FA8219-26-NSCCA_ASIC
Nuclear Surety Cross Check Analysis (NSCCA) for ASIC
DEPT OF DEFENSE > DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE > AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND > AIR FORCE NUCLEAR WEAPON CENTER > INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE > FA8219 AFNWC PZBG
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Quick analysis
USAF/AFNWC RFI seeks market research for NSCCA/NSATE/IV&V focused on ASIC hardware/software integration for the Sentinel ICBM weapon system.
Scope emphasizes nuclear surety analyses per AFMAN 91-118/119, modeling/simulation of safety hazards, and independent verification/validation with stringent security (TS, Restricted Data, SAP).
Trace has strong SE&I/T&E credentials and Air Force experience but no evidenced nuclear surety or ASIC IV&V credentials, nor confirmed Restricted Data-accredited facilities or SAP program—material gaps for likely execution.
Competitive landscape will favor nuclear enterprise specialists and major primes/FFRDCs referenced in the RFI, reducing Trace’s positioning strength.
Scope summary
- Perform NSCCA/NSATE/IV&V for ASIC hardware/software integration for Sentinel per AFMAN 91-118/119.
- Develop and execute testing, simulation, and evaluation techniques for nuclear surety hazards, failure modes, unauthorized access, EMI/environmental effects.
- Provide traceability from system-level surety requirements to component/software implementation; emergent vulnerability analysis for modernization.
- Staff with personnel holding active TS clearances and nuclear enterprise experience.
- Facilities accredited to process TS/Restricted Data; ability to comply with DoDM 5205.07 (SAP) and DoDI 8510.01 (RMF).
- Independent verification/validation posture consistent with nuclear safety design certification expectations.
- Unclassified RFI response ≤10 pages due 15 May 2026, 1700 MDT.
Dimension scores
Total
- 41/100
Technical Fit
- 8/20
Scope is nuclear surety NSCCA/NSATE/IV&V for ASIC integration (RFI text). Trace offers SE&I/T&E capabilities and an E&I facility (company profile) but lacks explicit nuclear surety and ASIC IV&V credentials cited by the RFI (AFMAN 91-118/119 context).
Past Performance
- 10/20
Trace has USAF experience (ABMS IDIQ; USAFCENT IT/comms) and SE&I work (MDA SHIELD), but no cited AFNWC/Sentinel nuclear surety work. This aligns to same agency (USAF) but different mission area/center.
Vehicles / Contract Access
- 6/10
This is an open RFI, not restricted to a vehicle Trace holds. No advantage from Trace prime vehicles is indicated; access would be via full and open pathways.
Competitive Position
- 3/15
RFI indicates highly specialized nuclear surety/ASIC IV&V; asks for TS-cleared personnel with nuclear enterprise experience and RD-capable facilities. It also names government support orgs (BAE, MITRE, Aerospace, JHU APL, USU SDL, CMU), signaling a field with strong nuclear-domain players. Trace lacks evidenced nuclear surety/ASIC credentials, yielding a weak competitive stance.
Risk
- 4/15
High execution risk: TS and Restricted Data facility accreditation and SAP security program (DoDM 5205.07) are requested, plus specialized AFMAN 91-118/119 expertise. These are not evidenced in Trace’s profile; new mission area with stringent certifications implies significant risk.
Strategic Value
- 6/10
Potential to open AFNWC/nuclear enterprise exposure within USAF and broaden SE&I/T&E credentials, but outside Trace’s core lanes (SATCOM, CDS, MPE, JADC2). Strategic upside exists but is moderate due to fit and credential gaps.
Compliance
- 4/10
No set-aside (open) and NAICS 541330 aligns with Trace. However, requested facility accreditation to process TS/Restricted Data and SAP program capability are not confirmed in the company profile, indicating notable compliance gaps.
Concerns
- Lack of demonstrated nuclear surety/AFMAN 91-118/119 expertise.
- Restricted Data facility accreditation and SAP program requirements may be unmet.
- Specialized ASIC IV&V capability needs microelectronics and safety certification experience.
- Potentially crowded field with nuclear enterprise incumbents and FFRDC influence.
- High clearance and independence requirements could constrain teaming/staffing options.
