Request for Whitepaper - AEDC Facility Digital Twins and Predictive Analytics

The Department of the Air Force, Headquarters Air Force Test Center, has issued a Request for Whitepapers (RWP) under Other Transaction authority (10 U.S.C. § 4022) for the AEDC Facility Digital Twins and Predictive Analytics prototype project. The objective is to modernize facility documentation and asset management at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) by establishing high-fidelity, 3D digital twins of highly complex test facilities. The multi-year, phased project begins with a base phase focused on scanning and modeling the Von Kármán Gas Dynamics Facility (VKF) Yard and Plant, covering approximately 1,040,000 square feet of scan area. Subsequent option phases will scale this methodology across remaining complex facilities. Key technical objectives include achieving dimensional accuracy of at least +/- 1/4 inch, a Level of Detail (LOD) of 350 to 400, and delivering both Autodesk Revit structural models and data-centric Autodesk Plant 3D process models. Whitepapers must address technical competency, proposed intellectual property and data rights (the government requires unlimited rights), statutory compliance for non-traditional defense contractors or small businesses, pricing for firm-fixed-price milestones, and cybersecurity compliance with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC standards. Additionally, all work must be performed within the continental United States by U.S. citizens. Responses are due by September 8, 2026.

This Statement of Objectives (SOO) outlines a multi-year, phased program by the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) to modernize its facility documentation and asset management. The program’s objective is to develop high-fidelity, as-built 3D models and drawings of critical test facility infrastructure to reduce future project timelines, lower costs, enhance operational safety, and improve configuration management. Planned for Fiscal Year 2027, the initial phase focuses on scanning and modeling the Von Kármán Gas Dynamics Facility (VKF) Yard and Plant areas, covering an estimated 1.04 million square feet across four scan levels. Over the subsequent four years, the program will expand to cover eleven additional out-year facilities, totaling over 18.5 million square feet of scan area. Key technical requirements include achieving a minimum dimensional accuracy of +/- 1/4 inch (with +/- 1/8 inch highly favored) and a minimum Level of Detail (LOD) of 350. Deliverables must include native Autodesk Revit files, Autodesk Plant 3D intelligent process models aligned with AEDC P&IDs, 2D AutoCAD drawings, and registered point clouds. Strict operational constraints require all work—including data processing and modeling—to be performed within the continental United States (CONUS) by U.S. citizens. All project data is classified as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and must comply with NIST SP 800-171 standards. Additionally, the contractor must coordinate on-site activities to avoid disrupting facility testing schedules and obtain formal approval for all data-gathering and photographic equipment.

This memorandum establishes the Base Agreement Articles for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Velocity Alliance Consortium, executed under the Other Transaction (OT) authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022. The agreement outlines the contractual and operational framework for prototype projects executed within the consortium, specifying that it is not a traditional procurement contract and is exempt from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Key provisions detail the multi-phased prototype demonstration and acceptance process, billing via the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) platform, and intellectual property rights, which are allocated based on funding sources. Additionally, the document establishes strict membership rules, requiring participants to maintain "Good Standing" by securing a valid Joint Certification Program (JCP) certification and achieving a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 Self-Assessment by November 10, 2026. Lapses in these areas, or failure to rapidly report cyber incidents within 72 hours, constitute non-curable material breaches that can trigger immediate project suspension or termination for default. The agreement also outlines terms for collaborative dispute resolution, liability limits, and compliance with statutory prohibitions, including bans on ByteDance applications and specific foreign telecommunications equipment. While projects are primarily competed within the consortium, the Air Force reserves the right to seek alternative acquisition strategies outside the Alliance or utilize alternative authorities like 10 U.S.C. § 2808a for facilities-related projects when in the government's best interest.