- The Air Force has sought industry feedback on a base defense security systems IDIQ
- GUARD covers fixed-site, tactical and delay/denial security systems
- Draft solicitation responses are due Oct. 14
The U.S. Air Force has released a draft request for proposals for the potential $1.98 billion Global Unified Airbase Readiness and Defense, or GUARD, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the acquisition, integration and sustainment of base defense security systems.
In a presolicitation notice posted Friday on SAM.gov, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Force Protection Systems Division said it is using the draft document as a request for information to better understand the market and ensure that its acquisition strategy and final solicitation are clear and actionable for industry.
Responses are due Oct. 14.
What Is the GUARD Contract?
The GUARD IDIQ contract supports the acquisition, upgrade and sustainment of the Air Force’s family of Integrated Base Defense Security Systems, or IBDSS, which equip Air Force Security Forces to detect, assess and track hostile forces and protect personnel and resources. According to the draft statement of work, the contract’s ultimate goal is to give security forces the capability to “See First, Understand First, and Act First.”
The IBDSS portfolio consists of three system categories:
- Fixed-site electronic security systems combine intrusion detection, video management, access control, physical security information management and surveillance tools at permanent installations.
- Tactical systems, including the Tactical Automated Security System and the Defender Multi-Domain Command, Control and Communications family, are designed for rapid deployment and relocation to support force protection missions worldwide.
- Delay and denial systems, such as the Remote Target Engagement System, fencing, barriers and bollards, restrict access to high-value assets.
The Air Force plans to base future IBDSS capabilities on a modular open systems architecture that allows integration of new subsystems and third-party applications, as well as emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Systems acquired under GUARD will serve U.S. government agencies and foreign military sales customers at nuclear, non-nuclear, fixed and tactical sites around the world.
What Is the Scope of the Air Force IDIQ Contract?
According to the draft solicitation, the Air Force will establish contract line item types and values at the order level. Each awardee will satisfy its $1,000 minimum order guarantee through a post-award conference. Work may take place at locations in the continental U.S. and overseas.
Anticipated requirements under the IDIQ include:
- Design and delivery of new IBDSS capabilities, including intrusion detection for new bed-down efforts, complete system refreshes and firmware and software upgrades.
- Site surveys, system design and installation, including upgrades to supporting physical and network infrastructure.
- Systems engineering through digital engineering and model-based systems engineering methods.
- Testing and verification, including component qualification testing and support for government acceptance testing.
- Cybersecurity assessment and authorization support under the Pentagon’s Risk Management Framework, along with supply chain risk management.
- Training for site operators, system administrators and maintenance personnel.
- Full lifecycle sustainment, including warranty support and contractor logistics support.
A companion draft performance work statement outlines sustainment requirements for fielded intrusion detection systems, including 24-hour help desk support, on-site and depot-level maintenance, spare parts and inventory management, configuration control, and management of obsolete components. Contractors must maintain a facility clearance at the Secret level, or at the Top Secret level where individual orders require it.
What Other Contracting Efforts Has the Air Force Pursued?
The GUARD draft RFP comes months after the Air Force awarded 19 companies spots on a potential 10-year, $4 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Air Education and Training Command base operations support services, which drew 22 offers through a competitive acquisition process as the service works to sustain installation readiness and mission support capabilities.
The service has also sought industry support for modernization initiatives spanning cyber operations, AI-enabled target tracking, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, and command-and-control modernization. Among them is a counter-drone opportunity that opened May 22 and reflects growing Air Force and DOW demand for integrated capabilities against increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.
Other active Air Force contract opportunities cover missile defense, AI command and control, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity. They include a commercial solutions opening for the Golden Dome for America homeland missile defense initiative, under which multiple awards are anticipated.
