Tri Base UK SABER 2.0

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
Project: Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements (SABER)
Tri-Base Area, United Kingdom
I. PURPOSE & DISCLAIMERS
The United States Air Force (USAF), 48 Fighter Wing (48 FW), Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, United Kingdom (UK) is conducting market research to identify firms capable of executing the requirements for our upcoming second-generation Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements (SABER) contract. We invite prospective offerors to submit a Capability Statement demonstrating their ability to fulfill these requirements.
This Request for Information (RFI) is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation, Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Request for Quotation (RFQ). The USAF makes no commitment, express or implied, to buy resources or contract for services based on this publication. No solicitation is currently available; any future solicitation will be formally announced on System for Award Management (SAM), the Government Point of Entry (GPE).
Active registration in the SAM is not required to submit a response to this initial RFI. However, to be eligible for contract award under any subsequent solicitation, prospective offerors must have an active SAM registration both at the time they submit their proposal and at the time of contract award. Because the validation process can take several weeks, respondents are strongly encouraged to initiate or renew their registration immediately. If your firm needs to start this process, step-by-step guidance is provided in Section IV.
No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. No evaluation letters or results will be issued to respondents.
II. BACKGROUND
The 48 FW, RAF Lakenheath, UK, is seeking to establish a second-generation SABER contract. This contract will provide a responsive and flexible method for completing a broad range of maintenance, repair, alteration, and minor construction projects across the Tri-Base Area (RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell).
To provide prospective offerors with a clear understanding of the potential scope and scale of this new contract, we are providing a representative sample of projects executed under the current SABER program, alongside historical task order volumes and spend. The data below is outlined by Fiscal Year (FY), which runs from 01 October to 30 September.
The current 48 FW SABER contract, which commenced in August 2022 and concludes in August 2027, has successfully delivered numerous projects, demonstrating a strong partnership between the USAF and our contract awardee.
When analyzing the historical execution patterns of the current vehicle, offerors should keep two critical operational anomalies in mind:
• FY22: The current vehicle was awarded late in August 2022 and the fiscal year concluded in September 2022. As a result, the low task order volume and spending during this period does not reflect a standard annual operational tempo.
• FY23: The high spending in FY23 represents a significant anomaly rather than an expected baseline. During this period, SABER was utilized to absorb two high-value projects, one for $5 million and another for $2 million due to no other contract vehicle available at the time. Excluding these two requirements, the baseline annual spend aligns more closely with the levels observed in FY24 and FY25.
The table below outlines the total SABER spend and task order volume for the first four fiscal years of the current contract (Total FY22–FY25: £17.4M GBP / $23.5M USD):
These projects demonstrate the typical variety, complexity, and magnitude of task orders executed under this vehicle. Complex efforts, such as Facility Upgrades, demand multi-discipline coordination involving plumbing, mechanical integrations, structural fit-outs, and complete aesthetic finishes. This program accommodates highly variable requirements, proving its capacity to deliver everything from small-scale maintenance to major infrastructure modernization.
Project Type
Description
GBP approx. Awarded
USD approx. Conversion
Office Renovation
Construction of a partition wall to create new office space.
£17,000
$22,000
Utility Upgrade
Installation of a new electric supply.
£65,000
$83,000
Facility Upgrades
Installation of plumbing and pipework in building bathrooms. Includes new toilet cubicles, new vanity units, and Integrated Plumbing System (IPS) panels to enclose mechanical services. Complete decoration including new flooring, walls, and ceilings.
£182,000
$228,000
Road Repairs
Modification of a roundabout, line painting, and installation of flashing lights.
£176,000
$207,000
FY
# Task Orders
SABER GBP
SABER USD
22 (1 month)
4
400K
535K
23
27
10M
14M
24
32
4M
5M
25
36
3M
4M

Period of Performance (PoP) and Economic Feasibility:
The Government anticipates a long-term partnership, with an intended PoP of eight (8) years commencing in September 2027.
III. RESPONSE GUIDELINES & SUBMISSION FORMAT
To facilitate a timely and comprehensive review, respondents must adhere to the following submission guidelines:
• Submission Deadline: Responses are due no later than 1400 GMT on 31 July 2026.
• Submission Method: Submit all responses via email attachment to the Points of Contact listed in Section V. Only electronic responses will be accepted. No telephone calls will be accepted requesting a bid package or solicitation.
• File Size & Format: The 48 Contracting Squadron (48 CONS) cannot accept emails over 5MB. If your submission exceeds 5MB, please contact the Points of Contact to request a DoD Safe request.
• Page Limit: Responses are not to exceed 20 pages. (Note: The following items do not count toward this limit: 1) Administrative information in Section IV, Part A, and 2) The Statement of Work (SOW) with tracked changes/comments).
• Prohibited Materials: Do not submit brochures, samples, catalogs, or generic marketing/solicitation information.
• Proprietary Information: Any proprietary information must be clearly marked as “PROPRIETARY INFORMATION”. The Government will handle this data accordingly.
IV. REQUESTED INFORMATION
Part A: Administrative & Vendor Information
Please provide the following administrative details:
1. Company Details: Full vendor name, physical address, and primary point of contact (name, title, email, and phone number).
2. Entity Identifiers: Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and CAGE (five-character, alphanumeric identifier)/NCAGE (international equivalent of a CAGE code) code.
NOTE: Non-US companies must obtain an NCAGE Code. This is provided free of charge and is obtained through the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) National Codification Bureau. Visit the MOD National Codification Bureau portal directly at: https://www.ncb.mod.uk to apply.
3. SAM Status: Confirm active registration status in the SAM.
NOTE: Once your NCAGE code is verified in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) database, you can create your entity registration in SAM. Visit the official, secure US Government portal: https://sam.gov

