(RFI) Advanced Propulsion Acquistion Contract (APAC) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract

The Advanced Propulsion Acquisition Contract (APAC) is a Multiple Award Contract (MAC) structured as an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) vehicle designed to support the United States Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Propulsion Directorate. The contract’s primary objective is to enable rapid development, integration, and sustainment of novel and advanced propulsion technologies spanning all lifecycle phases, including research and development, technology maturation, testing, production, fielding, operations, and sustainment. The APAC MAC allows the Air Force to quickly respond to evolving requirements by awarding flexible task or delivery orders that advance evolutionary, revolutionary, and disruptive propulsion capabilities. The contract is planned to have a total period of performance of up to 15 years, incorporating a five-year base period and options, with a streamlined process to add or remove contractors (on-ramping/off-ramping) to maintain competitive and innovative industrial participation. Proposals under this solicitation undergo evaluation based primarily on technical proficiency, which encompasses technical capability, propulsion industry relevance, and commitment to small business participation. Each subfactor is rated on an acceptable/unacceptable scale, and only proposals meeting all criteria with an acceptable rating are eligible for award. The award decision will be based on a best-value trade-off, not solely on lowest price, following FAR and DoD source selection procedures. The contract incorporates extensive requirements including data management through standardized Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRLs), cybersecurity compliance aligned with NIST and DFARS standards, and adherence to inspection and quality standards governed by applicable FAR clauses and military standards (e.g., MIL-STD-130 for item marking). The solicitation emphasizes rigorous organizational conflict of interest mitigation, facility clearance needs aligned with security classification specifications (DD 254), and comprehensive subcontracting commitments, with specific small business participation requirements. Proposal submissions must follow detailed instructions, including volume formatting and page limits, and be submitted electronically via a secure DoD portal by the established deadlines. The government provides guidance through an industry user guide and responses to draft RFP comments, helping contractors prepare compliant, competitive proposals aimed at advancing propulsion technologies critical to maintaining U.S. Air Force technological superiority.