Amendment 2: Call 001_Air Force - Small UAS & Asymmetric Capabilities - Commercial Solutions Opening

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Call 001, clarifying aspects of the solicitation for potential bidders.

• Program Type: This is a procurement action for existing, commercially available, or non-developmental capabilities. The government will not fund development, engineering, or integration efforts. Offerors must propose solutions at a high level of technical readiness.
• Contract Type & Funding: The government intends to award one or more Firm-Fixed-Price contracts under FAR Part 12 (Commercial Products and Commercial Services). Funding is from Procurement appropriations; this is not an Other Transaction (OT) or Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) action.
• Proposal Focus: The solicitation seeks complete and operable Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). While innovative components are valued, proposals must demonstrate a fully functional system. Component producers are encouraged to partner with system integrators.
• Weight Requirement: The 20 lbs weight is a desired capability. While proposals should aim to meet all specifications, the government will evaluate all submissions for best value and may consider solutions that do not meet every single objective if they offer compelling overall value.
• Subsystem vs. Full System: Although advanced subsystems (like autonomous teaming software) are of interest, proposals must offer a fully functional, end-to-end UAS solution. Subsystem providers are encouraged to partner to propose an integrated system.

These clarifications confirm the nature of the procurement (non-developmental, commercial items), the required proposal format (complete systems), and provide flexibility on certain performance objectives like weight, emphasizing overall best value.

Solicitation

This is a Problem Statement Call (001) issued under the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) FA8629-25-S-C001. The government is seeking commercial or non-developmental Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) solutions that are at a high level of technical readiness. The government is not seeking or funding developmental efforts. Awards will be fixed-price instruments, either FAR-based contracts or Other Transactions (OT) for prototype projects. Successful prototype projects under OT may lead to follow-on production contracts without further competition.

The government requires short-range, one-way attack air interdiction UAS platforms with the following characteristics:

• Category: Group 1 Small UAS (sUAS)

• Weight: Less than 20 lbs (total gross weight)

• Launch Method: Ground-launched

• Payload Capacity: 3+ lbs

• Range: 50+ nautical miles (nmi)

• Speed: 200+ mph terminal speed

• Flight Profile: Capable of high-speed, low-altitude flight.

• Command & Control: Must support Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) operations.

• Operating Environment: Effective in Denied, Degraded, Intermittent, or Limited (DDIL) communication environments.

• Low Observability: Difficult to detect and track by broad-area search systems.

• Autonomy: Fire and forget with a level of mission autonomy, software-defined in-flight targeting, and ability to coordinate in flight with other platforms.

• Containerization: Containerized for mass fires, capable of quick launch.

• Payloads: Solutions should describe long-range passive sensing capabilities (specifying sensor modalities, ranges, data formats, interface standards, maturity) and whether sensing and engagement systems are integrated. Integration with existing USAF Special Operations Forces communications networks and situational awareness tools (e.g., ATAK) is desired.

• Mission Planning Software: Intuitive software that integrates other platforms.

• Hardware/Software Integration: Ability to quickly integrate third-party software and hardware (modular, warm-swappable) using open interfaces.

• Awards may be FAR-based contracts or Other Transactions (OT) for prototype projects.

• Options for additional quantities and support may be included.

This call is conducted in three phases:

• Phase 1 Solution Briefs: Deadline April 23, 2026. Submit to usafoffensivesmalluas@groups.af.mil. Format as a presentation (max 12 slides), detailing launch mechanism, mass-launch containers, launch rate, operational setup, training, production scalability, passive sensing, DDIL operations, mission planning software, hardware/software integration, test findings, and data rights. No reimbursement for costs.

• Phase 2 Pitch Sessions: Expected April 27 - May 1, 2026. Selected vendors from Phase 1 may be invited. Vendors are responsible for all costs.

• Phase 3 Proposals: Vendors invited after Phase 2 will submit pricing and technical proposals. Awards may be FAR-based or OT.

• Evaluation criteria are detailed in Sections 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4 of the CSO.

• Open to both U.S. and international vendors.

• Vendors selected for award must possess a CAGE code and DUNS number or register in SAM.gov.

• Phase 3 awards may require classified access (SECRET level), necessitating a Facility Clearance (FCL) and Personnel Clearances (PCL). Offerors must be eligible to obtain these if not already possessed.

• Vendors are encouraged to discuss trade-offs and design choices in terms of price to minimize production bottlenecks.

• Designs enabling geographically distributed, scalable manufacturing are preferred.

• Solutions must comply with FY20 NDAA Section 848, FY23 NDAA Section 817, the 2024 American Security Drone Act, and meet DoD cybersecurity requirements (DoDI 8510.01).

• POCs: usafoffensivesmalluas@groups.af.mil; Capt Joseph Alexander (joseph.alexander.13@us.af.mil); Lt Kristian Kiburz (kristian.kiburz@us.af.mil); Wendell Toney (wendell.toney.1.ctr@us.af.mil).

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a Problem Statement Call (Call 001) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) under the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) FA8629-25-S-C001. The government intends to award one or more fixed-price instruments (FAR Part 12 or Other Transactions (OT) for prototype projects) for solutions that can provide low-cost precision effects at scale. Successful prototype projects under OT authority may lead to follow-on production contracts without further competition. FAR-based awards may include options for scaling commercial solutions.

The government is seeking commercial solutions for short-range, one-way attack air interdiction UAS platforms with the following characteristics:

• Category: Group 1 Small UAS (sUAS)
• Weight: Less than 20 lbs (total gross weight)
• Launch Method: Ground-launched
• Payload Capacity: 3+ lbs
• Range: 50+ nautical miles (nmi)
• Speed: 200+ mph terminal speed
• Flight Profile: Capable of high-speed, low-altitude flight.
• Command & Control: Must support Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) operations.
• Operating Environment: Effective in Denied, Degraded, Intermittent, or Limited (DDIL) communication environments.
• Low Observability: Difficult to detect and track by broad-area search systems.
• Other Capabilities: Containerized for mass fires, quick launch, fire and forget with mission autonomy, software-defined in-flight targeting, in-flight coordination with other platforms, and operation in GNSS-denied environments.

Awards may be made as FAR Part 12 contracts or Other Transactions (OT) for prototype projects. The government reserves the right to select all, some, or none of the proposals.

This call is conducted in three phases:

• Phase 1 Solution Briefs: Deadline April 20, 2026. Submissions should be formatted as presentations (max 12 slides) detailing launch mechanisms, mass-launch containers, launch rate, operational setup, training, production scalability, passive sensing capabilities, mission planning software, hardware/software integration, test and evaluation findings, and data rights. Questions are due after call posting, with responses provided no later than 10 days before the deadline. All materials to usafoffensivesmalluas@groups.af.mil.
• Phase 2 Pitch Sessions: Expected April 21-28, 2026. Selected vendors from Phase 1 may be invited to present their solutions. Participation is at the government's discretion.
• Phase 3 Proposals: Vendors invited after Phase 2 will submit pricing and technical proposals. Submission dates will be provided in the invitation.

Open to both U.S. and international vendors. Companies without a CAGE code or DUNS number must register in SAM.gov. Offerors must be eligible for SECRET level security clearance if required for Phase 3 awards.

Solutions should consider trade-offs for price, enabling geographically distributed manufacturing. Compliance with FY20 NDAA Section 848, FY23 NDAA Section 817, the 2024 American Security Drone Act, and DoD Instruction 8510.01 is required.