Common Armament Tester for Fighter (CAT-F)

SOL #: FA8533-25-R-0002Solicitation

Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSE
Dept Of The Air Force
FA8533 AFLCMC ROKB
ROBINS AFB, GA, 31098-1670, United States

Place of Performance

Place of performance not available

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

PSC

Aircraft Maintenance And Repair Shop Specialized Equipment (4920)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Aug 5, 2025
2
Last Updated
Mar 6, 2026
3
Submission Deadline
Mar 17, 2026, 7:30 PM

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 is soliciting proposals for the Common Armament Tester for Fighter (CAT-F) program, seeking development, manufacture, and sustainment of advanced armament testers for F-16, F-15, and A-10 aircraft. This is a full and open competition under a multi-award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a maximum value of $420.43 million. Proposals are due March 17, 2026, at 3:30 PM EDT.

Opportunity Overview

This Request for Proposal (RFP) aims to acquire a CAT-F system capable of testing Preload, Clean Wing, and Fault Isolation Requirements at both Organizational (O-Level) and Intermediate (I-Level) maintenance. The system will replace or augment legacy testers, address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Materiel Shortages (DMSMS), and incorporate cyber security, nuclear certification, and a Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA).

Contract Details

  • Type: Multi-award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
  • Value: Minimum $10,000.00, Maximum $420,430,000.00
  • Period of Performance: 1-year Basic (Prototype Design and Digital Development) + 4 one-year Options (Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Production).
  • Pricing: Mix of Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Firm Fixed Price (FFP), and Cost Reimbursement-No Fee (CR-NF).
  • Acquisition Strategy: Two-phase Tradeoff Source Selection. Initial award to up to two offerors for CAT-F System Design, followed by a Final Downselect to at least one contractor after Critical Design Review (CDR) for EMD and Production.
  • Set-Aside: Full and Open Competition.

Key Requirements & Deliverables

The program requires the development of O-Level Handheld Testers (2 prototypes each for F-16, F-15, A-10), Aircraft Specific O-Level Cable and Adapter Kits, I-Level Functional and Fault Isolation Testers, and Aircraft Specific I-Level Cable and Adapter Kits. Offerors must submit a Contractor Statement of Work (SOW), an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), and a Surge Capability Plan. Technical manuals must adhere to S1000D/IETM standards, and a comprehensive Safety & Health Plan is required.

Submission & Evaluation

Proposals must be submitted electronically via encrypted email or DoD SAFE. The submission requires four volumes: Completed RFP, Technical Proposal, Small Business Participation, and Cost/Price Proposal. Evaluation will use Tradeoff Source Selection Procedures, with technical factors considered significantly more important than cost/price. Non-Government Advisors may assist in proposal review. Proposal validity period is 730 days.

Important Updates & Action Items

RFP Amendment 0002 (Feb 17, 2026) extended the proposal due date to March 17, 2026, revised prototype quantities, updated numerous clauses (including deleting the OCI clause), and replaced/removed attachments (e.g., Attachment 15 on Intellectual Property Rights was removed). RFP Amendment 0003 is forthcoming, which will further reduce LRIP quantities and extend the proposal due date. Industry feedback on these upcoming changes is requested by March 2, 2026. An issue with RFP Attachment 6_Excel Cost Model (dated 15 Sep 2025) persists; offerors should email oya.harrison.1@us.af.mil to request it.

People

Points of Contact

Oya HarrisonPRIMARY
Adam HudsonSECONDARY

Files

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