abdff4af548b4259a8479fe735022d02
Intent to award sole source - IASS - ZONA Software
DEPT OF DEFENSE > DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE > AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND > AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY
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Rejected
Quick analysis
AFRL (RQ) issued a Special Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source for Simcenter/ZONA ZAERO software license maintenance renewal at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
Notice explicitly names a single source (Synopsys) while describing the Siemens Simcenter Zona ZAERO product; BOM lists specific ZAERO modules and site/install bindings, indicating a vendor-unique requirement.
No evidence Trace is an OEM or authorized reseller for Simcenter/ZONA; company profile only cites Starshield reseller status. Technical fit is outside Trace’s core lanes and offers negligible strategic value.
Given the single-source posture, short response window, and brand-name specificity, Trace’s access and competitive position are effectively null. Pursuit risk and compliance uncertainty are high.
Scope summary
- Provide Simcenter/ZONA ZAERO software license maintenance renewal for specified modules: ZAERO III, Trim, ASE, Dynamic Loads, FLTPRAM, GUST, Non‑Linear Flutter, ZTRAN.
- Deliver floating 12‑month subscriptions; annual advance invoicing; territory Wright‑Patterson AFB, OH 45433; Site 1050.
- Support specific install bindings (e.g., 40-A8-F0-C9-35-AD / -AX) as listed in the BOM.
- Firm‑Fixed‑Price order; PoP 12 months from award (target ~10 May 2026).
- Submit unclassified response/capability statement (≤10 pages) by 27 Apr 2026 to the stated POC, if contesting sole source.
- If competed as a small business set‑aside, comply with FAR 52.219‑14 limitation on subcontracting (not currently applicable per sole‑source posture).
Dimension scores
Total
- 9/100
Technical Fit
- 2/20
Requirement is a brand‑specific software license renewal (Simcenter/ZONA ZAERO). This is outside Trace’s core capabilities (SATCOM/CDS/JADC2/edge/O&M). No value‑add services are requested. Evidence: BOM lists vendor‑unique ZAERO modules and license terms.
Past Performance
- 4/20
Trace has USAF work (ABMS, USAFCENT), but not documented software publishing/resale for Simcenter/ZONA. Mission area (AFRL R&D software license renewal) is not aligned with Trace’s recorded past performance. Evidence: company_profile past performance vs. notice scope.
Vehicles / Contract Access
- 1/10
Not issued on a Trace‑held vehicle; it is a direct FFP sole‑source action naming a single source. Access is effectively closed absent OEM/reseller status. Evidence: Special Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source.
Competitive Position
- 0/15
Notice names a single source (Synopsys) for a vendor‑unique product (Simcenter/ZONA ZAERO). No evidence Trace holds OEM/reseller status or unique advantage. Evidence: Intent to Award Sole Source.docx and BOM specificity.
Risk
- 1/15
Very high pursuit risk: sole‑source posture, brief response window, brand‑name software, and supplier naming ambiguity. Execution risk for Trace is high due to lack of OEM/reseller credentials in evidence. Evidence: Intent to Sole Source and BOM ties to specific installs.
Strategic Value
- 0/10
Purely transactional license renewal with no material adjacency to Trace’s strategic lanes or differentiators; minimal strategic relationship value. Evidence: scope limited to software maintenance renewal for specific modules.
Compliance
- 1/10
While no set‑aside or clearance barriers are stated, compliance hinges on ability to supply the exact brand‑name product as an OEM/authorized reseller. Company profile lists Starshield reseller only; no evidence of Siemens/ZONA authorization. Evidence: Special Notice and company_profile.
Concerns
- Sole‑source designation naming a single source (Synopsys) limits access for non‑OEM/non‑authorized resellers.
- Supplier naming conflict (Synopsys vs. Siemens Simcenter) introduces ambiguity and potential protest/clarification risk.
- Date inconsistencies between BOM header (TBD/2027‑04‑01) and line items (start 08/01/2024) may complicate renewal alignment.
- Short response window (6 days) to challenge the sole‑source basis.
- Brand‑name requirement tied to site/install IDs reduces substitutability and competition.
Teaming opportunities
- Lack of documented OEM/authorized reseller relationship for Simcenter/ZONA ZAERO; would require teaming or authorization from Siemens/Synopsys/ZONA to be compliant.
- No identified channel or distribution agreement for the specified modules and licensing terms.
Competitive position
- Potential only if Trace could secure OEM/authorized reseller authorization for Simcenter/ZONA and offer compliant, rapid fulfillment tied to site/install bindings.
