Next Generation Tactical Document and Media Exploitation (DOMEX) Evaluation 
Request for Information

This Request for Information (RFI) is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, quotations or obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services, but for planning purposes only. This RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and to explore industry capabilities. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the government will arise as a result of contractor submission to this announcement or the Government use of such information. The information provided may be used by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in developing its acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request for information or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI.
Responses to this RFI will be used by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Special Operations Research, Development and Acquisition Center (SORDAC), the Program Executive Office – Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Exploitation (PEO – SRSE), specifically the Program Manager – Sensitive Site Exploitation (PM-SSE) to identify potential sources to participate in the assessment event for the next generation of document and media exploitation devices in March of 2015 at Fort Bragg, NC. All hardware/equipment submitted for testing shall be production models and capable of executing document and media extraction from a variety of electronic media devices. While prototypes that meet the majority of the capabilities listed in Attachment 1 are allowed, the expectation is that all devices will be final product versions and meet the capabilities detailed in the Attachment 1 Planning Document.
Device assessment will consist of two independently conducted events:

A. Technical assessment to confirm the quality and accuracy of device performance and output.
B. Limited user evaluations to determine usability and ergonomic factors for SOF operators.

The preliminary schedule of events (subject to change) is as follows:

NLT 19 Nov 2014- Final Cut-Off Date for interested Manufacturer’s/Vendor response to this RFI. Responses should include identification of the primary point(s) of contact with phone and e-mail information, proposed existing or near term hardware and/or software meeting the next generation capabilities for DOMEX outlined in Attachment 1, and preferred TILO date to present the devices via the Technology and Industry Liaison Office (TILO) at USSOCOM (please see the next item below).

12 & 14 Nov 2014- TILO presentations: these are pre-assigned dates for interested Vendors to present their proposed equipment to meet the Attachment 1 capabilities. These presentations will be coordinated with the Technical Industry Liaison Office (TILO) at USSOCOM. The POC is Ms. Shelvin Watts at 813-826-9482.

17 – 18 Nov 2014 (optional)- Optional follow-on pre-coordinated TILO Vendor presentations. Please note, any follow-on TILO presentations will be at HQ USSOCOM’s discretion.

5 Dec 2014- Invitation to Vendors to participate in the assessment event. HQ USSOCOM will provide feedback to all vendors who participated in the TILO presentations. Those with devices that USSOCOM judges to have the best potential to meet the Attachment 1 capabilities will be invited to participate in the DOMEX evaluation and asked to agree to a vendor loan agreement (VLA) for the evaluation articles.

19 Dec 2014- Deadline for Vendors to notify USSOCOM SORDAC-SRSE-PM-SSE of their intent to participate in the DOMEX evaluation and return the completed VLAs for their devices and any associated items.

13 Feb 2015- Vendors deliver (on-loan) five (5) fully functional devices and associated items for technical assessment (part A. above).

8-13 Mar 2015- Vendors train USSOCOM testers and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on the use of their device(s). Training will be limited to eight hours per device and must include proper use of the device and troubleshooting. Vendors are expected to train the USSOCOM testers to the point where the testers can train the SOF operators.

16-27 Mar 2015- Conduct of the DOMEX Evaluation. Vendors will not participate in the actual events conducted jointly by USSOCOM and the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC), but may be asked to address questions or issues by phone or e-mail during the evaluation.

27 Apr 2015- All Vendor equipment and hardware returned no later than this date.

Once the information is received, USSOCOM may publish a synopsis requesting further information and industry comments on a refined set of requirements along with a draft acquisition strategy and milestone schedule.

All responses shall be submitted to the Test Director, Charles A. Colletti, Charles.colletti@socom.mil, and the Deputy Program Manager – Sensitive Site Exploitation, Ms. Jessica Fritz, jessica.fritz@socom.mil.

This announcement is a request for information/comment only and does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP). An RFP may be posted on Fed Biz Ops at some future time. However, the Government does not guarantee any action beyond this RFI.