Request for Information (RFI) for Army Information Enterprise - Information Technology Services (AIE-ITS)

Request for Information (RFI) for Army Information Enterprise - Information Technology Services (AIE-ITS)

Issuing Agency: U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA)
RFI Title: AIE-ITS RFI
Release Date: July 15, 2026
Response Due Date: August 15th, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
Primary Point of Contact: usarmy.belvoir.inscom.mbx.aie-its@army.mil

DISCLAIMER: This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quotation (RFQ), or a promise to issue an RFP or RFQ in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. The Government is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

ACC-DTA is conducting market research to identify best practices, innovative solutions, and potential acquisition strategies for the forthcoming Army Information Enterprise - Information Technology Services (AIE-ITS) requirement.

The purpose of this RFI is to gain a deeper understanding of industry capabilities and to solicit direct feedback from industry partners on the Government’s proposed acquisition approach.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The U.S. Army is seeking modern service delivery models to modernize the Army Intelligence Enterprise (AIE). The Department of the Army is transforming its approach to acquiring and managing Information Technology (IT) services, to establish a partnership with industry that achieves integrated, outcome-focused enterprise IT operations.

This requirement does not focus on any singular capability but rather the full spectrum of IT support required for effective Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber-Defense, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) support, development, procurement, and integration. Support covers a wide range of IT capabilities including, but not limited to:

• Providing support to maintain the AIE’s capabilities, including networks and corollary infrastructure.
• IT Infrastructure that integrates with Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud services.
• Delivering software solutions that meet Government-approved requirements using industry-standard development methodologies to create or enhance advanced multi-discipline intelligence collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination.

Providing support in this environment requires an in-depth knowledge of mission-specific operational requirements for several organizations and disciplines leveraged in multiple geographical locations, including Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). Current operational environments include legacy infrastructure, modern cloud-enabled capabilities, mission systems, cybersecurity operations, endpoint management, and enterprise service management.

Currently, contracting methods are often fragmented, administratively burdensome, and lack the agility needed to support these dynamic mission requirements. The AIE-ITS initiative seeks to establish a more flexible and responsive "Talent Supply Chain" to provide cleared, technically proficient personnel on demand. Key challenges include the need for a scalable talent pipeline, accelerated onboarding processes (≤ 10 business days), and an optimized contracting framework that supports both short-term agile sprints and long-term enterprise efforts.

Strategic Feedback Focus:
This RFI seeks industry feedback on a new acquisition strategy—specifically the potential utilization of a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) under 10 U.S.C. § 3458—designed to deliver enterprise-wide service consistency, managed accountability, and flexible service consumption across global classified and unclassified environments. The Government does not want to receive capability statements; the Government wants industry feedback on the strategic concept of using a CSO for this requirement.

3.0 POTENTIAL ACQUISITION STRATEGY: COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS OPENING (CSO)

Based on the need for speed, flexibility, and streamlined access to commercial products and services, the Government is strongly considering using its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) authority (under 10 U.S.C. § 3458, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026) for the AIE-ITS procurement.

Under this model, the Government would publish a master CSO document and subsequently issue specific Areas of Interest (AOIs) for discrete AIE-ITS capabilities. The CSO process typically involves a multi-phased down-selection, including:

• Phase 1: Solution Briefs (White Papers)
• Phase 2: Pitch Sessions
• Phase 3: Formal Proposals

The Government believes this approach may lower barriers to entry for non-traditional defense contractors, foster innovation, and significantly accelerate the delivery of critical IT talent to the warfighter. Specifically, the Government is requesting Industry to provide information on how the phased CSO process (e.g., a master CSO publishing targeted Areas of Interest) can be best structured to support outcome-focused IT operations.

4.0 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

The Government invites industry to provide feedback on the following topics. Please be as detailed as possible in your responses.

Section 1: Feedback on CSO Acquisition Strategy

1. From an industry perspective, what are the primary advantages and disadvantages of the Government using a CSO for a large-scale IT services and staff augmentation requirement like AIE-ITS? How would Industry participants plan to distinguish their approach from its competition via any innovative solutions or resolution of capability gaps on a large scale services CSO that is not simply focused on contractor personnel?
2. Is the multi-phase (Solution Brief -> Pitch -> Proposal) CSO process a viable and effective method for evaluating and procuring the services described? Please provide your rationale.
3. Would the CSO approach encourage or discourage your company from participating versus traditional procurement methods? Please explain why, touching on factors like bid & proposal costs, resource commitments, and potential return on investment.
4. We need to know what type and depth of technical data must be provided by the Government during the CSO phases to allow vendors to confidently propose pre-defined, Firm-Fixed-Price contracts for the identified capability areas prior to award. For example, within a CSO response, what standard measurement units would industry recommend for a pre-defined contract for IT Service Management (ITSM), and what foundational data is needed to define standard support tiers and how they are differentiated?
    

What critical risks, industry trends, or innovative service delivery models has the Government overlooked in this RFI that are essential to achieving a modern, scalable 'Talent Supply Chain'?

5.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI. Responses to the questions may be submitted electronically in PDF format to the Primary Point of Contact email usarmy.belvoir.inscom.mbx.aie-its@army.mil.

• Due Date: Responses are due no later than August 15th, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT. The Government encourages responses before the due date.
• Format: Submissions shall not exceed five (5) pages in length, using a 12-point font.
• Content: Please include a cover page with the company name, address, CAGE code, and the technical point of contact's name, title, phone number, and email address. The cover page does not count toward the page limit.
• This RFI posting will become inactive on August 15th and any questions or comments should be continuously emailed to usarmy.belvoir.inscom.mbx.aie-its@army.mil.

Proprietary information, if any, should be clearly marked. The Government will not be responsible for any proprietary information not clearly marked.