The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) Weapon System

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) Weapon System (WS) is the replacement for the legacy E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) system. Replacement of the E-4B fleet is necessary due to aging 1970s-era aircraft approaching end of service life. In order to satisfy operational requirements, the SAOC WS will be supported on a new, cost-effective, commercial derivative aircraft (CDA). The SAOC Mission systems consists of modern communications subsystem, networks subsystem, and advanced command and control (C2) subsystems. The SAOC Program Management Office (PMO) intends to conduct Pre - Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) activities to ensure success in the EMD phase of the acquisition process. ____________________________________________ To facilitate effective communication with Industry, the SAOC PMO plans to host an Industry Day 12-13 February at the MITRE Complex, Bedford MA. ___________________________________________ The SAOC PMO plans to release a draft SAOC SRD via classified media to interested companies holding the appropriate facility clearance in February 2020 (after Industry Day). Specific instructions for SRD comments/feedback will accompany the draft SRD. see attachment "SAOC Industry Update SRD 6_Feb_20" ___________________________________________ SAOC PMO is contemplating a two-step down select acquisition strategy. The first step, or Phase I, is a multi-award effort leading to a Preliminary Design Review. Phase II will be a down select to a single vendor to perform the remaining work from design through Interim Contract Support. This notice is provided to solicit Industry feedback on initial drafts of select Phase I RFP documents. see attachment "RFI SOO_CDRL_LM_CLINs 5_Mar_20" ___________________________________________ The SAOC PMO has altered the Acquisition Strategy from a two-step down select to a two contract approach. **Pre-EMD will award up to two independent Risk Reduction/Design contracts where the scope of work includes: 1. Finalization of the System Requirements Document (SRD), 2. Finalization of the EMD Statement of Work (SOW), and 3. Weapon System design through Preliminary Design Review (PDR). **EMD will award one (1) EMD, Production, and Interim Contractor Support (ICS) contract. Entry into EMD competition requires the successful completion of the PDR in the Pre-EMD contract. This notice provides updated drafts of select SAOC documents. _______________________________________ The SAOC PMO is releasing a second draft SAOC SRD the week of 26 May 2020 via classified media to interested companies holding the appropriate facility clearance. The return of SRD comments/feedback to the Governmnet is encouraged. see attachment "SAOC Industry Update SRD 20_May_20" _______________________________________ Currently, the program will be pursuing a Milestone-A Decision and will be conducting Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) efforts. The RFP originally planned for release in September 2020 is delayed. see attachment "SAOC Industry Update 15_Jul_20" _______________________________________ The SAOC PMO is releasing a third draft SAOC SRD the week of 24 August 2020 via classified media to interested companies holding the appropriate facility clearance. The return of SRD comments/feedback to the Governmnet is encouraged. In addition, feedback is requested on a Contract Clause being contemplated to promote competition. see attachment "SAOC Industry Update Clause_SRD 24_Aug_20" ______________________________________ The SAOC PMO is releasing draft TMRR Solicitation documents, Industry Q&A responses and an "International Council on Systems Engineering" (INCOSE) Model-Based Capability Assessment Matrix applicable to Digital Engineering see attachment "SAOC RFI9 11_Sep_20" ______________________________________ The SAOC program was recently designated as an ACAT 1D program. The acquisition strategy is being updated and coordinated with stakeholders. As a result, the RFP originally planned for release in December 2020 is delayed. Additional details regarding the path forward/updated schedule will be released in the near future.