Robotic Sheet Metal Forming CAPABILITY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Open Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA8684AMPOAR01
- Agency
-
Lifecycle Management Center
Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 333517 Machine Tool Manufacturing
- PSC
- 3441 Bending And Forming Machines
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The United States Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO), under the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center, is conducting a Capability Request for Information (CRFI) on robotic sheet metal forming solutions, with responses due by October 27, 2026. This is market research only; responses do not constitute binding offers and the Government incurs no obligation to contract.
RSO seeks to identify commercial off-the-shelf or rapidly adaptable dieless robotic sheet metal forming systems capable of producing structural components, brackets, panels, skin sections, and spare parts for aircraft and support equipment at depot, maintenance, or factory-level facilities. The capability must replace traditional hard tooling and dies with dual-sided or single-sided synchronized robotic arm manipulators equipped with generic, interchangeable forming styli, reducing supply chain reliance and accelerating low-volume manufacturing and prototyping cycles.
Respondents must demonstrate capability to form aerospace-grade aluminum alloys (Al 2024, Al 7075, Al 6061) and preferably steel and titanium alloys; provide vendor-independent CAD-to-path workflow supporting standard file formats (STEP, IGES) with automated springback compensation; achieve high dimensional tolerances with in-situ metrology integration; and operate on 480V 3-phase 60 Hz power in standard industrial environments. All components must comply with DCMA and NDAA FY2020 Section 848 guidelines with no materials or final assembly from covered foreign nations per 10 U.S.C. 4872.
Submissions are 11-page white papers (1 page business information, 10 pages technical capabilities and case studies) due electronically to matthew.thaxton@us.af.mil and andrew.gross.4@us.af.mil. Respondents must include detailed supply chain component tables and Technology/Manufacturing Readiness Level documentation. Optional services such as operator training, technical support, and system maintenance are encouraged. NAICS 333517 and 333999 apply with unrestricted business size standards.
Notice text
This is a Capability Request for Information (CRFI) issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) and does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with responding to this notice.
The United States Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) is conducting market research analysis to identify existing solutions for an on-demand, dieless robotic sheet metal forming capability. This capability is intended to produce structural components, brackets, panels, skin sections, and spare parts for support equipment, and aircraft at depot, maintenance, or factory-level facilities. Traditional manufacturing of sheet metal parts relies on heavy, expensive tooling, dies, and presses that require long lead times, high upfront costs, and physical storage. Robotic sheet metal forming—utilizing dual-sided or single-sided synchronized robotic arm manipulators equipped with generic, interchangeable forming styli—offers a flexible, software-defined alternative. The objective of this research is to identify commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or rapidly adaptable solutions capable of being integrated into standard industrial manufacturing and maintenance facilities. This capability is aimed at reducing reliance on traditional supply chains, eliminating the need for part-specific hard tooling, and dramatically accelerating low-volume manufacturing and prototyping cycles. Submitters are encouraged to highlight existing commercial technologies and details on how their hardware and software solutions can be integrated into industrial DoW facilities. Submitters may also identify optional services, such as operator training, technical support, tooling/stylus consumables, and system maintenance. See the attachment with this notice for additional details.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RSO-AMPO-Automation_and_Robotics-RFI_Robotic_Sheet_Metal_Forming.pdf |
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