Commercial Lab Solution

UPDATE 1:
THIS SOURCES SOUGHT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED.

UPDATE 2:
Minor language adjustments and an addition of 1-day to extend from 14 to 15 days.

SOURCES SOUGHT/INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOTICE: Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC)  Stephenson Stellar Corporation (SSC) Future 5G Lab
 

AUTHORITY: 6.302-3 – 10 USC 3204(a)(3), Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Developmental, Research Capability; or Expert Services

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT/INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, AS WELL AS MARKET RESEARCH AND PLANNING PURPOSES.  THIS NOTICE SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT, INVITATION FOR BIDS, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP), OR QUOTES.  THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (USG) IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS NOTICE.

AS NOTED BELOW, PROPRIETARY INFORMATION MAY BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE; HOWEVER, THE USG SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR OR SUFFER ANY CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR ANY IMPROPERLY IDENTIFIED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.  THE USG WILL NOT REIMBURSE RESPONDENTS FOR ANY COST ASSOCIATED WITH ANY SUBMISSION IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE OR REIMBURSE EXPENSES INCURRED TO THE INTERESTED PARTIES FOR RESPONSES.  ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS NOTICE IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER.

NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) OR INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) OR RFP, IF ANY ISSUED.  IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THE GPE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS NOTICE/REQUIREMENT.

A solicitation is not available at this time, therefore any requests for a solicitation will not receive a response.  Respondents shall only provide an unclassified response to this notice.  Information identified “Proprietary” will not be disclosed outside of Government channels.  If a respondent submits such information, then the respondent shall be responsible for clearly marking “Proprietary” on each sheet containing information and segregating such information to the maximum extent practical from other portions of the response.

Description of services required to meet agency needs:

This intent to sole source notice is issued by the 767th Enterprise Sourcing Flight (ESF) in support of AFGSC/A5 for the purpose of providing notice that the USG intends to pursue a sole source award to Stephenson Stellar Corporation (SSC) for the Future 5G Lab effort. Previously, a sources sought for this effort was posted on 10 Feb 2025 until 25 Feb 2025 and became inactive on 12 March 2025. Based on the responses from that posting, it is the USG position that SSC, under the authority of 6.302-3, should be maintained as the source for an essential engineering and development capability provided by a nonprofit institution, as no other respondent was found to possess the full range of qualifications required by the Government.

Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) requires the capability to research, design, develop, analyze, and provide systems engineering, modeling and simulation (M&S), and scientific studies and analysis support on emerging threats affecting national security and as it directly impacts the bomber fleet and its ability to execute its mission. Additionally, the research gathered and/or developed shall include analytical rigor to provide AFGSC operationally relevant mission data and to support its acquisition process.

AFGSC is looking for engineering expertise/advise on emerging technologies that can be researched or developed and incorporated into existing uses to communicate with the bomber fleet. This engineering expertise would support the following tasks:

a. Red vs Blue: Next-Generation Bomber Aircraft Comparison

b. Develop and Integrate Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Cyber Operations Capabilities into Bomber Operations

c. Evaluate Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) on Networks, Power, and Energy Systems

d. Acceleration and Integration of Future Disruptive Technologies

e. Conduct Electronic Attack/Electronic Protection (EA/EP) and Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) Analysis

f. Provide Cyber Command and Control (C2) and Information Operations (IO) Analytical, Engineering, Test, and Training Support

g. Provide Counter-Space - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C-SISR) Capability Analysis

h. Deliver Automated Technology Watch and Horizon Scanning T&E

i. Provide Defense-in-Depth as Mission Assurance for AFGSC Mission Systems

j. Implement Zero-Trust Architectures (ZTA) in AFGSC Mission Systems

k. Provide Engineering Expertise to Develop and Deploy AI/ML Solutions

l. Provide Edge Computing, Quantum Technology, and Software Engineering, and Software Development Support

m. Provide Security and Engineering Support

n. Provide Science and Technology (S&T) Support

Task results will be collected, and the contractor will prepare and deliver any studies, software/capability developed, and provide program management support.

It is anticipated 767 ESF will issue a five-year effort as a sole source single award indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity (SAID/IQ) for an estimated contract ceiling of $98 million to Stephenson Stellar Corporation, Intertech PARK, Box 5, 2031 Kings Highway, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103-3600, United States, Cage Code 88AS9, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit research and development organization.

Demonstration that the contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited above:

SSC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research and development organization whose primary purpose is to perform applied scientific research and development activities in the public interest. SSC has a nationwide credentialed engineering and scientific workforce with brick-and-mortar laboratories in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The justification for maintaining SSC rests on two primary pillars: their unique, proven technical capability and their objective, mission-aligned nonprofit status.

1. A Unique, Proven, and Irreplaceable Technical Capability

SSC is the only known entity with the demonstrated, hands-on expertise to integrate emerging technologies—such as 5G networks and Zero-Trust Architectures—with the bomber fleet's complex and often antiquated legacy communication systems. This is not a theoretical skill; SSC is already actively supporting and building out AFGSC’s three most immediate and critical lines of effort: developing a 5G Test Network, engineering a Resilient Network, and creating a framework to test small business capabilities for potential integration. Their team possesses a rare and essential blend of expertise in both legacy military hardware and future software-defined networks. To bring a new contractor up to a comparable level of understanding and in-place capability would require an estimated 18-24 month "spin-up" period. Such a delay would derail the planned fielding of critical communication prototypes and create a dangerous capability gap in the face of evolving threats. SSC's existing team of cleared experts and their familiarity with the command's specific needs eliminate this risk, ensuring modernization efforts continue without interruption. While the contract scope identifies a broad range of capabilities (Tasks a-n), it is designed to bound the expertise required. The immediate work is narrowly focused on the three priority efforts, leveraging these tasks incrementally to ensure responsible and focused execution.

