Combat Air Force Contracted Air Support Operations

The Department of the Air Force Defense Finance and Accounting Service awarded this master IDIQ on October 18, 2019, for contracted air support operations including adversary air training, close air support services, aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, pilots, maintenance, and program management across Combat Air Force locations. Ordering closed October 16, 2024—this vehicle is no longer accepting new task orders.

The vehicle remains active through existing task orders; six delivery orders were awarded in September 2024 alone, including a $469.2 million ceiling order (FA489024F0090) and a $191.3 million ceiling order (FA489024F0091) both completing in September 2029. All six September 2024 orders are firm fixed price. The combined portfolio of 38 task orders carries $2.57 billion in potential value, of which $1.23 billion (48 percent) has been obligated. Annual task-order volume fluctuated significantly—11 orders in 2020, then 1 in 2021, 8 in 2022, 5 in 2023, and 6 in 2024—reflecting sporadic funding decisions rather than sustained demand.

Scope spans adversary air training for fighter pilot development at multiple bases (Luke, Eglin, Holloman, Kingsley Field, Seymour Johnson), close air support training for joint terminal attack controllers and ground forces, contracted aircraft operations, and threat simulation for Navy fleet training. Geographic spread includes overseas (United Kingdom, Royal Australian) and domestic locations (Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona ranges, Fort Smith ANG, Nellis AFB).

Competitive concentration is moderate. Airborne Tactical Advantage Co LLC leads by potential value at $991.6 million (7 orders), followed by Top Aces Corp. at $511.7 million (4 orders) and Tactical Air Support Inc. at $499.7 million (5 orders). Blue Air Training Corp., despite holding the most awards (10 orders), ranks fifth by value at $168.6 million. Five primes account for 97 percent of combined potential value, with a long tail of two additional small firms holding 3 percent.

Customer concentration is severe: Department of the Air Force Air Combat Command placed 19 of 38 orders and controls $2.23 billion (87 percent) of the vehicle's total potential value. The remaining six customer agencies—including Air Force Special Operations Command, Naval Air Systems Command, and general Air Force entities—share $340 million (13 percent). Set-asides are minimal: 95 percent of orders carry no set-aside; only 2 orders (5 percent) are designated Total Small Business.

Task-order ceilings typically range from roughly $15 million to $230 million, with durations of 2 to 5 years. Smaller orders under $5 million are limited; only one order carries a sub-$1 million ceiling ($77,904). Multiple initial orders were $3 million minimum guarantees established at vehicle kickoff in October 2019. Shared vehicle ceiling is $6.4 billion.

Contractors will provide complete contracted air support services for realistic and challenging advanced adversary air threats and close air support threats. Work will be performed in multiple locations across the Combat Air Force and provide complete services including, but not limited to: aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft systems support, pilots, aircraft maintenance, support equipment, in addition to program, quality, and contract management to meet military requirements