Request for Information - Message Operations and Information Exchange Support

1.0     DESCRIPTION & PURPOSE

1.1     The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is seeking information on how an interested vendor could provide and administer an organizational message (OM) application that supports the exchange, discovery, drafting, coordination, release, receipt, storage, and dissemination of intelligence reporting information for internal and external users and customers. The OM capability should provide access to NGA-authored reporting and supports broader intelligence discovery and information exchange across connected mission partners.   

1.2     The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain information on current industry capabilities, commercial practices, and available solutions to support the operations, maintenance, sustainment, modernization, and cybersecurity support of NGA’s organizational messaging environment. Specifically, NGA seeks information to assess industry’s ability to provide Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) messaging software, associated licensing and support, geographically separated operational capability, storage modernization, system automation, transition support, and ongoing operational and technical support within a Government-provided hosting environment. This RFI will also assist NGA in understanding commercial approaches, technical considerations, contract structure, and potential risks associated with sustaining and modernizing this capability.

1.3     THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. NGA is not seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

2.0     BACKGROUND

NGA has a mission-critical need to produce and disseminate Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) information throughout the Department of War (DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC).

2.1     ACQUISITION REQUIREMENTS: See the attached Statement of Work (SOW).

2.2     PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (POP):

Base Period: 15 September 2027 – 14 September 2028

Option Year 1: 15 September 2028 – 14 September 2029

Option Year 2: 15 September 2029 – 14 December 2030

Option Year 3: 15 September 2030 – 14 September 2031 

Option Year 4: 15 September 2031 – 14 September 2032

2.3     LOCATION(S): NGA Springfield & NGA Arnold

2.4     CONSTRAINTS AND LIMITATIONS: The following are anticipated to apply to this acquisition: The solution must be compatible with NGA’s Government-provided hosting environment and enterprise architecture. The solution must support operations in two geographically separated data centers. The contractor must coordinate with NGA and NGA’s Infrastructure Service Provider (ISP) on infrastructure and operational dependencies. The solution must comply with applicable security, cybersecurity, and accreditation requirements. Performance may require work in classified or controlled environments by appropriately authorized personnel. Responses should address operations, maintenance, sustainment, licensing, and support requirements consistent with O&M-funded efforts. Any proposed modernization or automation must minimize disruption to ongoing mission operations. The contractor may be required to use Government-approved tools, processes, and environments for cybersecurity, change management, and contingency support. Additional technical details may be provided only to authorized parties at a later stage of the acquisition process.

2.5     SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: The following security requirements are anticipated to apply to this acquisition: The following security requirements are anticipated to apply to this acquisition. The respondent shall demonstrate security capabilities and plans sufficient to meet NGA security requirements beginning at contract award and throughout the POP. This includes the ability to provide appropriately cleared personnel, protect Government information and systems, operate securely within a Government-provided hosting environment, and support cybersecurity, modernization, transition, and ongoing operations for NGA’s organizational messaging environment. Responses shall include relevant information regarding employee security clearances by labor category and any security-related capabilities, processes, and experience that demonstrate the respondent’s ability to perform this effort securely. All RFI responses must contain only UNCLASSIFIED information and be marked “UNCLASSIFIED” on all pages in both the header and footer.

2.6     ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST:  In accordance with FAR Part 9.5, please discuss any performance which may lead to an OCI and how the respondent would mitigate, avoid, or neutralize the conflict.

3.0     REQUESTED INFORMATION

Responses must only contain UNCLASSIFIED information and be marked “UNCLASSIFIED” on all pages in both the header and footer. No classified information may be included in your response.

Responses must not include any proprietary information. Responses may be reviewed by NGA non-Government consultants or experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements.

3.1     ADMINISTRATIVE

Information to include the following as a minimum:

3.1.1.    CONTACT INFORMATION. Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, company website, and e-mail of designated point(s) of contact.

3.1.2.    BUSINESS TYPE

The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is  513210. Based on this NAICS code, provide responses to the following questions:

To be considered for a Small Business set-aside, at least 50 % of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the respondent.( FAR 52.219-14, Limitation of Subcontracting)

RESPONSE

Are you a Small Business? (), If so, which type:

☐ YES       ☐ NO

Small Disadvantaged small business? ()

☐ YES       ☐ NO

Service-Disabled small business? (FAR 19.106)

☐ YES       ☐ NO

8(a) Small Disadvantaged small business? (FAR 19.108)

☐ YES       ☐ NO

HUBZone small business? (FAR 19.105)

☐ YES       ☐ NO

Woman-Owned Small Business? (FAR 19.107)

☐ YES       ☐ NO

Involved in a mentor and/or protégé program? ()

☐ YES       ☐ NO

3.1.3     Recommendation for alternative NAICS Code? Provide rationale for any NAICS Code applicable to the planned acquisition other than the NAICS code identified above.                                                                                               

3.1.4     Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number:                                                                                                                 

3.1.5     Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code:                                                                                          

3.1.6     Defense facility security clearance? What type? What level?                                                                       

3.1.7     Accounting system, if applicable? Date of last audit? Audit performed by? Determined adequate/inadequate?                

3.1.8     Purchasing system? Date determined adequate or inadequate?                                                                

3.1.9     Timekeeping system? Date of last audit? Who performed? Determined adequate/ inadequate?

3.1.10 Does the respondent hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract applicable to the NAICS code (s) identified above? If yes, provide contract number(s).                                                                                                     