2. Objective, Conflict-Free Analysis Aligned with the Public Interest

As a nonprofit organization, SSC's primary mission is to perform "applied scientific research and development activities in the public interest." This organizational structure is an essential capability in itself. It allows SSC to provide AFGSC with completely objective, impartial, and conflict-free analysis on highly consequential topics, such as evaluating future disruptive technologies (Task d), conducting Red vs. Blue comparisons (Task a), and providing Science and Technology (S&T) support (Task n). Unlike a for-profit entity, SSC has no organizational incentive to favor a particular proprietary solution. This ensures that the advice AFGSC receives is driven solely by mission effectiveness and the government's best interests, not by a potential future sale.

In conclusion, SSC is the sole contractor that presented a capability to meet AFGSC’s most critical modernization efforts, mitigates unacceptable schedule risk, and secures a proven source of objective, expert analysis.

Other facts supporting the use of FAR 6.302-3:

Beginning in 2022, AFGSC leveraged AFRL's expertise and existing partnership/contract with SSC by initially utilizing their contract, FA875021C1502. SSC possessed the necessary broad range of engineering expertise required to execute the engineering support AFGSC required.

Future 5G Test Lab:

In 2022, AFGSC utilized SSC to build out a test lab to develop and maintain future technologies that can be incorporated into a resilient network to support AFGSC operations of the bomber force. This effort has continued through 2023 and 2024, where SSC continued to support AFGSC interests in researching and developing new technologies that could be quickly incorporated to support active operations. Key to this effort, AFGSC hopes to establish a resilient network with the latest technologies developed and tested and ensure it is secure by 2027 to meet emerging threats. The goal of this resilient network will be to provide assured communications to bombers as they traverse from one Area of Responsibility (AOR) to the next, meeting an existing 1067 operational requirement.

SCIF:

Additionally, SSC is establishing a SCIF in Shreveport, LA, local to Barksdale AFB to support various activities already on contract at an elevated security level. Once the SCIF is established, the Future 5G Test Lab will be moved to the SCIF once it is accredited.

The existing AFRL contract with SSC previously leveraged by AFGSC is set to expire on 22 May 2026 with no plans to renew. Due to this, AFGSC desires to establish a similar contract vehicle with SSC for continuing efforts to meet the 2027 deadline.

There are 3 interrelated major lines of effort:

1. Test Network - Currently have 3 of 3 nodes established.

2. Resilient Network - Currently building out the circuits and cloud environment.

3. Testing of small business capabilities in the test network to support the resilient network.
 

If AFGSC were to re-initiate these efforts with a new vendor, the Air Force would stand to lose existing progress in terms of time (nearly 3 years of efforts) and funds (nearly $5M) towards meeting the 2027 deadline for posturing the bomber force to meet emerging threats.

RESPONSE DETAILS

Interested parties who believe they are capable of meeting all requirements for this effort are invited to submit a capability statement addressing the specifics of this notice. The Government is not seeking generic marketing materials. Submissions must be concise, detailed, and directly address the following points in the order listed:

1. Direct Rebuttal of the Sole-Source Justification: Provide a point-by-point rebuttal to the "Demonstration that the contractor’s unique qualifications..." section of this notice. The response must explain why SSC's capabilities are not unique and how your firm can provide an equivalent or superior solution without causing the schedule delays and mission degradation identified by the government.
2. Evidence of Technical Capability: Provide verifiable evidence of demonstrated, hands-on experience within the last three (3) years on projects of similar size and scope, specifically in the following areas:
   • Integrating emerging commercial technologies (e.g., 5G, Zero-Trust) with legacy military communication and bomber systems.
   • Developing and operating test labs for network and cyber capabilities.
   • Performing Electronic Warfare (EA/EP) analysis and cyber resilience for DoD systems.
3. Plan to Mitigate Schedule Risk: Acknowledge the Government's assessment of a 3-year, $5M loss of progress and an 18-24 month spin-up time for a new vendor. Provide a detailed transition plan and timeline that demonstrates how your firm would overcome this, assuming a contract award on or around 22 May 2026, to meet the critical 2027 deadline without loss of momentum.
4. Corporate Expertise and Facilities:
   • Confirm your company's ability to perform at least 80% of the 14 listed tasks in-house without significant subcontracting.
   • Describe your existing, accredited facilities, including any SCIFs, laboratories, and cyber ranges comparable to those described in this notice.
5. Business Information: Include your company name, CAGE code, UEI, business size status under NAICS 541715, and a primary point of contact (name, email, and phone number).

Responses shall not exceed 15 pages and must be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer, Capt S. Chad Hedgepeth, at steven.hedgepeth@us.af.mil no later than 4:00 PM Central Time on 22 January 2026. The email subject line must read: "Response to Intent to Sole Source: Future 5G Lab."

The Government will not entertain requests for the existing contract or task orders. Any response that fails to provide the specific information requested above may be deemed not credible.

END OF DOCUMENT