RFI AFRL Large Aircraft Threat Sensing and Cueing 27MAR2026_FINAL.pdf

RFI 2026 - AFRL Large Aircraft Threat Sensing and Cueing

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

Request for Information (RFI)

Air Force Research Laboratory

Large Aircraft Threat Sensing and Cueing Capabilities and Technology Development

1. Background Information

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, as defined in RFO FAR 15.101(c), to obtain information about capabilities, technical maturity, and other market information for planning purposes. This RFI is not a request for proposals; therefore, responses to this RFI are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information requested. Responses will be treated as information only and not as a proposal.

RFI respondents will have no competitive advantage in receiving any awards related to the technical/capability area of large aircraft threat sensing and cueing. The information submitted in response to this RFI may be used to help the Government further define its requirements. If the Government develops a program that addresses any submitted or similar topic, the resulting procurement will address technology and business specific requirements as defined by the Government to achieve the required objectives.

2. General Intent

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is seeking information regarding capabilities supporting an advanced technology development effort for large aircraft threat sensing and cueing. This is a science and technology effort focused on accelerating emerging technology development and transition to acquisition organizations for subsequent development and maturation. This advanced technology development includes concept and technology demonstrations of components and subsystems or system models with the intention to prove technological feasibility and assess subsystem and component operability and producibility. This effort seeks to demonstrate the general military utility of technology when applied to different types of military equipment or techniques – with the end-goal of transitioning technologies to acquiring organizations in the future. This technology demonstration effort is generally expected to achieve a Technology Readiness Level of 6 before transition.

3. Statement of Need

The need, scope, and technologies associated with this RFI require respondents to have access to classified information up to and including Secret Collateral. The Secret Collateral addendum to this RFI can be obtained by UNCLASSIFIED request (one per company1) to adrianna.menker@us.af.mil with the following information included:

• Company Name and Address

• Primary RFI POC, Name, SIPRNET email address, unclassified email address, and phone number

1 A company is defined as all divisions, subsidiaries, and affiliates of the contractor under common control.

mailto:adrianna.menker@us.af.mil mailto:AFRL.CT.RFI@us.af.mil

Requests for the classified addendum will remain open for 10 business days following the publication of this announcement. Only one request per company1 will be honored.

4. Response Requirements

Responses to this RFI are limited to 10 pages per technical thrust area (as described in the classified addendum) with one-inch margins using standard letter-size 8 ½” x 11” pages. For example, if a company1 responds to all three thrust areas, then that company’s response is allowed to be a maximum of 30 pages. The page count includes any title page. Font for text must be Calibri 10-point or larger.

Responses should not contain company proprietary information.

Please pay attention to any company templates that automatically create a “company proprietary” or similar type statement. Please ensure your response does not have any markings stating the information is proprietary, or it will not be considered. If applicable, clearly indicate the appropriate distribution statement (B, C, D, etc.), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), ITAR-restricted, and/or all required classified markings. In order to complete its review, AFRL must be able to share the information within the Government; therefore, any responses marked in a manner that will not permit such internal Government review will be returned/deleted without being reviewed.

Each company1 is permitted to respond to one, two, or all three technical thrust areas (see classified addendum). Marketing information is NOT acceptable in the response. Endorsements from elected officials at the federal, state, and/or local levels are NOT acceptable in the response.

5. Request for Clarification & Questions

Please submit all unclassified requests for clarification and questions, in writing, to adrianna.menker@us.af.mil.

Please submit all classified clarification requests and questions, in writing via Secure Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNET), to the AFRL Points of Contact (POCs) listed in Section 6 of the classified addendum. Respondents without access to SIPRNET must email adrianna.menker@us.af.mil for further instructions.

Requests for clarification or questions must be received no later than seven (7) business days prior to the close of the RFI in order to receive a timely response. Unclassified clarifications and Q&As may be posted on SAM.gov to benefit all interested parties. Interested respondents are encouraged to periodically check SAM.gov during the response period for clarifications and Q&As.

6. Submission of Documentation

Responses to the RFI shall be submitted to the points of contact identified in the classified addendum by 3:00 PM Eastern Time, 17 April 2026. Respondents shall provide one (1) electronic copy in Portable Document Format (PDF) of their response via email on SIPRNET. Subject of the SIPRNET email should be “AFRL Large Aircraft Threat Sensing and Cueing RFI Response”.

Additional submission instructions are included in the classified addendum.

7. Additional Information

All responsible sources may submit responses. If late responses are received, it may be considered, depending on agency time constraints. The Government may or may not use any responses to this RFI as a basis for a subsequent project. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, or provide feedback to the respondents with respect to any of the information submitted under this RFI. The Government may request further details of any submission via in-person, Microsoft Teams, or secure video teleconference (VTC) follow-up.