Combat Identification Automated Target Recognition Technology (CATCH) Call 05

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Sensors Directorate, is soliciting technical and cost proposals to advance Combat Identification (CID) and Automated Target Recognition (ATR) technology through the Combat Identification Automated Target Recognition Technology (CATCH) Call 05 program. This one-step, unrestricted competitive acquisition requires offerors to provide research and development solutions addressing objectives detailed in the Statement of Objectives (SOO), with all personnel required to be U.S. citizens holding Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) and Special Access Program (SAP) security clearances due to the classified nature of the work. Critical contract requirements include submission of deliverables per the Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs), compliance with the Science and Technology Protection Plan and security risk review procedures under AFRLI 61-113, implementation of Level I Operations Security training, and adherence to export control regulations (ITAR). Evaluation will prioritize technical merit—including understanding of scope, soundness of approach, technology advancement potential, and transition viability—as the first priority, followed by cost and price realism as the second priority. Proposals are due by February 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT, with award notifications expected approximately 30 days after proposal receipt.

This acquisition is not designated as a set-aside and will be awarded as a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract, with the Air Force anticipating one contract award, though it reserves the right to award some, all, or none of the proposals received. The total estimated contract value is $8,000,000 distributed across three fiscal years (FY26: $2M, FY27: $3M, FY28: $3M), with the overall period encompassing 39 months consisting of 36 months of technical performance plus 3 months for final reporting. The work location is Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Wright-Patter, Ohio 45433, with all hardware deliverables to be shipped to AFRL/RYZ. Subcontracting plans are required for efforts exceeding $900,000, and proposals are limited to 35 pages for technical and management content plus 10 pages for the Statement of Work. The Program Engineer is Kameron Grubaugh, and the Contracting Officer is Omar Eldadah; interested parties should contact Grubaugh at kameron.grubaugh@us.af.mil to obtain the complete SOO and other restricted documentation containing Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).