Request for Information - Prometheus Flame (v. 2)
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA8694-26-S-7777
- Agency
-
Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Place of performance
- Dayton, Ohio, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Joseph Mizzi joseph.mizzi@us.af.mil
- 1st Lt Justin Brogden justin.brogden.1@us.af.mil
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Defense, specifically the Department of the Air Force, has released a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the Prometheus Flame Challenge, a draft Request for Solutions posted on April 29, 2026. This Special Notice invites feedback from organizations interested in modern software development to help refine a solicitation before its final release. The Prometheus Flame Challenge represents a significant initiative to transform how the Air Force develops and deploys software for autonomy and mission systems by establishing an open-source, competitive ecosystem. The RFI is not requesting formal proposals at this time; instead, the government is seeking expert input to improve the solicitation materials. Interested parties must submit feedback by May 12, 2026, with the final solicitation expected to release on or around June 1, 2026.
The Prometheus Flame Challenge aims to build partnerships around two Government Reference Architectures (the Agile Mission Suite GRA and Autonomy GRA) to be publicly released in June 2026, moving away from closed, proprietary systems toward open innovation. The program is structured as a continuous multi-phase competition with 3-6 month phases, each culminating in fly-off demonstrations, with an anticipated total budget of $20,000,000 across Phases I and II, including both prize funding and potential Other Transaction Agreements. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. or U.S. ally-based organizations with headquarters and ownership located in qualifying jurisdictions. Participants must submit white papers, demonstrate compliance with the Government Reference Architectures, provide demonstration videos and code baselines, and ultimately deliver complete source code with documentation and firm fixed-price proposals for follow-on work. The initiative represents a pathway to long-term strategic partnerships and recurring funding, with Phase 1 offering up to $6,000,000 in prizes distributed among up to 10 winners plus $4,000,000 in available OT agreements, with identical funding available in Phase 2.
Notice text
Is your organization a leader in modern software development? Are you looking for opportunities to secure long-term, recurring funding for innovative open-source software solutions? Do you want to help shape the future of software development for the Department of War weapon systems and dual-use technologies?
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) invites you to review and provide feedback on a DRAFT Request for Solutions for a new effort: The Prometheus Flame Challenge.
This is a Request for Information (RFI). No proposals are requested at this time. Your expert feedback is critical to help us refine and improve this solicitation before its final release.
The Vision: An Open, Modular, and Competitive Future
The DAF is transforming how it develops and deploys software for Autonomy and Mission Systems. To break from the constraints of closed, proprietary systems, we are launching the Prometheus Flame Challenge to build a vibrant, open, and competitive ecosystem around Government-owned, open-source software standards.
Around the June 2026 timeframe, the Air Force intends to publicly release two foundational Government Reference Architectures (GRAs) to guide this effort:
- Agile Mission Suite GRA (AMS GRA): For modular mission capabilities (sensors, communications, data fusion).
- Autonomy GRA (A-GRA): For standardized behaviors and teaming for autonomous platforms.
The Opportunity: Prizes and Long-Term Strategic Partnerships
The Prometheus Flame Challenge is more than a prize competition; it is a pathway to long-term strategic partnerships and recurring funding. We are seeking partners to build this new technology ecosystem with us.
Continuous Challenge: The program uses flexible, 3-6 month competition phases, each culminating in a "fly-off" demonstration where top teams earn cash prizes.
Open Entry: Offerors may enter the challenge at any phase. New ideas and existing prototypes are both welcome.
Path to Production: Our primary goal is to identify long-term strategic partners. We intend to award follow-on Prototype and Production Other Transaction (OT) Agreements to teams whose solutions align with our long-term vision, providing a recurring funding stream to mature and proliferate this critical open-source foundation.
Who Should Participate?
We invite participation from the full spectrum of innovators, including:
- Open-source software developers and enthusiasts
- Non-traditional defense contractors and commercial software companies
- Start-ups specializing in autonomy, unmanned systems, and software architecture
- Academic institutions and research labs
- Traditional defense contractors interested in leading in an open-source environment
This competition is open to both industry and academia with U.S. or U.S. ally-based headquarters and ownership.
Your Feedback is Requested
Please review the attached document, “(U) Prometheus Flame Challenge - Request for Solutions Draft.pdf”, for complete details on the proposed structure, goals, and evaluation criteria.
Feedback should be submitted no later than 12 May 2026.
The final solicitation is anticipated to be released on or around 1 June 2026.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| (U) Prometheus Flame Challenge Draft - Request For Solutions (29Apr26).pdf |
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