Air Force reboots $12B systems integration contract
BAE Systems and Guidehouse have waged a back-and-forth battle for the 18-year contract. but now the Air Force is starting over with a new sources sought notice.
The Air Force has gone back to square one in its effort to modernize a major ballistic missile system.
Guidehouse and BAE Systems traded wins for the Integration Support Contract 2.0 contract, with each company protesting when the other won.
For the last protest won by BAE in late June, the Government Accountability Office gave the Air Force the option to start over if it felt the solicitation no longer met its needs.
The Air Force released a sources sought notice on Tuesday that kicks off the development of a new solicitation for the estimated $12 billion contract that will run for 18 years.
ISC 2.0 is part of a massive Air Force effort to replace its Minuteman III missiles, with Northrop Grumman building the new Sentinel missile system that is also called the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent.
The contract covers sustainment services for the Minuteman missiles and its retirement, as well as support the deployment of Sentinel.
BAE is the incumbent contractor supporting Minuteman III. That intercontinental ballistic missile was first fielded in 1970 and initially had an expected lifespan of 10 years.
The new sources sought notice describes four challenges the Air Force wants to address: modernization of legacy systems, evolving mission requirements, complex systems engineering and integration, and cost and schedule discipline.
Some of the specific services they are looking for include systems engineering and integration, program and lifecycle support, data and analysis, and acquisition support. The Air Force also wants cybersecurity and IT support.
The document also describes needs such as finance and budget management, security, nuclear safety, and construction and infrastructure support.
The Air Force says it is open to small business primes. But given the scope of services and needs, this will be another battle of large businesses.
Comments are due Feb. 8.