How to Win the ACE-IOS Contract: A Guide for Government Contractors

Introduction

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is seeking proposals for the Air Space and Cyberspace Constructive Environment Information Operations Suite Modeling and Simulation (ACE-IOS) contract. The ACE-IOS is a suite of models and simulations that support training and mission rehearsal for the Air Force, Joint Task Force commanders, and Combatant Commands (COCOMs) in the domains of air, space, and cyberspace. The ACE-IOS contract is a competitive, single-award, cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contract with a one-year base period and four one-year option periods. The estimated value of the contract is $165 million. The solicitation number is FA873023RB021 and the response date is April 30, 2023.

In this article, we will provide an overview of the ACE-IOS contract, its historical background, its requirements and objectives, who should participate, and the challenges and opportunities for potential bidders. We will also share some tips and best practices on how to prepare a winning proposal for this contract. As GDI Consulting, a leading provider of capture and proposal services for government contractors, we have extensive experience and expertise in helping our clients win federal contracts across various industries and agencies. We can help you craft a compelling and compliant proposal that showcases your capabilities and value proposition for the ACE-IOS contract.

Historical Background

The ACE-IOS contract is a follow-on to the previous Air Force Modeling and Simulation Training Toolkit (AFMSTT) contract, which was awarded to SAIC in 2012 for $95 million. The AFMSTT contract provided modeling and simulation services for air, space, and cyberspace operations training and mission rehearsal. The AFMSTT contract supported various exercises and events, such as Red Flag, Blue Flag, Virtual Flag, Unified Endeavor, Ulchi Freedom Guardian, and Cyber Flag. The AFMSTT contract also developed and maintained several models and simulations, such as the Air Warfare Simulation (AWSIM), the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation (JCATS), the Joint Semi-Automated Forces (JSAF), the Joint Theater Level Simulation (JTLS), the Space Environment Effects Tool (SEET), and the Cyber Effects Model (CEM).

The AFMSTT contract expired in 2019 and was extended until 2021 through bridge contracts. In 2020, the AFRL issued a request for information (RFI) for the ACE-IOS contract, seeking industry feedback on the scope, objectives, requirements, acquisition strategy, and evaluation criteria for the new contract. The RFI indicated that the AFRL intended to award a single-award CPFF contract with a one-year base period and four one-year option periods. The RFI also stated that the ACE-IOS contractor would be responsible for developing, integrating, maintaining, enhancing, testing, verifying, validating, accrediting, documenting, training, distributing, and supporting a suite of models and simulations that support air, space, and cyberspace operations training and mission rehearsal.

In March 2021, the AFRL issued a draft request for proposal (RFP) for the ACE-IOS contract, soliciting comments and questions from potential offerors. The draft RFP provided more details on the scope of work, deliverables, performance standards, security requirements, data rights, evaluation factors, proposal instructions, and contract clauses for the ACE-IOS contract. The draft RFP also indicated that the AFRL planned to issue the final RFP in April 2021 and award the contract in August 2021.

RFP Description

The ACE-IOS contract is a complex and challenging contract that requires a high level of technical expertise, experience, innovation, collaboration, and flexibility from the contractor. The contractor will be required to perform the following tasks:

• Develop new models and simulations that address emerging threats and capabilities in air, space, and cyberspace domains
• Integrate existing models and simulations into a cohesive suite that provides realistic, interoperable, and scalable representations of air, space, and cyberspace environments
• Maintain, enhance, and update existing models and simulations to ensure accuracy, reliability, and usability
• Test, verify, validate, and accredit models and simulations to ensure compliance with standards, requirements, and specifications
• Document models and simulations to provide clear, concise, and consistent information on their features, functions, interfaces, limitations, and assumptions
• Train users on how to effectively use models and simulations for training and mission rehearsal purposes
• Distribute models and simulations to authorized users through secure channels
• Support users with technical assistance, troubleshooting, configuration management, and problem resolution
• Collaborate with government stakeholders, other contractors, and academia to share best practices, lessons learned, and feedback on models and simulations

The contractor will be expected to deliver various products and services, such as:

• Software code, executables, and libraries for models and simulations
• Software documentation, user manuals, and training materials for models and simulations
• Software test plans, test cases, test results, and test reports for models and simulations
• Software verification, validation, and accreditation reports for models and simulations
• Software configuration management plans and records for models and simulations
• Software licenses and data rights for models and simulations
• Software installation and distribution packages for models and simulations
• Software support and maintenance services for models and simulations
• Software enhancement and update services for models and simulations
• Software development and integration services for new models and simulations

The contractor will be evaluated based on the following factors:

• Technical approach and understanding of the requirements
• Management approach and organizational structure
• Past performance and relevant experience
• Cost realism and reasonableness

The contractor will be required to comply with various security requirements, such as:

• Obtaining a facility clearance at the secret level
• Obtaining personnel clearances at the secret level for key personnel
• Protecting classified information and systems in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM)
• Implementing cybersecurity measures in accordance with the Risk Management Framework (RMF)
• Applying security controls in accordance with the Special Access Program (SAP) Security Manual

