Defense

Air Force to issue $750M IT contract for drone squadron operation center

The contract will be for a range of IT and services to support drone operations at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

June 21, 2021

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (Sept. 27, 2018) – Sailors stand watch in the Fleet Operations Center at the headquarters of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet (FCC/C10F). Since its establishment, FCC/C10F has grown into an operational force composed of more than 14,000 Active and Reserve Sailors and civilians organized into 28 active commands, 40 Cyber Mission Force units, and 26 reserve commands around the globe. (U.S. Navy Photo by MC1 Samuel Souvannason/Released)

The Air Force is preparing to issue an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for IT and technology services for an operations center dedicated to flying a squadron of drones.

The contract has a $750 million ceiling and would be to service network and data curation for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Squadron Operation Center Enterprise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

The center plans and operates drone missions around the world, which are an increasingly important part of the military’s strategy to use integrated technology systems to guide military operations in war zones.

“The requirement is to Install, configure, operate, maintain, manage, and troubleshoot equipment and networks to support long-haul communications (both satellite and terrestrial), and provide help desk function,” the request states.

The Air Force plans to issue an eight-year contract with requirements for small businesses to be included in work delivered under the contract. The contractor will also need to keep IT systems up to date in the center with tech-refreshes over the period of the contract.

The Air Force expects to release the RFP by early August, it said.