Future Attack/Strike (FASt) Request for Information

This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes. This is NOT a Request for Proposals. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME.

1.0 PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), on behalf of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), is conducting market research for the Future Attack/Strike (FASt) mission to determine the quantity of responsible sources that have the capability, experience, facilities, and potential solutions to address the capability gaps described herein. Specifically, NAVAIR is seeking information regarding the following:

1. Existing mission analysis results and Concepts of Operation.
2. Potential sources and past uses of advanced Mission Analysis Tools.
3. Potential collaborative partners to flush out analysis and identify capability gaps informed at the TS/SCI level and completion of work no later than 4QFY27.

The purpose of these mission analysis results and tools is to assist the USMC in ongoing work identifying FASt mission capability gaps and future evaluation of potential materiel and non-materiel solutions. 

Moving forward from this analytical research and analysis effort, FASt desires an enduring connection with industry to allow the rapid filling of capability gaps as they are identified/quantified.  To that end, vendors should be willing to participate in a consortium to collaborate on their outputs as part of the vendor/government team.  The government will be seeking major primes, small businesses, and non-traditional vendors in the future to ensure diverse solution ideas and the best capability to the warfighter is provided to fill the emerging identified capability gaps.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The United States Marine Corps, as the nation's expeditionary force-in-readiness, is continuously adapting to meet the challenges of a complex global security environment. In line with the principles of Force Design, the USMC is focused on developing capabilities to deter and defeat adversaries in contested littoral environments. Central to this concept is the role of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) as the nation's premier crisis response force.

To maintain a competitive edge, the USMC requires sophisticated analytical tools to rigorously assess its ability to conduct critical missions. These tools must be capable of modeling complex operational scenarios, identifying vulnerabilities and capability gaps, and assessing the potential impact of new technologies, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). This RFI seeks information on existing tools and analytical approaches that can support these efforts as the Marine Corps evaluates the FASt trade space within the Air Combat Element (ACE) of the Future.

3.0 SCOPE OF INTEREST

The Government is interested in mission analysis tools and-or methodologies capable of modeling, simulating, and analyzing the following specific mission areas to identify capability gaps and eventually potential solutions to better define FASt requirements:

3.1 Secure Key Maritime Terrain:
This mission area involves ensuring passage through critical chokepoints while under threat. The tools should be able to model and analyze the USMC's ability to:

• Conduct effective Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T) over both land and sea to achieve and maintain situational awareness.
• Execute kinetic and non-kinetic strikes against difficult-to-locate, mobile, and hardened ground-based threats, such as anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) batteries and air defense systems.
• Manage signatures (emissions control) of friendly forces to reduce targeting opportunities for the adversary.
• Escort transport aircraft during troop or equipment insertions.
• Provide Offensive Air Support (OAS) for troops ashore.
• Provide safe passage for military and commercial shipping.

3.2 Defense of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG):
This mission focuses on protecting the MEU/ARG from multi-domain threats. The tools should be able to model and analyze the defense against:

• Swarms of small, fast-moving surface craft.
• Coordinated attacks from swarms and/or waves of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
• Integrated attacks combining both surface and air threats simultaneously.
• Defense from Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) and Unmanned Underwater Vessel (UUV).

3.3 Persistent Attack and Fires in a High-Threat Environment:

This mission requires projecting power from land- or sea-based assets into a contested area where manned aviation is denied or severely restricted due to sophisticated Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS). The tools should be able to model and analyze:

• The employment of long-range, autonomous, and semi-autonomous kinetic and non-kinetic weapon systems.
• Employ capabilities that enable the joint kill web, from target detection and identification to battle damage assessment.
• The logistical and command-and-control (C2) infrastructure required to sustain such operations over extended periods.

4.0 REQUESTED INFORMATION

Interested parties are requested to submit a Capability Statement that addresses the following:

4.1 Company Information:

All submissions shall include this RFI Reference Number, company name, company address, CAGE code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, and a point of contact information (including name, position, phone number, and email address) who is able to discuss the Capability Statement submitted.

