- The Air Force has several active contract opportunities to support missions, ranging from missile defense to AI C2
- The service is also increasingly using non-traditional contracting pathways to accelerate acquisition timelines
- Discover more contract opportunities at the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30!
The U.S. Air Force is ramping up investments in advanced technologies as it works to strengthen warfighter lethality and modernize its defense capabilities across multiple mission areas. In line with executive mandates aimed at speeding up federal procurement, the service is increasingly turning to contracting strategies that accelerate the acquisition process and bring innovative capabilities into the field faster.
Below are several open contract opportunities currently available to industry.
Find out how industry can support airmen and guardians at the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. Leaders from the Air Force, Space Force, NASA and other agencies will be present at the event to discuss the programs critical to maintaining U.S. leadership in air and space. Limited tickets are available here!
What Are the Open Contract Opportunities From USAF Right Now?
1. Golden Dome for America CSO
The Department of War issued a new commercial solutions opening for Golden Dome for America, or GDA, a next-generation system intended to defend the homeland from ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles and other advanced aerial threats.
The CSO, posted on SAM.gov in April, intends to partner with traditional and non-traditional defense contractors or nonprofit research institutions to carry out prototype projects that will directly support the initiative.
Multiple awards are anticipated under the CSO. The Pentagon said it may award other transaction agreements or use Federal Acquisition Regulations System-based methods for procuring services.
Submissions may be evaluated through a one-step process, in which the government awards based solely on a white paper containing sufficient technical and pricing detail, or a two-step process, in which a white paper is followed by a request for a more detailed proposal.
The CSO is open for submissions through April 1, 2031.
Learn about upcoming opportunities to support the development of the next-generation missile and air defense system during the Golden Dome panel at the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. The Golden Dome Part Two: From Prototype to Production – Scaling Integrated Defense at Speed will explore the cost, manufacturing, workforce and capability requirements to operationalize the advanced missile defense system. Register today to secure your seat!
2. AI and Next-Generation Distributed Command and Control BAA
The Air Force Research Laboratory is seeking partners to research and develop artificial intelligence-based command and control capabilities that will help DAF achieve strategic decision advantage.
According to a broad agency announcement issued in December, AFRL is specifically seeking capabilities to effectively distribute C2 in a distributed and contested environment. The effort aligns with DAF’s transition from a monolithic to multiple distributed C2 nodes to enhance agility.
The lab is interested in:
- Application of AI to C2 systems
- Techniques for battle management and orchestration of AI at scale
- Identify adversarial AI use to guide planning and execution
Total funding is approximately $99 million, with individual awards ranging from $200,000 to $20 million.
While the BAA is open and effective through Aug. 30, 2028, interested parties must submit white papers by March 15, 2027, to align with the next funding cycle.
The 2026 Air and Space Summit will host a panel on secure AI deployment at the tactical edge. The From Data to Decision: Advancing Multi-Level Security With AI/ML for the Modern Warfighter panel will feature Col. John Ohlund, director of the Advanced Battle Management System Cross Functional Team, and other speakers from government and industry. Secure your tickets here.
3. Air Force Cryptologic Office CSO
The Air Force Cryptologic Office is looking for new electronic warfare, information operations and electromagnetic digital communications technologies to support its mission. The office posted a CSO calling for mature commercial technologies that can be adapted in novel ways to support a field demonstration within one year.
AFCO oversees intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions in cyberspace and provides integrated multidomain capability to combatant commands and the air component.
The CSO will follow a two-phased submission process. In Phase I, offerors must submit a quad chart and white paper detailing their proposed technology.
Following Phase I evaluation, selected offerors will then be invited to submit a full Phase II proposal, including a statement of work and detailed pricing.
Phase 1 submissions are due on Sept. 30.
4. Secretary of the Air Force Concepts Development and Management CSO
The Secretary of the Air Force Concepts Development and Management office is seeking innovative commercial technologies and services to close capability gaps across multiple mission areas. Under a CSO published in March, the office identified three major program thrust areas of government interest:
- Countering strategic competitors‘ malign influence
- Big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies and processes
- Emerging cyber technologies and methodologies
Respondents are asked to reference the specific thrust area addressed in their submission for a timely government review.
The CSO has an estimated budget of $100 million. White papers are due on Sept. 1.
5. 16th Air Force CSO
The 16th Air Force intends to acquire existing or new technologies to fulfill requirements and close capability gaps through a CSO posted on SAM.gov in March.
Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, the 16th Air Force provides ISR capabilities and oversees cryptologic activities to protect DAF’s information network. The component numbered Air Force also provides critical warfighting expertise and combat support to execute kill chains.
The CSO is open through Sept. 30.
How GovCons Can Discover Opportunities at the 2026 Air and Space Summit
The 2026 Air and Space Summit, set for July 30 at the Hilton McLean in Virginia, is the prime destination for government contractors seeking new opportunities to support the Air Force. The event will convene leaders from the Air and Space Forces, NASA and other agencies to provide information about current and upcoming initiatives, acquisition priorities, and identify capability gaps.
Speakers of the event include acquisition leaders such as Air Force Acting Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition Tom Ainsworth, Acting Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Space-Based Sensing and Targeting Col. Ryan Frazier, and Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Missile Warning and Tracking GP Sandhoo. They are expected to share insights about how industry can support Air Force and Space Force missions.
Major defense firms will also be in attendance to share insights on emerging technologies. The summit’s networking sessions open opportunities for teaming arrangements that advance defense technology development and create stronger capabilities that lead to contract wins. For emerging defense companies, the summit is a chance to connect with prime contractors (as well as agency officials) seeking to build out their capabilities and supply chains.
You only have a few more days to get your tickets, so register today!
