessions addressing retirement, transition, and veteran programs for U.S. military personnel; (10) A formal dinner; (11) A keynote speaker for the dinner; (12) Proposed topical areas for AFSOF Week events; (13) Recommendations for changes to streamline and enhance AFSOF Week and/or its events; and (14) Recommendations for proposed memorandum of agreement with the Government, and identify who is responsible for what, associated assumptions, constraints, and terms and conditions. Additional elements to consider: - Location - Lodging - Transportation - Any support required from AFSOC or direct costs to AFSOC - Total cost estimate - Marketing/communication plan - Registration plan - Sample agenda - Food service plan - Audiovisual plan - Web streaming plan - Badging plan - A plan for Government booths - A plan to support booth space for Small Businesses (with percentage planned) - Contingency plans for outside influences on the conference; for example, the ability to scale the conference between in-person, hybrid, and 100% virtual venues - Schedule to show milestones leading up to the 2023 conference based off an assigned month All proposed submissions shall include clear, factual documentation demonstrating the organization's/association's ability to conduct AFSOF Week 2023. Interested parties should demonstrate a clear understanding of conference/event planning to include scope and magnitude. White papers shall not include any proprietary markings or competition sensitive information. The Government does intend to utilize information submitted in response to this RFI to inform AFSOF Week planning and execution. Responses should be no longer than 15 pages, 12 font, Times New Roman, and indicate past performance references (name of conference, number of attendees, number of exhibitors, dates and a point of contact with phone number and e-mail address) of at least 4 conferences that your organization/association hosted in the last 5 years with the similar size, scope, and complexity of AFSOF Week. After review of white papers, interested organizations/associations may be invited to provide an oral presentation outlining their concept to support AFSOF Week. All inquiries and responses concerning this action shall be sent in writing via email to ashley.williams.85@us.af.mil and kevin.miller.4@us.af.mil with the subject - AFSOF Week2023. Submit white papers to this email address, same subject, not later than 1600 EST on 21 April 2022