The contractor will also be required to comply with various data rights requirements, such as:

• Granting the government unlimited rights to all software developed under the contract
• Granting the government government purpose rights to all software developed with mixed funding under the contract
• Granting the government limited rights to all software developed exclusively at private expense under the contract
• Providing the government with sufficient documentation to support the assertion of data rights

Who Should Participate

The ACE-IOS contract is a highly competitive and lucrative opportunity for government contractors who have expertise and experience in developing, integrating, maintaining, enhancing, testing, verifying, validating, accrediting, documenting, training, distributing, and supporting models and simulations for air, space, and cyberspace operations. The ACE-IOS contract is also a strategic opportunity for government contractors who want to position themselves as leaders and innovators in the modeling and simulation domain. The ACE-IOS contract will provide the contractor with access to cutting-edge technologies, challenging problems, high-profile customers, and long-term partnerships.

However, the ACE-IOS contract is not suitable for every government contractor. The ACE-IOS contract has high barriers to entry, such as:

• The need for a facility clearance at the secret level
• The need for personnel clearances at the secret level for key personnel
• The need for extensive past performance and relevant experience in modeling and simulation
• The need for a robust technical approach and management approach that demonstrate understanding of the requirements and ability to deliver quality products and services
• The need for a realistic and reasonable cost proposal that reflects the complexity and scope of the work

Therefore, only government contractors who meet these criteria should consider participating in the ACE-IOS contract. Government contractors who do not meet these criteria should focus on other opportunities that match their capabilities and strengths.

Challenges and Opportunities

The ACE-IOS contract presents both challenges and opportunities for potential bidders. Some of the challenges are:

• The complexity and scope of the work: The contractor will have to develop, integrate, maintain, enhance, test, verify, validate, accredit, document, train, distribute, and support a suite of models and simulations that cover multiple domains, scenarios, platforms, systems, effects, threats, capabilities, missions, objectives, rules of engagement, tactics, techniques, procedures, doctrines, policies, standards, regulations, specifications, requirements, constraints, assumptions, uncertainties, risks, opportunities, trade-offs, and interdependencies. The contractor will have to deal with technical issues such as interoperability, scalability, reliability, usability, accuracy, realism, fidelity, performance, efficiency, security, cybersecurity, data quality, data rights, software engineering, software testing, software verification, software validation, software accreditation, software documentation, software training, software distribution, software support, software maintenance, software enhancement, software update, software development, and software integration. The contractor will also have to deal with management issues such as project management, program management, risk management, quality management, configuration management, change management, stakeholder management, communication management, resource management, schedule management, cost management, performance management, contract management, and subcontract management.
• The competition: The ACE-IOS contract is a single-award contract that will attract many qualified bidders who have expertise and experience in modeling and simulation. The bidders will have to differentiate themselves from their competitors by demonstrating superior technical approach, management approach, past performance, relevant experience and cost proposal.

Some of the opportunities are:

• The value: The ACE-IOS contract is estimated to be worth $165 million over five years. This is a significant amount of revenue for any government contractor who wins the contract.
• The impact: The ACE-IOS contract will have a significant impact on the modeling and simulation domain and the air, space, and cyberspace operations domain. The contractor will have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of science and technology, the enhancement of national security, the improvement of operational readiness, the delivery of mission success, and the satisfaction of customer needs.
• The innovation: The ACE-IOS contract will require the contractor to develop new models and simulations that address emerging threats and capabilities in air, space, and cyberspace domains. The contractor will have the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, ingenuity, and originality in solving complex and challenging problems. The contractor will also have the opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, big data analytics, and augmented reality.

Conclusion

The ACE-IOS contract is a rare and valuable opportunity for government contractors who have expertise and experience in developing, integrating, maintaining, enhancing, testing, verifying, validating, accrediting, documenting, training, distributing, and supporting models and simulations for air, space, and cyberspace operations. The ACE-IOS contract is also a strategic and impactful opportunity for government contractors who want to position themselves as leaders and innovators in the modeling and simulation domain. However, the ACE-IOS contract is not an easy or simple opportunity. The ACE-IOS contract has high barriers to entry, high complexity and scope of work, high competition, and high expectations from the customer.

Therefore, potential bidders need to prepare carefully and thoroughly for the ACE-IOS contract. They need to understand the requirements and objectives of the customer, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their competitors, develop a robust technical approach and management approach that demonstrate their capabilities and value proposition, provide evidence of their past performance and relevant experience that showcase their credibility and reliability, and submit a realistic and reasonable cost proposal that reflects the effort and risk involved in the work.

If you are interested in pursuing the ACE-IOS contract or any other federal contract opportunity, please contact us today at www.gdicwins.com. We would love to hear from you and discuss how we can help you achieve your business goals. Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it informative and useful. Please feel free to share it with your colleagues and friends who might be interested in the ACE-IOS contract or other federal contract opportunities. We look forward to hearing from you soon.