The Department of the Air Force, Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation has a recurring requirement for modeling and simulation support (AFMS3).

The Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS) is the premier agency responsible for implementation, integration, and development of Modeling and Simulation (M&S) and training and analysis standards that support the Air Force (AF), Department of Defense (DoD), and mission partners requiring these capabilities to support the Warfighter in full-spectrum operations. As the lead agent for M&S in support of operational training within the AF, AFAMS gathers requirements, seeks out potential solutions, and integrates legacy and emerging M&S solutions across the AF and DoD. The AF has validated requirements for M&S and synthetic environments that supports individual, team, and collective training to improve skills, decision making, and human performance.

M&S reduces the reliance on live and in-person training, which has become unsupportable due to significant training budget cuts across all DoD agencies. Air, space, and cyberspace forces face a global operational environment that is marked by significant access restriction and training limitation. Weather, budget, and mission coordination are typical impediments to live training. Additionally, the current and emerging weapon systems and employment of advanced Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) exceed the current capabilities of the existing training infrastructure and facilities (e.g., ranges, airspace, and flight or other simulators); thereby, limiting the ability to conduct horizontally- and vertically integrated, full-spectrum training and mission rehearsal with the most current technology. In the current resource constrained environment, demand for M&S rises with the continuously evolving need for operational readiness and mission preparedness across the AF, DoD, and with coalition partners. As a result, the M&S Community requirements have significantly increased. AFAMS focuses on providing innovative M&S services as the key to meeting this demand.

• The purpose of AFMS3 is to provide AFAMS and its mission partners with engineering, operational, technical, consulting, cyber security, and planning subject matter expertise to develop, maintain, sustain, and enhance M&S training capabilities.The contractor will routinely travel within the Continental United States (CONUS) and occasionally to OCONUS locations such as Korea and Germany to support M&S training exercises, events, conferences, and meetings.

  Innovation and agility is a crucial goal of the AFMS3 effort. The contractor will be responsible for delivering highly specialized operational and technical expertise in order to meet this capability. Other goals of this effort include, but are not limited to, providing:

  • Unique solutions to maintaining visibility into the evolving technological landscape supported by the AFMS3 2.0 effort, specifically providing agile solutions to maintaining current technology throughout the lifecycle of the modeling/simulation systems.
  • Flexible solutions to maintaining cyber security for models and simulators supported through the TO.
  • Innovative solutions to tracking and workflow processes to monitor TO deliverables and RFS.
  • Innovative solutions to M&S Knowledge Management.
  • Maintain a “surge capacity” of subject matter experts supporting all RFS owners when they encounter short term increases in needed support.
  • Establish agreements with local universities to allow access to non-degreed technical expertise to assist in solving today’s problems while developing tomorrows talent.

  The M&S priorities addressed by the AFMS3 effort are contingent upon ever changing threat environments. As global dynamics shift and the U.S. priorities for operational readiness evolve to meet these changing dynamics, the contractor must adapt. The following tasks are intended to cover the scope of work anticipated for the AFMS3 effort. Specific work products within the scope of work may shift based on mission partner needs. Specific work products will be further defined through the RFS process. All developed Software (SW) products will become deliverables to the Government and be non-proprietary.

