ENTERPRISE PROTOTYPE INITIATIVE CONSORTIUM (EPIC)

Solicitation:

The Government is only soliciting whitepapers at this time.  DO NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL. This solicitation is requesting whitepapers that will describe the aspects of the Offeror’s approach to meeting the Enterprise Prototype Initiative Consortium (EPIC) program objectives.  Once whitepapers are evaluated and determined selectable, proposals will be requested.  The Government reserves the right to request proposals from any number of offerors.  The Government is not responsible for costs incurred as a result of whitepaper or proposal preparation, development or submission and are the sole responsibility of the submitting party.

Purpose: 

The purpose of this announcement is to solicit qualified offerors to submit whitepapers for the Air Force Research Laboratory Enterprise Prototype Initiative Consortium (EPIC) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for Prototype Indefinite Delivery Vehicle (IDV).

Description:

The core objective of EPIC is for the Recipient to perform a coordinated prototyping and testing program in conjunction with the Government that speeds the ability to rapidly prototype Government, industry and academia capabilities across all technology areas of interest relevant to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) proposed to be acquired or developed by the Department of War (DoW) to sustain U.S. military technological advantage. Additionally, this OTA will serve as a vital tool to help DoW achieve military integration that is critical to reduce the cost of defense information systems technologies.

The Government anticipates that EPIC will be awarded as an Other Transaction Agreement for Prototype, as authorized under 10 U.S.C. §4022.  The form of the Agreement to be executed will be an Indefinite Delivery Vehicle (IDV) in which there will be one overarching Agreement between the Air Force and the successful entity.  Under this Agreement, individual Project Level Orders will be solicited, awarded and performed.  The ceiling is unlimited with a project ordering period of 120 months and project performance allowed up to 24 months after the project ordering end date.  The OTA IDV will have multiple Project Level Orders (PLOs) awarded on a Firm-Fixed Price basis.  The increments and dollar threshold will be determined by PLO with pricing based on the outcome of the project level competitions conducted throughout the term of the Agreement.  Despite the Firm Fixed Price nature of the Agreement, the successful Offeror will need to identify an accounting system that is capable of tracking the receipt and disbursement of Government funds.  Upon successful completion of Project Level Order Agreements, there could be potential for a sole source, follow-on production contract or OT.  Follow-on production OT agreements will be determined on a project-by-project basis in accordance with the guidance provided in the Other Transactions Guide (OUSD (A&S)), 2023, applicable law, and policy.

Issued by:           FA8750
AFRL/RFZF
26 Electronic Parkway
Rome NY 13441-4514

Agreements Officer’s Representative (AOR):

Matthew P. Shaver
Agreements Officer’s Representative
315-330-3295
Matthew.Shaver.1@us.af.mil

The OT Lead’s deliverables are expected to consist nearly entirely of reports, although it is possible that in unique situations the OT-lead could be responsible for the delivery of software, hardware, or technical data. Project-Level Performers will be expected to deliver technical solutions, consisting of software, hardware, and/or technical data.  Refer to the Statement of Work (SOW) and ADRLs.

LIMITATIONS OF OTP AUTHORITY

Appropriate Use of Authority.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that no official of an agency enters into a transaction (other than a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement) for a prototype project under the authority of this section unless one of the following conditions is met:

(A) There is at least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project.

(B) All significant participants in the transaction other than the Federal Government are small businesses (including small businesses participating in a program described under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638)) or nontraditional defense contractors.

(C) At least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the Federal Government.

(D) The senior procurement executive for the agency determines in writing that exceptional circumstances justify the use of a transaction that provides for innovative business arrangements or structures that would not be feasible or appropriate under a contract, or would provide an opportunity to expand the defense supply base in a manner that would not be practical or feasible under a contract.
 

Anticipated Award Structure:

The Government anticipates that EPIC will be awarded as an Other Transaction Agreement for Prototype (OTP), as authorized under Title 10 U.S.C. §4022. The resulting award is expected to be an OT Indefinite Delivery Vehicle (IDV) with an unspecified ceiling value, project ordering period of 120 months, and project performance allowed up to 24 months after project ordering end date. The OTP will have multiple Project-Level Orders (PLOs) awarded on a Firm Fixed Price basis. The IDV agreement is for services that do not procure or specify a firm quantity of services and that provides for the issuance of orders for the performance of tasks during the period of the Agreement. The increments and dollar threshold will be determined by each area of interest, with pricing based on the outcome of project-level competitions, conducted throughout the term of the Agreement. Despite the Firm Fixed Price nature of the Agreement, the successful Offeror will need to identify an accounting system that is capable of tracking the receipt and disbursement of Government funds. Upon successful completion of the Project-Level Agreements under a Project-Level Order, there could be potential for a sole-source, follow-on production OT or contract. Follow-on production OT or contracts will be determined on a project-by-project basis in accordance with the guidance provided in the Other Transactions Guide (OUSD (A&S)), 2023, applicable law, and policy.

