FA882026PKLBAS
Deep Space Advanced Radar (DARC) Interim Contractor Support (ICS) Contract
DEPT OF DEFENSE > DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE > AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND > SPACE AND MISSILE CENTER > SPACE SYSTEMS2 > FA8820 SUSTAINMENT SDACP SSC/PKL
Quick analysis
RFI from USSF/SSC BMC3I for a principal integrator model to support DARC Interim Contractor Support (ICS) with two lines of effort: (1) backlog burndown, security, operations, and integration of DARC software/tools; and (2) sustainment of baselined software, with planning to transition to Contractor Logistics Support (CLS).
Scope spans unclassified to TS/SCI and includes OCONUS locations; PWS is CUI and requires a CAGE-linked NIST SP 800-171 assessment to access and be eligible for award.
Trace has relevant core capabilities (SE&I, cybersecurity/OCC, IT O&M/managed services, OCONUS FSR footprint, classified environments) and Space Force past performance (EMSS EPCC, pLEO) but lacks explicit radar/space-domain-awareness ground radar sustainment past performance in the provided profile.
Key risks: access to CUI PWS hinges on NIST 800-171 assessment status; potential future set-aside; radar domain expertise; TS/SCI staffing OCONUS; unknown acquisition path/vehicle.
Scope summary
- Provide a single principal integrator model managing two distinct LOEs: (1) backlog burndown, security, operations, and integration of DARC software/tools; (2) sustainment of operationally accepted/baselined software (metadata).
- Develop notional PWS outlines to transition from ICS to CLS, delineating Level 1 (on-site) vs Level 2 (depot) tasks (metadata).
- Address incentives, teaming, and cooperation with industry partners, including risks across cost, legal, IP/tradecraft, security, etc. (metadata).
- Avoid shared resources across LOEs; clarify integration points for IPS elements (sustaining engineering, test, configuration management) (metadata).
- Identify efficiencies gained/lost (cost, ops, contract performance, program management) and beneficiaries (Govt/Industry) (metadata).
- Classification up to TS/SCI; OCONUS performance (metadata).
- CUI PWS access and eligibility contingent on a CAGE-linked NIST SP 800-171 assessment (metadata).
- White paper response due 30 Apr 2026 1200 MDT; must address both objectives within 16 pages total (metadata).
Dimension scores
Total
- 62/100
Technical Fit
- 16/20
The RFI emphasizes software development, deployment, security, operations/integration, and lifecycle sustainment under an ICS-to-CLS transition. Trace core capabilities include SE&I/T&E, cybersecurity/OCC (24/7 ops), IT O&M/managed services, OCONUS FSRs, and work in classified environments (company_profile). These align well with the integrator and sustainment focus described in the notice metadata, though radar-specific elements are not detailed due to lack of PWS (metadata; no attachments).
Past Performance
- 13/20
Trace holds active Space Force work (EMSS EPCC; pLEO) and Air Force ABMS IDIQ (company_profile), indicating same-agency experience and adjacent mission relevance. However, no explicit past performance on DARC or ground-based SDA radar sustainment is listed, so this is not a direct same-mission match.
Vehicles / Contract Access
- 6/10
This is a Sources Sought/RFI with no specified contract vehicle and no attachments (metadata; Scout ledger). Future acquisition path is unknown. Trace holds multiple prime vehicles (company_profile), but none are confirmed for this action.
Competitive Position
- 6/15
The principal integrator role for a radar/SDA system will likely attract large radar and systems primes. Trace brings meaningful advantages—Space Force past performance, OCONUS sustainment, SE&I/cyber competencies (company_profile)—but lacks stated radar-domain incumbency or requirement-driven differentiators in the RFI. Competitive field likely crowded; no incumbent information provided (metadata).
Risk
- 8/15
Moderate risk: classification up to TS/SCI and OCONUS execution (metadata) are familiar but non-trivial. PWS is CUI and unattached; access requires a CAGE-linked NIST SP 800-171 assessment (metadata). Radar-domain specifics are unknown. Agency is familiar (Space Force), reducing some risk, but scope details and acquisition approach are pending.
Strategic Value
- 7/10
This RFI positions Trace for deeper engagement with USSF/SSC BMC3I and entry into the SDA/ground-radar sustainment lane—an adjacent but strategically valuable expansion of existing Space Force relationships (company_profile; metadata). Potential to influence contract structure pre-RFP adds strategic upside.
Compliance
- 6/10
Set-aside is TBD (metadata). Trace is full & open eligible and lists NAICS 518210 among primary codes (company_profile). Facility clearance is assumed TS/SCI (company_profile), aligning with notice needs. However, eligibility to access CUI and to be eligible for award requires a NIST SP 800-171 assessment tied to Trace’s CAGE (metadata); the company profile does not confirm this status—representing a notable compliance uncertainty.
Concerns
- Inability to access CUI PWS or be eligible for award without a CAGE-linked NIST SP 800-171 assessment (metadata).
- Potential set-aside decision could exclude Trace if reserved for small business (metadata indicates TBD; Trace not small by stated 518210 threshold in RFI).
- Radar/SDA ground-system domain expertise and depot-level sustainment requirements may exceed in-house strengths without teaming (company_profile does not cite radar sustainment PP).
- Staffing TS/SCI-cleared personnel for OCONUS sites; surge capacity and clearances (metadata; company_profile).
- Unclear acquisition strategy/vehicle and contract type until after market research; planning uncertainty (metadata).
Teaming opportunities
- Prime or subcontract partner(s) with ground-based radar/SDA system integration and sustainment pedigree, including ICS-to-CLS transitions.
- Depot-level (Level 2) sustainment/logistics provider experienced with radar systems and CLS frameworks.
- TS/SCI-cleared radar software and systems engineers; site leads/operators for OCONUS locations.
- OEM or major subsystem vendors for DARC-relevant components to address IP/tradecraft and configuration management risks.
- Compliance partner/advisor to ensure current NIST SP 800-171 assessment (and CMMC alignment if later required).
Competitive position
- USSF/SSC past performance plus SE&I, cyber/OCC, and IT O&M strengths to run distinct dev/sustainment LOEs with clear boundaries and SLAs.
- Leverage OCONUS FSR footprint and classified deployment experience to ensure reliable global operations and transition to CLS.
- Use Trace’s E&I Facility and M-DRIVE for secure, multi-domain development/integration/test environments and rapid backlog burndown.
- Propose incentive structures and teaming constructs that protect IP/tradecraft while maximizing delivery velocity and sustainment reliability.
Bid/No bid factors
- Set-aside is TBD; if small-business restricted under NAICS 518210, Trace may be ineligible.
- Access to the CUI PWS and eligibility for award require a NIST SP 800-171 assessment tied to Trace’s CAGE; status not confirmed in company profile.
- No attachments were provided; material scope details (PWS) are unknown at this time.
Documents
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Technical details
Entry: sync
Review status: Up to date
Logical upstream opportunity: 6395
Notice lineage:
- 55080a463c564ab58879cef6c616a539 (posted 2026-03-30) - current
Last synced: 2026-03-31T11:28:40.393553+00:00
Last analyzed: 2026-03-31T04:00:06.696009+00:00
Latest package fingerprint: 64e48697b80face8cfe0b4cc980f3c323dfb5e90998f735b932797e7a06eb149
Latest package notice: 55080a463c564ab58879cef6c616a539
Latest package documents: 0
Evidence limitations- No packaged documents were available; Scout analyzed metadata only.
- 2026-03-31T03:53:31.118154+00:00: 55080a463c564ab58879cef6c616a539 with 0 docs