3.1.11 Is the respondent registered in SAM?                                                                                                                        

3.1.12 Is the respondent interested in:  Prime contract? Teaming to include Joint Venture? Subcontractor opportunities?                                                                                                                                                                                  

3.1.13   Include additional details that are not already requested based on the constraints of the information request.                

3.2     EXPERIENCE

3.2.1     COMMERCIAL

Provide relevant details on the respondent’s experience providing the same or similar services offered or made to the general public or to non-governmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes in the last three (3) years. Relevant details to NGA’s proposed acquisition should include, but not be limited to, information regarding the contract value, size and length of the effort, performance as a prime or subcontractor, customary practices (warranty, financing, discounts, contract types, etc.) under which the sales of the service(s) are made, security details, the customary practices regarding customizing, modifying, or tailoring of a service(s) to meet customer needs and associated costs, the kinds of factors that are used to evaluate performance; the kinds of performance incentives used; the kinds of performance assessment methods commonly used; the common qualifications of the people performing the services; and requirements of law and/or regulations unique to these service(s), that can demonstrate the respondent’s abilities and capacity to meet NGA’s statement of objectives.

3.2.2     GOVERNMENT

Provide relevant details on the respondent’s experience providing the same or similar services offered or made to Government agencies other than NGA in the last three (3) years. Relevant details to NGA’s proposed acquisition should include, but not be limited to contract value, information regarding the contract number, agency, performance as a prime or subcontractor, size and length of the effort, type of pricing and/or cost, security details, the kinds of factors used to evaluate performance; the kinds of performance incentives; the kinds of performance assessment methods; the qualifications of the people performing the services; and any unique terms and conditions, that can demonstrate the respondent’s abilities and capacity to meet NGA’s statement of objectives.

3.2.3     NGA

Provide relevant details on the respondent’s experience providing the same or similar services offered or provided to NGA in the last three (3) years. Relevant details to NGA’s proposed acquisition should include, but not be limited to contract value, information regarding the contract number, program name, size and length of the effort, performance as a prime or subcontractor, type of pricing and/or cost, security details, the kinds of factors used to evaluate performance; the kinds of performance incentives; the kinds of performance assessment methods; the qualifications of the people performing the services; and any unique terms and conditions, that can demonstrate the respondent’s abilities and capacity to meet NGA’s statement of objectives.

3.3     CAPABILITIES

The following is the respondent’s capabilities to meet the proposed acquisition set forth in section 2 of this RFI.

3.3.1     Capabilities that the respondent currently possesses to meet the acquisition requirements. Responses should include the relevant information regarding specific skills, experience, and security clearances that its employees, by labor category, currently possess in performing these services, and any needed hardware or software.

3.3.2     Capabilities that the respondent currently does not possess in order to meet the acquisition requirements.

3.3.3     Recommended type of pricing for this type of service (e.g., FFP, FPIF CPIF).

3.3.4     Extent to which the respondent has the ability to meet the proposed acquisition.

3.3.5     Notional schedule and type of plan for transition-in and transition-out (based on previous or similar work efforts).

3.3.6     Security capabilities and plans that demonstrate the respondent’s ability to meet NGA’s security requirements beginning at contract award and throughout the POP.

3.3.7     Extent to which the respondent is aware of any potential OCI issues in accordance with FAR Part 9.5 or any non-mitigatable OCI related to current development work at NGA.

3.4     RECOMMENDATIONS

The respondent is invited to provide information and recommendations for fashioning this proposed acquisition. Recommendation areas may include the type of contract, anticipated contract terms & conditions, incentives, variations in delivery schedule, price and/or cost proposal support, and data requirements, contract pricing, and any other areas that the respondent believes are relevant for the Government to achieve its stated objectives. The respondent may opine regarding what portion of the work could be set-aside for small businesses if all the required work cannot be provided by a small business. Details to support any recommendations for partial small business set-asides should be included.

4.0     RESPONSES

4.1      Interested parties are directed to respond to this RFI with a white paper.

4.2      White paper shall be in Microsoft Word for Office or compatible format and shall not exceed 5 pages. A page is defined as each face of an 8½” x 11” sheet with information contained within a one-inch margin on all sides. Font type shall be Times Roman 12 point.

4.3     Interested parties are encouraged to utilize the Comment Matrix format in their white paper when providing comments, questions, and/or suggestions to the SOW.

4.4     Responses containing the white paper are due no later than 5:00 pm ET on 28 October 2026. Responses shall be limited to and submitted via e-mail only as a message attachment to Nazanin Brown, Nazanin.M.Brown@nga.mil and Travarus Davis, Travarus.K.Davis@nga.mil  with the message subject line “Message Operations and Information Exchange Support RFI Response - [INSERT Business name].”

4.5     Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

5.0      MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

The Government representatives may or may not choose to meet with respondents. Such meetings and discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability, especially any development and certification risks.

6.0      QUESTIONS

Questions and the whitepaper regarding this RFI should be submitted in writing by email to Nazanin Brown, Nazanin.M.Brown@nga.mil and Travarus Davis, Travarus.K.Davis@nga.mil .

7.0      SUMMARY

This RFI is only intended for the Government to identify sources that can provide the services needed to fulfill the Government’s requirements. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding to the Government. The Government has not made a commitment to procure any of the RFI requirements discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.