  • TASK 1 – M&S STRATEGIC SUPPORT/ PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AFAMS
    • Tasked to lead AF M&S efforts to organize, plan, and enable collaboration, reusability, and interoperability within the M&S enterprise and advance AF operational training. The subtasks herein allow for strategic efforts across the PWS in the areas of planning, policy development, studies, messaging, and provide consolidated AF M&S Knowledge Management. Optional Tasks in this section are Human Capital Development and the creation of M&S-related courseware to support ongoing efforts to formulate and update M&S Career Field standards.
  • TASK 2 – M&S OPERATIONAL SUPPORT The AF M&S
    • Operational support encompasses exercise/event support services. These operational services provide advisory support throughout the entire exercise/event lifecycle (Planning, Preparing, Executing, and Assessment) and assist in ensuring both simulated warfighting doctrine and TTPs are addressed adequately in a scenario and are verified and validated to support the objectives of the exercise/event. These services support exercises/events for the entire M&S Community. The contractor shall support the selected exercises/events through observation and by identifying and reporting any problems and issues that may arise.
  • TASK 3 – M&S TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES M&S
    • Continues to be increasingly complex due to advancements in technology and continual need for more realistic training scenarios. M&S technical support services and products (e.g., simulation models, SW applications, and HW) provide the support needed to keep up with advancements in the M&S community. M&S technical services and products will ensure the structural integrity and infrastructure needed to meet environments. This will improve interoperability and prevent unnecessary duplication/redundancies across the M&S Community.
    • The contractor shall provide M&S sustainment technical services to design, enhance, code, test, and maintain the simulation models to support the following: updates supporting M&S exercise(s)/event(s), simulator testing, Cross Domain Information Sharing (CDIS), and Cybersecurity.
  • TASK 4 – M&S INNOVATION SUPPORT SERVICES M&S
    • Continuously evolves due to technological advancements, process improvements, and capability assessments. Innovative projects in support of these emerging M&S simulation capabilities may include RDT&E initiatives. Advances in technology (e.g., HW, SW, communications, audio, visual, and haptic) have improved Warfighting capabilities across the DoD. Rapidly and effectively incorporating cutting-edge technological innovations into M&S improves its usefulness to Warfighters. Computer HW and SW capabilities that impact simulation performance have increased at a very rapid rate. Simulation technologies are projected to expand to address new and emerging opportunities and challenges including, but not limited to, directed energy, simulated electronic warfare, simulated remotely piloted aircraft, simulated C2 of Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), simulated Air-Sea Battle (ASB), stealth technologies, simulated irregular warfare, and simulated counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). These advancements can be challenging because technology that is useful and effective today may become outdated within a short timeperiod (one-five years). The contractor shall provide expertise on the above functional areas to support the Joint M&S community in assessing and developing new capabilities.
    • The Government has multiple emerging M&S projects throughout the fiscal year and new innovative M&S capabilities are constantly introducing innovative technologies. The contractor shall provide the Government with the technical expertise to support innovative M&S initiatives. The contractor shall provide inputs for alternatives on M&S capabilities and requirements. The contractor shall identify and review inputs to resolve technical issues and problems for emerging projects. The contractor shall assist in the assessment of constructive simulations supporting training within the AF and assist with establishing rules of engagement for integration and interoperability. Contractor support shall include, but is not limited to, analytical studies and the identification of architectures and standards to address integration interoperability issues. The contractor shall support technical planning and communications, and architecture design. The contractor shall support pre-demonstration testing, engineering, and integration activities. The contractor shall facilitate the operation and integration of equipment/ SW during testing and technical demonstrations. The contractor shall evaluate test documentation. The contractor shall facilitate, coordinate, and assist with data collection, analyses, and post-demonstration debriefings and reporting the results. The contractor shall develop and refine mission threads by decomposing them down to the use-case level for application to the DMO/Training (DMO/T) and assessment environments. The contractor shall provide research, analyses, and recommendations for specified M&S topics and areas relating to emerging capabilities. The contractor shall support a seamless communication, facilitation, and coordination of the efforts of other Government agencies and/or contractors supporting the initiative.
  • TASK 5 – M&S CYBER SECURITY
    • The ability of the U.S. to fight on the ground, at sea, in the air, or in space depends on reliable and safe computer networks. Continual network threats through cyber space illustrates that cyber security is an area of importance and vulnerability for the AFMS3 2.0 effort and the M&S Community. The M&S Community requires cybersecurity expertise to assist in developing constructive capabilities to train in a synthetic environment against cyberattacks. The contractor shall assist the Government with Certification and Accreditation (C&A) requirements (systems and networks) in support of M&S.
