Grand Challenge RFI.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RWK) Eglin AFB, FL Capstone Demonstration RFI NAICS Code: 541715

1. Notice This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for market research and planning purposes. It is not a request for proposals or quotations, nor a solicitation for a contract or assistance instrument award. This notice should not be interpreted as a commitment to issue a solicitation or award a contract, nor does it limit the Government’s approach to acquisition. This RFI does not obligate the Government, and the Government will not reimburse any costs incurred in responding. Its purpose is to assess industry interests, capabilities, and qualifications. Responses to this notice, along with other market research, will inform the acquisition strategy, and help the Government further define its requirements.

2. Objective AFRL is seeking to demonstrate multiple weapons, employing interoperable and intelligent affordable mass networked collaborative autonomous (NCA) weapon salvos, capable of rapid software updates based on recent battle data, synergizing effects for target neutralization in a complex, contested battlespace. The goal is that multiple weapons provided from multiple vendors will work together to demonstrate initial proof-of-concept for multi-vendor, multi-platform interoperability appropriate for large-scale affordable mass cruise missile operations. An affordable mass cruise missile is defined, for this effort, as capable of traveling a minimum of 350 nautical miles, equipped with a weapon datalink, with a cost of less than $250K per unit. Nominal program goals are to flight demonstrate interoperable and rapidly reprogrammable NCA behaviors across multiple vendor platforms assuming GPS or near-GPS level navigation accuracy, with GPS-challenged environments as a demonstration stretch goal.

3. Statement of Capabilities (SOC)

a. Interested sources are encouraged to respond to this RFI with a Statement of Capabilities that provides specific relevant knowledge and experience to complete projected Flight Demonstration Events as follows:

Surrogate Flights: *

· Surrogate Vehicles Flight Event_1 (X months after contract award)

· Surrogate Vehicles Flight Event_2 (X months after contract award)

· Surrogate Vehicles Flight Event_3 (X months after contract award) Affordable Mass Flights *

· Affordable Mass Cruise Missiles Flight Event_1 (X months after contract award)

· Affordable Mass Cruise Missiles Flight Event_2 Capstone Demonstration (16 months after contract award or sooner)

* Flight groups will be treated independently Statements of Capability should specifically address the contractor’s experience and ability to provide (either currently or via rapid modification of existing capabilities) to support the above demonstrations within 16 months after contract award.

The goal is to have multiple vendors (up to 5) to participate in the flight events. It is imperative for this effort that vendors collaborate with each other for a successful demonstration. The Capstone demonstration will consist of at least four (4) heterogenous NCA affordable mass cruise missiles, sharing information with each other across a data link and swarming to engage a target using an initial set of behaviors, receiving in-flight tactics re-programming based on a previous battle outcome, then re-engaging and prosecuting the target using the revised, battle-informed behaviors, all in a potentially GPS-challenged environment.

The Government assumes, by the nature of this effort, that platform teams are willing to coordinate with other platform teams and modify subsystems, if needed, to facilitate the multi-vendor, multi-platform demonstration and set the foundation for affordable mass and scalable, interoperable NCA operations in highly contested environments.

4. Additional Details The Government believes that the following elements are required for successful execution of this effort. Respondents should clearly indicate that the required capabilities exist and can be delivered within the allotted schedule and provide any additional pertinent information that supports this effort.

Statements of Capability should specifically address the contractor’s experience and ability to provide an affordable cruise missile solution, associated launch equipment, and all necessary technical expertise to execute the demonstration within 16 months after contract award.

· Each vendor shall provide a technically mature (TRL 6 or higher) Weapons Open Systems Architecture (WOSA) v3.7+ compliant and Modular-Series (M-Series)-aligned affordable mass cruise missile solution, including all required launch equipment and associated operations and maintenance support. Vendors must supply enough to conduct up to three (3) multi-platform flight events, with at least one (1) missile from each vendor expended during each event. Include discussion of the flight termination system (FTS) or flight safety system (FSS) employed by your proposed platform within your response.

· Provision of a surrogate vehicle (e.g., a small corporate jet or UAS) is required to support the affordable mass cruise missile effort, including all associated operations and maintenance support. The surrogate vehicle will operate alongside surrogate vehicles provided by other vendors to enable controlled, repeatable modular weapon network integration and development testing in coordination with the information provided below. Vendors should indicate their preferred surrogate platform and provide justification for that preference. Vendors should also identify their preferred locations for multi‑platform surrogate vehicle flight operations and provide rationale for those selections.

