Somalia Cultural Advisors

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for three (3) Cultural/Political Advisors to support the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Somalia (JSOTF-SOM). The advisors will engage with members of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and local civic/tribal leaders to enhance understanding of local customs, history, tribal dynamics, and the socio-cultural context for operations. The role includes providing Somali to English and English to Somali linguistic capabilities, and advising JSOTF-SOM leadership on cultural and political matters.

• Three (3) Cultural/Political Advisors with experience in Somalia.

• Ability to support United States Special Operations Forces.

• Interagency Language Roundtable level 3 proficiency in English and Somali.

• Minimum of three years of work experience as a cultural advisor in Somalia.

• Active TS/SCI security clearance.

• Demonstrated experience satisfying requirements in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Linguistic capabilities (Somali to English / English to Somali).

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP).

• Period of Performance: Each CLIN is for 12 months, with potential for multiple years (up to 3 years total duration including options).

• Estimated Value: USD 22,500,000.00 (This is the Size Standard for NAICS 541930, not necessarily the contract value).

• Proposal Submission Deadline: 1000 GMT on June 26, 2026.

• Submission Method: Email to ruben.colon.mil@socom.mil.

• Questions Due Date: June 11, 2026.

• Answers to Questions Provided: June 19, 2026 (via RFQ amendment).

• Quotation Validity: Minimum of 30 days from the quotation due date.

• Evaluation Criteria: Best Value determination based on Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) quote, with acceptable Past Performance. Technical acceptability and past performance are critical.

• This acquisition is unrestricted.

• Vendors must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) account.

• Vendors must provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number.

• Attachment 3 - Draft DD254 is required to determine if the vendor possesses the necessary facility clearance.

• A Performance Work Statement (PWS) is included as Attachment 1.

• Technical documentation must not exceed 20 pages.

• Funds are not presently available; award is contingent upon availability.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) seeks proposals for three (3) Cultural/Political Advisors to support the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Somalia (JSOTF-SOM). The advisors will maintain contact with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and local civic/tribal leaders to enhance understanding of local customs, history, cultural routines, tribal dynamics, and local government. This support is crucial for planning and conducting operations in Somalia.

• Provide three (3) Cultural/Political Advisors with experience supporting U.S. Special Operations Forces in Somalia.

• Advisors must possess Somali English / English to Somali linguist capabilities.

• Provide advice and assistance to JSOTF-SOM leadership on cultural and political matters.

• A Performance Work Statement (PWS) is included as Attachment 1.

• Advisors must have a minimum of three years of experience as a cultural advisor in Somalia.

• Personnel must possess an active TS/SCI security clearance.

• Personnel must have Interagency Language Roundtable level 3 proficiency in English and Somali.

• Personnel must have demonstrated experience satisfying requirements in Section 4 of the PWS.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP).

• Period of Performance: Each CLIN is for 12 months, with potential for extension. The initial performance start date is September 26, 2026.

• Place of Performance: Mogadishu, Somalia.

• Estimated Value: USD 22,500,000.00 (NAICS code 541930).

• Quotes must adhere to the specified CLIN structure. Deviations will render the quote unacceptable.

• Quotes must be submitted via email to ruben.colon.mil@socom.mil by 1000 UTC on June 19, 2026.

• Questions are due by June 4, 2026, with answers provided by June 11, 2026, via amendment.

• Quotations must be valid for a minimum of 30 days.

• Award will be made to the responsible Offeror whose quote represents the Best Value to the Government, based on Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria, considering Price, Technical, and Past Performance.

• Technical evaluation will assess resumes for acceptability based on experience, security clearance, language proficiency, and PWS requirements.

• Past Performance will be evaluated for recency and relevance, rated as satisfactory, neutral, or unsatisfactory.

• This acquisition is unrestricted.

• Vendors must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) account.

• Vendors must provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number.

• Attachment 3 - Draft DD254 is required to determine if the vendor possesses the necessary facility clearance.

• Funds are not presently available for this effort; award is contingent upon fund availability.

