AFOSR FY26 Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) for Integrated Programmatic and Technical Support to increase Technology Transition & Transfer and Collaborative Project Orders (CPOs)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Air Force, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), is soliciting proposals for a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) to provide integrated programmatic and technical support. This effort aims to increase Technology Transition & Transfer (T3) and facilitate Collaborative Project Orders (CPOs) by acting as a matchmaker between the Air Force and external scientific, academic, and industrial ecosystems. Proposals are due April 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM Eastern.
Scope of Work
The PIA will focus on eight key areas: partnership development, technology transfer/transition awareness, technology scouting, STEM/workforce development, access to technical expertise, data tools development, governance support, and knowledge-transfer outputs. It seeks to advance T3 awareness, enable informed consideration of maturation pathways, expand collaboration networks, support agreement readiness, strengthen STEM/workforce, improve data-enabled insights, and enhance transparency. The intermediary will primarily serve in a matchmaker capacity, facilitating cooperative activities.
Contract Details
- Type: Fixed Price Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA).
- Estimated Ceiling: Up to $80M for the overall PIA, accommodating additional CPOs.
- Period of Performance: 60 months (5 years) plus an optional 6-month extension for the PIA and each CPO.
- Initial CPOs: Five CPOs are anticipated to be awarded simultaneously with the PIA:
- CPO 1 (AFRL/AFOSR): $8.8M
- CPO 2 (USSF (SSC) - Virginia): $7.8M
- CPO 2.1 (USSF (SSC) - Colorado): $11.7M
- CPO 3 (AFCENT): $2.8M
- CPO 4 (NRO): $8.2M
- Profit/Fee: Unallowable under this PIA.
- Place of Performance: Offerors must provide leased facilities within one mile of specific Government locations in Arlington, VA (10K sq ft for AFOSR), Chantilly, VA (10K sq ft for USSF (SSC) and NRO), and Colorado Springs, CO (58K sq ft for USSF (SSC)). The Government will provide 10K sq ft of unclassified space in Arlington, VA for the PI and AFCENT partners.
- Security: Requires compliance with DD254. Three personnel supporting SSC and AFCENT CPOs will need TS/SCI clearance.
Eligibility & Set-Aside
- Set-Aside: No small business set-aside.
- Eligibility: Must be a "Partnership Intermediary" as defined by 10 U.S.C. § 4124(f) and 15 U.S.C. § 3715(c), meaning a state/local government agency or a non-profit entity owned/chartered/funded/operated by a state/local government. SAM.gov registration is mandatory.
Evaluation Factors
Award will be based on a Best Value Tradeoff (BVTO) process, considering Technical/Management (Capability & Program Management), Past Performance, Price Analysis/Financial Management, and Proposal Documentation. The Government intends to evaluate and award without discussion.
Submission & Deadlines
- RFP Questions: Submit in writing to AFRL.AFOSR.PIA@us.af.mil with the subject line "AFOSR PIA Questions: Name of Applicant".
- Proposal Due: April 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM Eastern.
- Submission Method: Electronically to AFRL.AFOSR.PIA@us.af.mil with the subject line "AFOSR PIA Proposal Submission: Name of Applicant".
- Proposal Format: Submissions require four volumes: Eligibility, Technical/Management (Vol I - redacted and unredacted), Price (Vol II), Proposal Documentation (Vol III), and Past Performance (Vol IV).