· Provision of contractor‑recommended network communications equipment (e.g., radios) required for integration into both the affordable mass cruise missiles and the surrogate vehicle to support the networked operational needs of up to a five‑member heterogeneous swarm. The Government has not determined which radio is sufficient for this effort and vendors should provide recommendations and rationale. Proposed radios should be capable of using non-proprietary waveforms and protocols to provide interoperability with other radios. Detail radio ranging and/or time transfer capabilities if present. The Government anticipates that coordination among vendors will be necessary to ensure effective interoperable communication.

· Provision of proposed affordable mass cruise missile navigation algorithms. Detail assumptions made regarding GPS availability.

· Provision of an integrated, processor‑based digital emulation of the proposed affordable mass cruise missile is required to support real‑time networked operation and mission data collection and storage within the surrogate vehicle. The digital emulator should include provisions for technology refresh and obsolescence management.

· Provision of a processor‑based digital emulation of the proposed affordable mass cruise missile (identical to that required for the flight surrogate above) —with tech refresh and obsolescence‑management provisions—is required for use within the AFRL M‑Series Weapons Innovation Pipeline.

· Provision of digital simulation code for the proposed affordable mass cruise missile—with tech refresh and obsolescence‑management provisions—decomposed by WOSA domain is required for use within the AFRL M‑Series Weapons Innovation Pipeline.

· Provision of a containerized, AFSIM‑compliant digital simulation of the proposed affordable mass cruise missile—with tech refresh and obsolescence‑management provisions—is required for use within the AFRL M‑Series Weapons Innovation Pipeline.

· Provision of two versions of autonomy software for the affordable mass cruise missile to demonstrate the modularity and ability to rapidly update to a new software version. The government will also verify that the vendor’s autonomy software aligns to the AFRL M-Series Weapon Innovation Pipeline requirements for rapid software updates under WOSA compliance.

5. Requested Information Respondents are requested to provide detailed information on the following:

· Technical Capabilities: Description of the technology, solution or idea, functionality, readiness, and how it addresses the specific area proposed

· Data Assertions: Government anticipates “Government Purpose Rights or Unrestricted”

· Cost Estimates: Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs for proposed efforts; if possible, broken out by a) Design b) Integration c) Test (however not mandatory to be broken out)

· Roadmap Schedule: estimated timeframe

· Business Size: Indicate whether your organization qualifies as a small business, or other socioeconomic category under FAR Part 19

· Teaming Arrangements: Describe any teaming arrangements, partnerships, or subcontracting plans that would be utilized to deliver the proposed solutions. Include any proposed partnership for Government Resources (people, hardware, facilities, capabilities, etc.)

· Preferred Contract Type: Indication of preferred contract type (e.g., FFP, CPFF, OT, traditional contract)

6. Submission Details Interested parties who desire to participate in this RFI are encouraged to submit responses that clearly demonstrate an ability to meet the stated requirements in the time frame specified.

Responses shall include the following information on the title page and address the general requirements as specified in the Statement of Capabilities.

· Company Name

· Address

· Point of Contact (along with contact information)

· CAGE Code

· Size of Business pursuant to NAICS Code 541715

· Is the company domestically owned or foreign owned? (If foreign, please indicate the country of ownership)

· Would the respondent be a prime or subcontractor?

Please limit your Statement of Capabilities to no more than seven (7) single-spaced, 12-point front-typed pages. Contractors are encouraged to include an additional Risk Identification and Management appendix of no more than three (3) single-spaced, 12-point font typed pages in which to identify what the contractor believes to be the highest risks, along with proposed risk management approaches and actions.

Information associated with this effort is unclassified. If respondents wish to restrict distribution of Capability Statements, they must be marked and distributed appropriately. Interested parties should mark all responses accordingly prior to submission. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Respondents are responsible for protecting and marking proprietary information at the appropriate level. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

While the information associated with this RFI is unclassified, any potential resulting award agreement may contain classified portions. Please describe your firm's capabilities and procedures for accessing, handling, and storage of classified information in accordance with applicable security regulations.

7. Submission of Documentation

· Responses to the RFI shall be submitted to the points of contact below by 2:00 PM (CDT) 15 April 2026. Ensure only .pdf, .doc, docx, xsls, or xls documents are attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted. Please submit all responses to the following POCs:

Mr. Jace Hilton Jace.hilton@us.af.mil Ms. Jane Ellison Jane.ellison@us.af.mil Subject Line: Capstone Demonstration RFI