• Technical documentation must not exceed 20 pages.

• Attachments include: Performance Work Statement (PWS), Past Performance Questionnaire, and Draft DD254.

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide three (3) Cultural/Political Advisors to support the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Somalia (JSOTF-SOM) and its subordinate commands. The goal is to facilitate understanding of local customs, history, tribal dynamics, local government, and the socio-cultural context to enable successful mission operations.

• Provide cultural and political advisory services to JSOTF-SOM leadership.

• Facilitate Somali to English and English to Somali interpretation and translation.

• Advise on U.S. military operations/policy and Somali culture/politics.

• Collaborate with U.S. and Somali government personnel.

• Support the preparation of reporting products.

• Develop understanding of JSOTF-SOM campaign plans and military objectives.

• Advisors must possess aptitude, knowledge, interpersonal skills, linguistic ability, and established relationships.

• Must provide access, influence, and operational support.

• Must arrange and facilitate key leader engagements.

• Must provide linguistic support.

• Must serve as liaisons.

• Primary place of performance: Mogadishu, Somalia.

• Contractor responsible for travel to and from Djibouti for in/out-processing.

• Personnel will travel via MILAIR to their duty station with lodging, meals, and transportation provided by the US Government.

• Limited travel to locations within Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya may be required (approx. 10 trips per contract period, 5 days per trip).

• Work may be performed in austere locations with potential for poor sanitation, extreme heat, and personal danger.

• Contractor personnel must have a minimum of three years' work experience as a cultural advisor in Somalia.

• Contractor personnel must have an active TS/SCI security clearance.

• Contractor personnel must have Interagency Language Roundtable level 3 proficiency in English and Somali.

• Contractor must provide personal protective equipment (ear/eye protection, gloves, combat helmet, soft armor plate carrier vest).

• Contractor must provide a quality control plan.

• Government will provide workspace, computers, telephones, and access to printer/copier/fax.

• Government housing and meals will be provided at the primary place of performance.

• Government will provide mission-related airfare, transportation, lodging, and meals for travel away from Mogadishu.

• Normal work week: 56 hours (eight-hour days, seven days per week).

• At least two advisors must always be available for engagements.

• Contract period: 1 year Base Period, with two 1-year option periods.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) provided as Section L Attachment for the solicitation of Cultural/Political Advisors in Mogadishu, Somalia. Its purpose is to gather feedback from organizations that have had direct experience with offerors to evaluate their past performance and ability to execute the proposed effort.

• Contract Identification: Details about the contract being reviewed, including contractor information, contract number, type, period of performance, and dollar value.
• Customer or Agency Identification: Information about the agency or customer the contract was performed for.
• Respondent Identification: Details of the individual completing the questionnaire.
• Performance Information: A rating scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory, Not Applicable) and space to provide supporting information for technical performance aspects such as repairs, maintenance, inspections, reporting, emergency response, communication, and sourcing of parts.
• Government Contracts Only: Questions regarding contract termination status.
• General Comment: A section for overall remarks and a qualitative statement about the contractor's ability to execute their proposal.

This questionnaire is to be completed by entities that have previously contracted with the offeror. Offerors are instructed not to complete this questionnaire themselves. Instead, they must ensure that a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or equivalent from a recent and relevant contract returns the completed PPQ to the SOCAFRICA J42 POC via email (ruben.colon.mil@socom.mil) with the subject line: "Solicitation H9227626QE008 – PPQ - Cultural/Political Advisors." The submission deadline for the completed PPQ is the solicitation Due Date. This feedback is a critical component of the proposal evaluation process.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a draft DD Form 254, Contract Security Classification Specification. It is provided as an attachment to the opportunity record.

• The form specifies the security classification requirements for a contract, including:
  • Contract Administration
  • Facility Clearance
  • Information Security
  • Personnel Security
  • Other requirements as applicable.

Bidders should review this form to understand the security clearance and handling requirements associated with the potential contract. This information is critical for determining eligibility and capability to perform the work, as well as for planning security-related resources and procedures.