    • The contractor shall process the A&A approvals for SW releases and network connections supporting Government M&S systems. The contractor shall follow the Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) to baseline M&S systems and implement IA guidelines in accordance with DIACAP, RMF, and/or prevailing DoD Cybersecurity regulations. Additionally, the contractor shall maintain situational awareness and prepare for phases after RMF. The contractor shall execute RMF on all M&S systems.
    • The contractor shall provide guidance and expertise for DoD and AF policies and instructions related to the C&A process; AF Security, Interoperability, Supportability, Sustainability, and Usability (SISSU) activities; DoD Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS) a web-based tool used to implement the DIACAP; the AF A&A Process (AFCAP); and the DoD RMF. The contractor shall provide security engineering to implement security controls and ensure the controls do not degrade performance and availability requirements needed to execute and sustain M&S/operations or exercises/events. The contractor shall report security findings and issues associated with the RMF process to the M&S community Cybersecurity POCs. The contractor shall provide the following M&S cybersecurity services:
      • Collaborate with Cybersecurity POCs to address C&A. The contractor shall work with higher headquarter organizations involved with the C&A.
      • Review system architecture and DIACAP or RMF as well as the respective C&A documentation.
      • Document problem areas and provide recommendations to the Government for a resolution Ensure the development and maintenance of cybersecurity certification documentation in accordance with DoD Instruction (DoDI) 8510.01 and document recommendations for the Authorizing Official (AO).
      • Conduct site visit follow-ups on issues and provide resolutions.
      • Document recommendations for process improvements and provide to the Government.
      • Provide a courtesy copy of any lessons learned to the M&S Community.
      • Ensure incidents are reported to the AO and the appropriate DoD reporting chain as designated in the RFS. Ensure that responses to cyber security alerts are coordinated.
    • The contractor shall review system artifacts (e.g., documents) for accuracy and perform hands-on testing of system security features. The contractor shall conduct facility visits to observe the actual processes related to each IA control (technical, personnel, operational, or management in nature). The contractor shall utilize tools such as Retina and Nessus scanners, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) System Readiness Review (SRR) and Gold Disks, and database web server security test tools.
    • The contractor shall perform hands-on validation of IA control implementation for M&S. The contractor shall base its assessment primarily on the validation procedures of the DIACAP or RMF knowledge service and DISA STIGs. The contractor shall provide specialized subject matter expertise for the M&S community’s systems. Upon the request of the Government, the contractor shall provide initial planning to meet next generation self-healing/self-correcting IT infrastructure for the M&S systems. The contractor shall coordinate and collaborate with AF Research Labs (AFRL), National Security Agency (NSA), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on addressing automated resiliency to gain spontaneous regeneration of the IT infrastructure.
    • The contractor shall participate in meetings with the system IA Security Officers (IASOs), program managers, IA managers, and C&A authorities and their representatives. During these meetings, the contractor shall present overviews of issues and recommendations. The contractor shall provide meeting reports that outline the topics discussed and note action items from meetings
  • TASK 6 – OTHER M&S SERVICES M&S
    • Support services are required at unique locations across the globe to ensure that the Warfighter is in a state of operational readiness to meet mission requirements. As such unique M&S support is required at the UAWC in Germany and at the Korean Air Simulation Center, in Korea in order to fulfill this mission. Additionally, AFAMS requires ancillary administrative support services in order to meet mission requirements as the M&S lead for the AF.
  • TASK 7 PROVIDE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
    • The contractor shall provide program management support under this TO. This includes the management and oversight of all activities performed by contractor personnel, including subcontractors, to satisfy the requirements identified in this PWS. The contractor shall facilitate Government and contractor communications; use industry best-standards and proven methodologies to track and document requirements and activities to allow for continuous monitoring and evaluation by the Government; and ensure all support and requirements performed are accomplished in accordance with the PWS. The contractor shall provide a Program Management Team that provides PWS and RFS management, administration, performance reporting, process improvement, integration, risk management, quality control and assurance, financial tracking and reporting, and analysis of the execution of this PWS.
    • The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and AFMS3 Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) via a Problem Notification Report (PNR) of any technical, financial, personnel, or general managerial problems encountered throughout the TO period of performance.
    • The contractor shall provide strategic enterprise-level guidance that integrates all RFS, schedules meetings, and ensures support is in accordance with the TO.