Teaming opportunities
- Nuclear surety analysts with AFMAN 91-118/119 experience.
- ASIC/microelectronics verification engineers and safety-certification SMEs.
- Facility with accreditation to process TS/Restricted Data and established SAP security program.
- Program manager with prior AFNWC/Sentinel or nuclear enterprise IV&V credentials.
- Independent test and evaluation lab resources suitable for nuclear surety work.
Competitive position
- Leverage Trace SE&I/T&E competencies and integration facility to structure rigorous verification and traceability frameworks.
- USAF relationships and active programs could support programmatic execution and compliance alignment.
- Apply safety-critical SE&I experience from MDA SHIELD to nuclear surety verification processes (process rigor, configuration control, independent assessments).
Bid/No bid factors
- Restricted Data facility accreditation requested; not evidenced in company profile.
- SAP security program (DoDM 5205.07) required; not evidenced in company profile.
- Highly specialized nuclear surety/ASIC IV&V scope outside Trace’s core lanes.
- Government may share submissions with named support contractors, increasing competitive transparency.
Documents
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RFI_Sentinel_NSCCA_Draft_ASIC.pdf
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RFI_Sentinel_NSCCA_Draft_ASIC.pdf
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Summary
Unclassified RFI (14 Apr 2026) soliciting market research for Nuclear Surety Cross Check Analysis (NSCCA)/NSATE/IV&V for ASIC hardware/software integration on the Sentinel Weapon System (Air Force/AFNWC). Responses (unclassified, ≤10 pages) are due 15 May 2026 1700 MDT to the contracting officer and must describe technical testing/simulation approaches, SAP security capabilities (DoDM 5205.07 compliance), and program management/schedule. The RFI requests company contact/CAGE/NAICS (541330), clearance and facility accreditation details (Top Secret/Restricted Data), permits government release to named support contractors, and emphasizes this is informational only (no solicitation).
- Agency: USAF — Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center (AFNWC) / Sentinel Weapon System (ICBM context)
- Action type: Request for Information only (not an RFP); market research/planning
- Scope: NSCCA / NSATE / Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) for ASIC hardware/software integration
- NAICS: 541330 (Engineering Services) — matches opportunity context
- Due date/time: 15 May 2026, 1700 MDT (explicit deadline in RFI)
- Response constraints: Unclassified submissions, ≤10 pages, 12-pt Times New Roman, single spaced, submitted via email to cameron.hutzley@us.af.mil
- Security/clearance requirement: Asks for qualifications and number of personnel holding active Top Secret clearances with nuclear enterprise experience; requests accreditation status for facilities to process Top Secret/Restricted Data
- SAP handling: Requires capability to provide comprehensive security infrastructure and methodology for complying with DoDM 5205.07 (SAP Security Manual) and DoDI 8510.01 (RMF)
- Technical reference: NSCCA/NSATE defined in AFMAN 91-119 and AFMAN 91-118; expect testing, simulation, modeling of failure modes, unauthorized access paths, inadvertent launch scenarios, EMI/environmental effects
- Deliverable emphasis: Traceability of surety requirements from system-level to component/software implementation; emergent vulnerability analysis for modernization with new components
- Government support contractors: RFI explicitly permits release of responses to BAE Systems, MITRE, The Aerospace Corporation, JHU APL, USU Space Dynamics Lab, Carnegie Mellon — responders may require NDAs or object to release
- Set-aside: No set-aside used; RFI asks respondents to self-identify small business status options
- Point of contact: Cameron Hutzley (email provided)
Technical details
Entry: sync
Review status: Up to date
Logical upstream opportunity: 46324
Notice lineage:
- d78c0d6888f34d1285b9e52fc0f0251c (posted 2026-04-21) - current
Last synced: 2026-04-21T18:02:14.197905+00:00
Last analyzed: 2026-04-21T18:03:33.354656+00:00
Latest package fingerprint: 7929a7e926e7faa9bf178f785c9a975713072a4d46cfc0c3b44e7b00cb45b768
Latest package notice: d78c0d6888f34d1285b9e52fc0f0251c
Latest package documents: 1
Recent package history- 2026-04-21T18:02:14.204794+00:00: d78c0d6888f34d1285b9e52fc0f0251c with 1 docs
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