Strategic Partnering for Acquisition Development (SPAD) Industry Week Announcement

The Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), under the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Test Center, is hosting the inaugural Strategic Partnering for Acquisition Development (SPAD) Industry Week scheduled for November 17-21, 2025, at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, Tennessee. This Special Notice announces an industry engagement event designed to facilitate communication between government and potential contractors. The AEDC operates multiple facilities across the United States, including locations in Tennessee, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, and Utah. This event represents the first coordinated industry outreach effort by AEDC to communicate acquisition and contracting opportunities to interested vendors and service providers.

The primary purpose of SPAD Industry Week is to educate industry partners on conducting business with AEDC, enhance potential offerors' understanding of AEDC's mission and requirements, and introduce upcoming projects anticipated for execution in fiscal year 2026 and beyond. Interested contractors must complete registration by 10:00 AM Central Time on October 6, 2025, through the provided online registration link and must maintain an active SAM registration for eligibility. While in-person attendance is mandatory with no virtual participation allowed, foreign participation is restricted for certain Joint Certification Program topics. The event will feature Distribution D sessions covering specific projects and mission areas, site tours of Arnold AFB, networking opportunities, and public capability briefings. Contractors should note that CMMC certification will be required for future solicitations except for commercial off-the-shelf items, and the government will not reimburse any vendor costs associated with event participation or preparation.