The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) is responsible for the lifecycle management, modernization, development and sustainment of the nation’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Weapon Systems. These critical systems form the land-based leg of the United States’ nuclear triad, providing a vital deterrent against adversaries and ensuring national security. To maintain the operational readiness, reliability, and relevance of ICBM systems, the AFNWC’s ICBM Systems Directorate (AFNWC/NI) requires comprehensive engineering, integration, and professional services support. These services will address the technical complexities of managing legacy systems, implementing modernization efforts, developing and transitioning to next generation capabilities, such as the Sentinel weapon system, while maintaining cost, schedule, and performance discipline. The ICBM Development, Operations, and Sustainment (IDOS) effort is a pivotal component in this effort, designed to enhance the directorate’s ability to deliver responsive and innovative Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) services. By leveraging industry expertise, IDOS will support critical tasks, including technical baseline development, interface management, risk assessments, and program support for acquisition, testing, and sustainment activities. This effort aims to ensure the seamless integration of ICBM components across their lifecycle, enabling the AFNWC to meet evolving mission requirements, achieve cost savings, and reduce schedule risks.
The ICBM Weapon Systems, including the Minuteman III and Sentinel systems, represent some of the most technically complex programs in the DoD portfolio. These systems operate within an intricate ecosystem of components, technologies, and processes, spanning decades of development and operational use. The challenges include:
Modernization of Legacy Systems: The Minuteman III (MMIII) system requires continual sustainment and modernization to maintain operational reliability while transitioning to the next-generation Sentinel system. The Sentinel acquisition program is a total system recapitalization for the MMIII ICBM Weapon System. This includes new missile systems, command and launch (C&L) systems, support systems, launch control facilities, and launch facilities (LFs). This effort demands precise engineering and integration to mitigate obsolescence, managing the technical risks of integrating modern technologies with legacy systems, and developing new systems.
Evolving Mission Requirements: As global threats and defense strategies evolve, the ICBM systems must adapt to ensure readiness and reliability. This includes addressing new cyber, nuclear, and technological challenges that impact the development, sustainment, and modernization of these systems.
Complex Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I): The lifecycle management and development of ICBM systems requires robust SE&I capabilities to coordinate technical baselines, interface management, risk assessments, and programmatic requirements across multiple systems and stakeholders.
Cost and Schedule Discipline: The modernization, sustainment, and development of ICBM systems occurs within a constrained budget environment. Meeting program goals requires innovative strategies to optimize resources, reduce costs, and manage aggressive timelines.
As part of this effort, the Government requires professional services to support the acquisition lifecycle of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Weapon Systems. The anticipated requirements include systems engineering and integration services to support the lifecycle of ICBM Weapon Systems, with a focus on addressing evolving mission needs, optimizing program execution, and mitigating cost, schedule, and technical risks. These requirements may change.
The prospective contract or contracts will encompass the following major areas of support:
- Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I)
- Technical Baseline Management
- System of Systems Integration
- Requirements Development and Traceability
- Risk Management
- Subject Matter Expertise (SME)
- Program and Lifecycle Support
- Sustainment Support
- Development Support
- Design, Development, Production
- Transition Planning
- Test and Evaluation (T&E)
- Data and Analysis
- Modeling and Simulation (M&S)
- Data Analytics and Reporting
- Performance Optimization
- Acquisition Support
- Acquisition Strategy Development
- Cost and Schedule Estimation
- Industry Engagement
- Cybersecurity and Information Technology
- Cybersecurity Compliance
- Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
- System Resilience
- Secure Software and Hardware Development
- Secure Network Architecture and Segmentation
- Stakeholder Collaboration
- Cross-Organizational Coordination
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Compliance and Documentation
- Regulatory Compliance
- Documentation
- Construction and Infrastructure Support
- Facilities Management and Modernization
- Infrastructure Design and Engineering
- Construction Oversight
- Sustainability & Resilience
- Finance and Budget Management
- Resource Optimization
- Cost Analysis and Estimation
- Funding Execution and Reporting
- Security
- Access Control and Personnel Screening
- Physical Security and Surveillance
- Information Security and Protocols
- Nuclear Surety
- Safety and Security Compliance
- Weapon System Certification
- Surety Risk Management
- Administration
- Process Efficiency
- Communication and Coordination
- Workforce Training
- Continued Education and Certification
