Request for Information - Next Generation Penetrator Tail Kit Development

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Eglin Air Force Base is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) to identify capable vendors for the Next Generation Penetrator Tail Kit Development program. The procurement seeks contractors to mature a Government-supplied Weapon Open System Architecture (WOSA) technical data package, develop operational flight program software with Guidance, Navigation, and Control capabilities for GPS-degraded/denied environments, and support flight testing and aircraft integration for hard and deeply buried targets. Respondents must address one or more of three capability areas: software development (including software-in-the-loop testing to MIL-STD standards and Universal Armament Interface integration), hardware production and testing (progressing the technical data package from preliminary to critical design review level and producing three to five full-scale systems), or flight testing support (covering approximately 18-21 developmental test flights with data analysis and aircraft certification). All submissions must include rough order of magnitude costs, notional schedules with 9-12 months period of performance, and detailed company profile information including CAGE code, DUNS number, business size designation, and technology readiness level. The deadline for submitting white paper responses is 1400 CDT on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with questions due by 1200 CDT on Monday, March 9, 2026, directed to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialists at specified Air Force email addresses.

This RFI carries no small business set-aside designation, and no incumbent contractor or current award value information has been disclosed in the available documentation. Respondents may submit individual submissions limited to 10 pages for single-topic responses, 15 pages for combined software and hardware submissions, or 20 pages for all-inclusive submissions covering all three capability areas, with all documents required in PDF, DOCX, or XLSX format only. Small businesses are specifically encouraged to submit Statements of Capabilities for partial requirements. Additional technical details are available through a controlled document marked as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Distribution F, accessible upon request with a valid DD Form 2345 through March 18, 2026. The Government has clarified that the weapon system must generate its own Launch Acceptability Region and be compatible with both UAI and non-UAI aircraft systems. This RFI is issued solely for market research and planning purposes and does not constitute a commitment to award a contract or guarantee that a formal solicitation will be released.