4.2 Existing Analysis and Tool Description:

• A description of the mission analysis tool or suite of tools.
• Tool source (e.g., commercially available, government developed, company developed)
• An overview of the tool's architecture (e.g., standalone software, cloud-based, distributed).
• Description of the underlying modeling and simulation methodologies (e.g., agent-based, discrete event, system dynamics).
• How capability gaps are identified and quantified.
• What outputs, metrics, and visualizations are generated.
• Data shareability and accessibility.
• Existing mission analysis and CONOPS analysis.
• Existing mission analysis capabilities and tools to include modifications required to adapt to the provided mission areas.

4.3 Data and Integration:

• What are the data requirements to build and execute a scenario?
• Describe the tool's ability to integrate with other models (including MBSE), simulations, and C4I systems.
• Describe the tool's ability to operate at various classification levels.

4.4 Use Cases:

• Provide examples of past or current use of the tool by the Department of War (DoW) or other relevant organizations, including contract numbers, if applicable.
• Provide past studies related to work within the three mission areas listed in Section 3.0.

5.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

Final responses must be submitted via DoD SAFE (unclassified/CUI) or CD ROM/DVD (unclassified/CUI or classified) no later than 5:00 PM EDT on Thursday July 23, 2026. An electronic copy of your response must be provided in Microsoft Office 2016 or Adobe Acrobat XI readable formats. Interested parties are advised against submitting Capability Statements that merely mimic information in this RFI, provides brochure-like information, or provides general information. Following a review of the responses received, NAVAIR may elect to schedule one-on-one meetings with some respondents or ask follow-up questions to gain additional insight into the proposed solution(s).

Proprietary information should be clearly marked. Please be advised that all information submitted in response to the RFI becomes the property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned. U.S. Government support contractors will assist in the review of any data provided by respondents to this RFI.  All U.S. Government support contracts include FAR clause 52.203-16, Preventing Personal Conflicts of Interest, which prohibits the use and disclosure of non-public information accessed through performance of a U.S. Government contract.   Classified responses or supporting data should be handled as:

On the outer envelope send to:

Commander

Naval Air Systems Command

Expeditionary and Maritime Aviation Advanced Development Team

22689 Saufley Rd

Patuxent River, MD 20670

Mark the inner envelope:

Naval Air Systems Command

Expeditionary and Maritime Aviation Advanced Development Team

ATTN: Mr. Joey Johnson and Mr. Peter Bartolomeo

22689 Saufley Rd

Patuxent River, MD 20670

Unclassified responses or supporting data should be sent via DoD SAFE by sending an email to peter.l.bartolomeo.civ@us.navy.mil to request a SAFE Drop notice to be sent to the requestor for submission or handled as:

Naval Air Systems Command

Expeditionary and Maritime Aviation Advanced Development Team

Bldg 460

ATTN: Mr. Peter Bartolomeo

22244 Cedar Point Rd

Patuxent River, MD 20670

Responses that fail to comply with the above instructions or present ideas not pertinent to the requested information may not be reviewed. The Government is under no obligation to provide responses or comments to information received from interested parties. All submissions and any questions on this RFI must be directed to Peter Bartolomeo via email at peter.l.bartolomeo.civ@us.navy.mil and J. Reid Adams via email at joseph.r.adams.ctr@us.navy.mil.  No question will be accepted telephonically nor will any responses to questions be provided telephonically. 

NOTE:

This RFI is issued for the purpose of determining market interest, feasibility, and capability of sources and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Proposals (RFP), a Request for Quotes (RFQ) or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. The Government is only seeking possible sources and information for future needs. No solicitation document exists. However, respondents to this Request for Information will not be excluded from consideration for contract participation in any potential follow-on hardware development activity. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary and/or Classified will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice will not be returned. No reimbursement will be made for any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Information contained herein is based on the best information available at the time of publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding upon the Government. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced under a separate SAM announcement.