Part B: Capability & Market Research Questions
Please provide direct, concise responses to the following questions within your 20-page capability statement limit:
1. Capability & Risk Assessment: After reviewing the draft Statement of Work (SOW), does your company possess the capability and interest to perform the full scope of work? If there are specific risks, ambiguities in the SOW, or operational barriers that would deter you from bidding on a formal solicitation, please detail those constraints here.
2. UK Regulatory, Accreditation, and Insurance Alignment: Are there standard UK commercial construction practices, professional accreditations (e.g., Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting(NICEIC)), local certifications, mandatory insurances (such as Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, or Employer's Liability), or statutory licensing requirements necessary for this scope of work that are not currently addressed in the draft SOW?
NOTE: Please specify any UK regulations (such as Construction Design and Management (CDM) 2015) that should be explicitly incorporated to ensure safety and legal compliance.
3. Minimum Viable Annual Volume: Under a single-award SABER Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) structure, what is the minimum annual project volume (expressed in GBP or USD) your firm would require to make participation and mobilization economically viable over the proposed 8-year Period of Performance?
a. Minimum Annual Value Required: £/________________ (or $________________)
b. Cost Drivers: Briefly describe the primary fixed overhead costs (e.g., local office setup, dedicated staffing, compliance) that dictate this minimum threshold.
c. Mobilization Period: What is your estimated timeline to fully mobilize staff and establish a presence in the Tri-Base Area once the contract is awarded?
4. UK Mobilization Plan & Timeline (For US/Non-UK Firms): If your firm's primary operations are outside the UK, please detail your anticipated approach to establishing and maintaining a presence in the Tri-Base area. Specifically address the following:
a. Personnel & Staffing: What is your strategy for staffing this contract? Describe anticipated challenges and timelines related to obtaining visas/work permits for non-UK personnel versus hiring and training local UK talent.
b. Supply Chain & Logistics: How do you plan to establish your supply chain for materials and equipment? Describe any anticipated challenges with UK sourcing, customs, or logistics.
5. Long-Term Partnership & Evaluation Criteria: What contract mechanisms or evaluation criteria do you recommend the Government utilize to select and retain a highly capable, collaborative partner for this 8-year IDIQ?
6. Acquisition Strategy & Evaluation Criteria: The Government is considering evaluating Past Performance using prior SABER, Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC), or UK Framework Agreement experience.
a. Evaluation Concerns: Do you have any concerns regarding this evaluation approach? Specifically, please identify any barriers this might create for highly qualified local UK firms that may not have direct experience with US Department of War (DoW) contracting processes.
b. UK vs. US Equivalency: What specific UK-equivalent past performance markers (e.g., Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) contract execution, Scape/Crown Commercial Service frameworks) should the Government treat as equivalent to US military SABER/MATOC experience?
c. Recommended Capabilities: What alternative or additional criteria (such as supply chain resilience, safety records under CDM 2015, or local subcontractor networks) do you recommend to effectively measure a contractor's capability to execute this specific scope?
7. SOW Clarity, Constructability, & Technical Feedback: The Government requests detailed feedback on the clarity, constructability, and technical feasibility of the draft SOW. Please provide your input using the structure below:
a. Ambiguous or Unclear Requirements: Identify any specific sections, paragraphs, or technical specifications that are unclear or open to misinterpretation.
b. Overly Restrictive Specifications: Please point out any requirements, specified materials, or standards that may be overly restrictive, proprietary, or not aligned with standard UK construction practices.
c. Suggested Revisions: For any issues identified above, please suggest alternative language, UK-equivalent standards, or revised specifications that would improve clarity and promote competition.
V. POINTS OF CONTACT
Please submit a response via email attachment on company letterhead to the points of contact listed below.
• Ms. Rachel Oldfield, Contracting Officer
Email:contact@example.gov
• Ms. Claire Hammond, Contract Specialist
Email:contact@example.gov
• Ms. Patsy Hereford-Goesmann, Contract Specialist
Email:contact@example.gov
Attachment:
1. Statement of Work