Air Force - Small UAS & Asymmetric Capabilities - Commercial Solutions Opening

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center Wright Patterson Air Force Base has issued a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) under Notice ID FA8629-24-C-S001 focused on small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and asymmetric capabilities. The CSO is managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Special Operations and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Directorate, specifically the Special Operations and Personnel Recovery Division and Capabilities Development Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This is a 12-month opening that runs through September 3, 2026, with potential for annual renewal. The government emphasizes that no funding is currently available and they are not seeking proposals at this time, nor will they accept unsolicited proposals. The CSO may lead to either FAR Part 12 or Other Transaction awards for future requirements.

The CSO's primary purpose is to accelerate defense and asymmetric capabilities through commercial and strategic innovations across multiple technology areas including science and technology research, unmanned aircraft systems, artificial intelligence, digital engineering, sensor technologies, and special operations capabilities. Contractors will respond to specific Problem Statement Calls that will be posted separately, following a three-phase evaluation process consisting of Solution Briefs, Pitch Sessions, and full written Proposals. The government seeks innovative solutions with preference for iterative development, modular systems, and open architectures, with successful prototype projects potentially leading to follow-on production agreements without further competition. Performance periods for awarded projects are generally expected not to exceed 24 months, and companies may submit multiple Solution Briefs in response to different Problem Statement Calls. Evaluation criteria include relevance, technical merit, company viability, innovation, and price reasonableness, with the government reserving the right to award all, some, or none of any company's proposal.