Executive Summary
The Air Force Research Laboratory wants manufacturing technology that makes Air Force systems faster and cheaper to build and repair, and gets it onto the factory or depot floor. Send a five-page white paper any time before 4:00 PM Eastern on June 22, 2031.
It is a two-step process. AFRL reviews white papers first and asks for a full proposal only when one meets its needs. The program expects about $499 million in total awards, with no single award expected to exceed $50 million.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: Air Force Research Laboratory, Foundational Technologies Directorate (AFRL/RE), Manufacturing, Industrial Technologies and Energy Division, Wright-Patterson AFB
- Opportunity: Manufacturing Research and Technology Development Open Period, issued under the RE Multiple Authority Announcement FA2394-24-R-B003
- Solicitation Number: FA2394-26-R-B004
- Award Vehicle: Contracts (firm fixed price or cost plus fixed fee are expected), Other Transactions for research or prototypes, grants or cooperative agreements
- Funding: About $499 million total across fiscal years 2026 to 2030 (roughly $100 million a year). Individual awards are not expected to exceed $50 million.
- Period of Performance: 12 to 40 months, plus 3 months for reporting
- Due Date: White papers accepted until 4:00 PM Eastern, June 22, 2031
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before you send a white paper.
What Is the AFRL Manufacturing Open Period?
It is a five-year open window where AFRL accepts manufacturing research ideas tied to Air Force systems. Instead of fixed topics with short deadlines, its Statement of Objectives lists the manufacturing technologies and system areas AFRL wants to invest in, and companies can send a white paper whenever they have a strong idea.
What Problem Is the Air Force Trying to Solve?
Building and sustaining aircraft and weapons takes too long and costs too much. AFRL wants digital, agile and automated manufacturing that strengthens the industrial base, makes new systems affordable and moves quickly from the lab to production lines and repair depots.
Priority Capability Areas: What AFRL Is Looking For
- Future factory: process monitoring and control, nondestructive inspection, augmented and virtual reality for manufacturing and sustainment, and robotics and automation.
- Digital enterprise: designing for manufacturing and sustainment earlier, agile digital supply chains, digital thread and digital twin, and cybersecurity for manufacturing.
- Additive manufacturing: printed parts and processes across Air Force systems.
- Advanced concepts: metals processing, thermal and environmental barrier coatings, composite fabrication, EO/IR and RF materials, sustainment, and batteries and energy storage.
- Attritable and low-cost systems: propulsion, aerostructures, sensors and communications, and low-cost space systems.
- Networked C3: digital phased arrays and wide bandgap semiconductors.
- Hypersonic strike: ceramic and ultra-high temperature composites and the inspection methods to build them.
Funding and Award Terms
AFRL estimates $499 million in total program funding, about $100 million a year from fiscal year 2026 through 2030, with multiple awards and no single award expected above $50 million. Funds are not available yet, and no award will be made until they are. AFRL expects mostly firm fixed price or cost plus fixed fee contracts, but it can also use Other Transactions, grants or cooperative agreements. Cost reimbursement contracts require an adequate accounting system.
Eligibility
- Who can apply: this is an unrestricted solicitation, and small businesses are encouraged to propose.
- Foreign-owned firms: must notify the contracting officer before deciding to respond, and restrictions may apply.
- Security: some efforts may require up to a SECRET facility clearance and safeguarding.
- Export control: work may fall under ITAR or EAR, and a certified DD Form 2345 may be required with the proposal.
- Research security: AFRL runs a security risk review and may ask for a mitigation plan.
How to Apply
- Read the Statement of Objectives: pick the technology and system area your work fits (Attachment 1).
- Write a white paper: five pages maximum, following Chapter 4 of the RE MAA Industry Guide.
- Email it: send it to the contracting specialist, Tristan Lyle (tristan.lyle@us.af.mil).
- Confirm it was sent: follow up with the contracting officer, Elizabeth McNutt, and the program manager, Andrew Soine.
- Talk early: AFRL encourages conversations with its points of contact before proposals are due.
What Happens After You Submit?
- White paper review: AFRL reviews it under Chapter 5 of the RE MAA Industry Guide.
- Request for proposal: if your white paper meets Air Force needs, you receive a formal request with its own proposal due date.
- Proposal and security review: includes key personnel forms and the research security risk review.
- Award: timing varies, and awards depend on funds being available.
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits companies whose product or process makes aerospace parts faster, cheaper or more reliable to build or repair: composites, coatings, inspection, robotics, additive manufacturing, digital twin and supply chain software. It is less suited to early science with no clear path to a production line or depot.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For open Air Force calls like the AFRL Manufacturing Open Period, we help you:
- Map your process to the right AFRL focus area and system domain
- Write a five-page white paper that shows a clear path to the factory or depot floor
- Choose between a contract and an Other Transaction approach
- Prepare the security, key personnel and cost attachments
- Line up related paths such as AFWERX SBIR and ManTech programs
Plan Your AFRL Manufacturing Submission
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline?
White papers are accepted until 4:00 PM Eastern on June 22, 2031.
What do I submit first?
A white paper of five pages or fewer. AFRL asks for a full proposal only if the white paper meets its needs.
Where do I send it?
Email the contracting specialist, Tristan Lyle, then confirm with the contracting officer, Elizabeth McNutt, and the program manager, Andrew Soine.
How much funding is available?
About $499 million in total from fiscal year 2026 through 2030. No single award is expected to exceed $50 million.
What kinds of awards are possible?
Mostly firm fixed price or cost plus fixed fee contracts, plus Other Transactions, grants or cooperative agreements.
How long do projects run?
Between 12 and 40 months, plus 3 months for reporting.
Is it only for big defense primes?
No. It is unrestricted, and small businesses are encouraged to propose.
Do I need a security clearance?
Some efforts may require up to a SECRET facility clearance. Many will not, so ask the points of contact about your area.
Can BW&CO help with an AFRL Manufacturing submission?
Yes. We help teams pick the right focus area, write a five-page white paper that shows a clear path to the factory or depot floor, and build the full proposal if AFRL asks for one. Book a call with our team.
Source: AFRL Manufacturing Research and Technology Development Open Period FA2394-26-R-B004 on SAM.gov