Request for Whitepaper (RWP) for Afocal Relay Optics
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA910126RWP_Afocal
- Agency
-
Air Force Test Center
Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- PSC
- 6640 Laboratory Equipment And Supplies
- Place of performance
- Arnold AFB, Tennessee, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Test Center (Arnold Engineering Development Complex) seeks whitepapers for design, fabrication, and installation of afocal relay optics for antechambers at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, with submissions due June 3, 2026. This procurement is issued under 10 U.S.C. 4022 authority as an Other Transaction for prototype development and carries no set-aside.
Place of performance is Arnold AFB, TN. The project comprises two prototype phases: Proof of Concept (conceptual and detailed design demonstrating capability) and Operational Utility (creation and installation of operational optics). Two sets of optics are procured with separate milestones; the second set's detailed requirements will be provided post-award.
Whitepapers must not exceed 10 pages and must address five mandatory sections: technical competency demonstrating experience with high-vacuum cryogenic afocal relay optics; execution plan with schedule; intellectual property acknowledgment that all project data becomes U.S. Government property; compliance with 10 U.S.C. 4022(d) participation requirements (either nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution involvement, all small business or nontraditional participants, or one-third non-federal cost sharing); and firm fixed pricing for the base phase with rough order of magnitude estimate for the option phase.
Performers must achieve CMMC Level 2 certification by November 2026 (or alternative path), implement NIST SP 800-171 with annual SPRS affirmations, maintain JCP certification for export-controlled data, and comply with prohibitions on specified telecommunications equipment, Kaspersky Lab products, and ByteDance applications. Prior to receiving Distribution D technical documents, companies must provide CAGE codes to Agreements Officer Erica Anglin for NIST SP 800-171 and JCP vetting.
Evaluation applies integrated trade-off analysis weighing technical merit against price. The Government reserves the right to select one, all, or none of the proposals. Submit to erica.anglin@us.af.mil and paytonne.szatkowski@us.af.mil.
Notice text
Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) is seeking whitepapers from qualified Performers for the design, fabrication, and installation of new afocal relay optics for the antechambers located at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. See the attachments to this posting for further details.
This request invites Performers to propose innovative and effective prototype solutions in a formal whitepaper. The goal is to identify a viable approach and a qualified partner to meet the requirement. This RWP is issued under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022 for the purpose of acquiring prototypes to address this need.
NIST SP 800-171, Distro D Information, and Joint Certification Program (JCP):
This project requires adherence to NIST SP 800-171 and JCP. To understand the technical performance parameters necessary to meet this requirement, you may request access to documents marked as Distribution D. To request these documents, and before you can receive them, your company must undergo a NIST SP 800-171 and JCP compliance vetting process. Please provide your company's CAGE code to the Agreements Officer, who will then validate your organization's NIST SP 800-171 compliance and JCP active status.
Important: Distribution D attachments will be released only after the successful validation of your company's NIST SP 800-171 compliance and JCP active status. Failure to meet this requirement will prevent access to this critical project information.
Submission Details:
Request Attachment 1 - Statement of Objectives no later than 14 May 2026
Submissions must be received no later than 20 May 2026 at 1:00PM Central Time
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