This procurement is a performance-based services acquisition.  A period of performance of 120 months is anticipated.

Project Level Orders are anticipated as Firm-Fixed Price agreements with milestone-based payments.

Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) will be considered during performance of a PLO.

Additional Agreement Terms and Conditions:

Foreign Disclosure review has been completed; this Other Transaction Agreement is closed to foreign participation at the OT lead level as well as the Project Level Performer Level. 

Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI): companies who have mitigated FOCI may inquire as to eligibility by contacting the Agreements Office focal points, Catherine Hulser, Agreements Officer, catherine.hulser.1@us.af.mil  or Erica Ogundadegbe, Agreements Officer, erica.ogundadegbe@us.af.mil  for verification. Please reference the title of the acquisition. Overall effort with allow awards up to and including TS/SCI level with an appropriate DD254 in place.  Similar language and instruction will be included in each Project Level Order Project Announcement solicited under EPIC.

Base Support will be on a project level order basis.

Submission Instructions:

1)            Whitepapers must be complete and respond directly to the requirements of the solicitation.

2)            The whitepaper must be sent electronically in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Oral presentations, models, mockups, or videos will not be accepted. Email whitepaper to each of the following addresses: catherine.hulser.1@us.af.mil, erica.ogundadegbe@us.af.mil, matthew.shaver.1@us.af.mil and AFRL.RF.EPIC@us.af.mil.

3)            The whitepaper must be received by 12:00pm Eastern Daylight time on 12 August 2026.  Note that email systems, storage limits, and firewalls may present a risk to successful submission. Recommend allowing enough time to trouble shoot problems surrounding whitepaper submission. It is each Offeror’s responsibility to confirm that the Government has received their whitepaper. 

4)            Whitepapers should be no more than 10 pages summarizing their proposed approach/solution requested. Any pages in excess of 10 will be removed and not considered in the white paper evaluation. The purpose of the white paper is to preclude unwarranted effort on the part of an offeror whose proposed work is not of interest to the Government.

5)            Any whitepapers received after the date and time listed above will not be considered.

6)            Once a whitepaper is evaluated and determined selectable, a proposal will be requested. 

7)            The Offeror’s proposal will describe in complete detail all aspects of its approach to meeting the EPIC program objectives. For purposes of the evaluation, the offers must address all elements of the Statements of Work (SOW). The SOW will be incorporated into the final Agreement and the successful Offeror will be responsible for performance of all elements of the SOW.

8)            Refer to Attachment No. 5 Instructions to Offerors and Evaluation Criteria for complete submission information.

This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to award an agreement or contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach.  Any information provided to the Government as a result of this solicitation is voluntary.  No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of performer submission of responses or the Government’s use of such information.

Responses:

Due on or before 12 August 2026, 12:00 pm Eastern Daylight time.

Points of Contact:

Agreement Officer Representative (AOR)
Matthew Shaver
Ph: 315-330-3295
Email: matthew.shaver.1@us.af.mil and AFRL.RF.EPIC@us.af.mil

Agreements Officer:
Catherine Hulser
Ph: 315-330-2287
email: catherine.hulser.1@us.af.mil

Agreements Officer:
Erica Ogundadegbe
Ph: 315-330-3945
email: erica.ogundadegbe@us.af.mil       

Questions of an agreement/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant agreements officers, as specified above (email requests are preferred).  Emails must reference the solicitation number and title.

Attachments and Documents as part of this solicitation:

• Solicitation Letter
• Attachment No. 1 Articles
• Attachment No. 2 Statement of Work (SOW)
  • Exhibit 1 EPIC Areas of Interest
• Attachment No. 3 Agreement Data Requirements List (ADRLs)
• Attachment No. 4 Recommended Processes and Practices
  • Exhibit A Project Announcement (not tailorable)
  • Exhibit B Proposal Template
  • Exhibit C Whitepaper Template
  • Exhibit D Government Cost Price Analysis
• Attachment No. 5 Instructions to Offerors and Eval Criteria
• Attachment No. 6 Reps and Certs

NOTE: CONTAINED WITHIN ATTACHMENT NO. 4 RECOMMENDED PROCESSES AND PRACTICES DOCUMENT, REFER TO THE ATTACHMENTS PANEL ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE PDF DOCUMENT FOR EXHIBITS A-D REFRENCED THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT.