Officials of the Cryptologic and Cyber Systems Division (CCSD) of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, are scheduled to release a solicitation on or after 19 Dec. for the Flexible Information Assurance Acquisition Tool Unlimited (FIA2T) program.
In addition to developing cryptographic and information-assurance product and capabilities, the FIA2T program has several technical thrusts. First is design, coding and prototyping of information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment.
FIA2T contractors, for example, could develop and NSA-certify a secret-and-below end cryptographic unit, or design and prototype hardware for multi-algorithm software implementation, Air Force officials say.
Next is systems integration of information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment. Contractors, for example, could develop an aerospace vehicle cryptographic unit to integrate with ground operating equipment.
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Test and Evaluation of information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, data distribution and management equipment, ancillary and related equipment could involve comparing the bit error rate of fielded ground operating equipment after five years to the development specification.
Training development and delivery for information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment could involve updating the depot-level repair manual for a modified crypto device, or preparing a military crypto device operators manual.
Production of information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment could involve building 250 space-qualified cryptographic units from a government re-procurement data package and government factory test equipment.
Installation of information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment could involved replacing or installing modified ground crypto cryptographic units to work together with on-orbit satellite crypto cryptographic units.
Interim contractor support and contractor logistics support for information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment could involve repair of fielded units that fail; help desk support to users that experience malfunctions with fielded units; and root-cause analysis to determine the cause of failed units.
Upgrade and modification of existing information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment could involve adding a new classified algorithm to fielded space-ground cryptographic unit to include NSA secret-and-below certification.
Repair of existing information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment could involve repair of fielded units that fail in use, and refurbishment of fielded ground crypto units returned after mission completion prior to re-issue.
Finally, technical support of existing information-assurance hardware and software, communications-security equipment, cryptographic key material, and data distribution and management equipment could involve on-call support for anomaly troubleshooting and resolution for malfunctioning on-orbit satellite crypto.
The program will support so the Air Force will not award a contract to any organization controlled by a foreign government, officials say.
Look for a formal solicitation as early as 19 Dec. Email questions or concerns to the FIA2T Contracting Officer Ralph Urias at [email protected]. More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ESC/FA8307-14-R-0049/listing.html.