Bid/No bid factors
- Special Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source; limited consideration of alternative sources.
- Named supplier (Synopsys) vs. product branding (Siemens Simcenter ZONA ZAERO) inconsistency.
- Highly product‑specific BOM with exact modules and install IDs.
- No evidence of Trace reseller status for the required software.
Documents
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BOM ZONA - 466.xlsx
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BOM ZONA - 466.xlsx
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Summary
Bill of materials for AFRL CSRD case AFRL/RQ 26-CSRD-EAST-466 requesting purchase/subscription of ZONA ZAERO software (ZAERO III) and multiple ZAERO options; subscriptions are floating, 12-month terms with territory/site and install bindings recorded and a stated period-of-performance end date of 2027-04-01. Start date is listed as TBD in the CSRD header but individual license lines show subscription start 08/01/2024 and annual prepayment invoicing to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
- Case ID: AFRL/RQ 26-CSRD-EAST-466 (AFRL CSRD/EAST)
- CSRD Title: Zona Zaero FY 2026 (vendor/product-specific: ZONA ZAERO)
- Period of performance: End Date 2027-04-01; Start Date: TBD (license lines show 12-month subscriptions beginning 08/01/2024)
- NAICS context: Opportunity-level NAICS 513210 (software publishing) aligns with software license purchase
- Items requested: ZAERO III + multiple options (Trim, ASE, Dynamic Loads, FLTPRAM, Gust, Non-Linear Flutter, ZTRAN) — mix of 2.0 and 1.0 quantities
- License/use model: Floating, Subscription; Subscription term: 12 months; Invoicing: annually in advance
- Place of performance / territory: Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433; Site: 1050
- Install bindings: specific install identifiers/MAC-like strings recorded (e.g., 40-A8-F0-C9-35-AD and ...-AX) — suggests tied to particular hardware or node
- Procurement appears vendor-unique (ZONA ZAERO product), supporting sole-source rationale
- No classification, clearance, or set-aside information stated in this file
Intent to Award Sole Source.docx
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Intent to Award Sole Source.docx
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Summary
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE for a Firm-Fixed-Price order (intended award ~10 May 2026) to a single source; PoP 12 months. Requirement is a software license maintenance renewal for Simcenter Zona ZAERO and multiple optional modules, licensed as floating subscriptions for Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Responses (capability statements/proposals) are invited by email to the POC no later than 27 Apr 2026 2100 EST; responses limited to 10 pages and UNCLASSIFIED.
- Procurement type: Intent to award sole source (single source named as Synopsys) with intended award date ~10 May 2026 and Firm-Fixed-Price ordering instrument.
- Scope: Software license maintenance renewal for Simcenter Zona ZAERO (Siemens product) including ZAERO III, Trim, ASE, Dynamic Loads, FLTPRAM, GUST, Non-Linear Flutter, ZTRAN modules.
- NAICS: 513210 (Software Publishers); PSC: 7A21; Size Standard: $47M.
- Period of Performance: 12 months from receipt of award; subscription term listed as 12 months with start date 08/01/2024 (invoiced annually in advance).
- Place of performance/territory: Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433; Site: 1050; specific install identifiers listed (e.g., 40-A8-F0-C9-35-AD / AX) — suggests vendor-tied licensing or specific host installs.
- Supplier/Incumbent clues: Product listed as Siemens Simcenter Zona ZAERO; document also states single source Synopsys (conflict in supplier naming—indicates incumbent/vendor specificity requiring clarification).
- Response instructions: Responses emailed to Stephen J. Wenclewicz (stephen.wenclewicz.1@us.af.mil); responses considered within 6 days of issuance; limited to 10 pages; unclassified submissions only.
- Competition note: Notice states not a request for competitive quotations but will consider responses to determine whether to compete or set aside; mentions potential Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 52.219-14) if competed and instructs small businesses to explain compliance with limitation on subcontracting.
Technical details
Entry: sync
Review status: Up to date
Logical upstream opportunity: 46245
Notice lineage:
- abdff4af548b4259a8479fe735022d02 (posted 2026-04-21) - current
Last synced: 2026-04-21T18:19:23.625448+00:00
Last analyzed: 2026-04-21T18:21:09.657442+00:00
Latest package fingerprint: 5a0e4ec4e6ef8c048f9c47820193254f96524145634cf1da49fe856f65ad7846
Latest package notice: abdff4af548b4259a8479fe735022d02
Latest package documents: 2
Recent package history- 2026-04-21T18:19:23.634225+00:00: abdff4af548b4259a8479fe735022d02 with 2 docs
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