Air Force Cryptologic Office (AFCO) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The Air Force Cryptologic Office (AFCO) is actively seeking innovative commercial technologies to support U.S. Air Force cyberspace intelligence, electromagnetic warfare, information operations, and multi-domain operations. This Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is designed to move fast, fund mature technologies applied in novel ways, and support field demonstrations—ideally within one year.

How much funding would I receive?

AFCO expects to make individual awards ranging from:

• $50,000 to $50,000,000 over the full period of performance

These amounts are not strict limits. Proposals over $15,000,000 must include phased options that allow for incremental funding. All awards are subject to the availability of funds.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may be used to develop, demonstrate, test, or deploy innovative commercial technologies aligned with AFCO’s mission areas. Proposals must address one or more of the following capability areas:

AFCO-CM-001, ELECTROMAGNETIC WARFARE (EW)

• Electromagnetic attack, support, and protection

• EW data fusion and advanced signal processing

• Cognitive EW and AI/ML-enabled techniques

• EW battle management and waveform generation

AFCO-CM-002, INFORMATION OPERATIONS (IO)

• Technologies that affect adversary decision-making

• Capabilities targeting informational, physical, or cognitive dimensions

• Generative AI or autonomous AI applied to the information environment

AFCO-CM-003, Electromagnetic Digital Communications

• Free-space and space-based digital communications

• Access, denial, disruption, degradation, deception, or destruction of communications

• Novel approaches emphasizing extensibility over single-purpose solutions

AFCO-CM-004, Multi-Domain Innovation

• Integrated effects across EW, cyberspace, ISR, and information operations

• Automated and synchronized multi-domain operational capabilities

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

In addition to funding, successful companies may receive:

• Direct engagement with Air Force technical and operational stakeholders

• Opportunities for follow-on contracts or Other Transactions (OTs)

• Potential multi-year periods of performance (up to five years)

• A clear pathway from prototype to operational relevancest Proposal and SOW).

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Phase I: Quad Chart and White Paper may be submitted at any time before September 30, 2026

• Phase II: Only by invitation from the Contracting Officer

• Proposal preparation window (Phase II): 30 calendar days from invitation

• Expected contract start: Approximately 90 days after proposal submission

Period of performance:

• Typically 1–5 years, with exceptions considered based on maturity or need

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided by the Air Force Cryptologic Office (AFCO), Cyberspace ISR and Multi-Domain Innovation Division, under the U.S. Department of the Air Force.

Awards may be issued as:

• Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts

• Fixed Price Incentive (FPI) contracts

• Other Transactions (OTs) under 10 U.S.C. §2371bal Medicines).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S.-based commercial companies

• Small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors

• Companies offering commercial items, technologies, or services

To receive an award, companies must:

• Be registered in SAM.gov

• Be considered responsible under FAR Part 9.1

• Meet any security clearance requirements if proposing classified work

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Successful proposals typically:

• Apply mature technologies in novel ways

• Demonstrate clear relevance to AFCO mission needs

• Support field demonstrations within one year (ideally)

• Offer measurable improvements to operational effectiveness

• Align with open architecture approaches (e.g., SOSA, OMS/UCI, modular software/hardware)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Yes. Key restrictions include:

• All submissions must be commercial solutions

• Classified submissions require prior coordination

• Proposals exceeding page limits will not be evaluated

• Intellectual property assertions must follow DFARS requirements

• AFCO may partially fund, incrementally fund, or decline any proposal

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Typical preparation times:

• Phase I (Quad Chart + White Paper): 1–3 weeks

• Phase II (if invited): 30 calendar days

The Phase II submission includes a technical proposal, statement of work, and detailed pricing.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:

• Rapidly assess fit against AFCO’s priority areas

• Shape your Quad Chart and White Paper for evaluator clarity

• Position your technology for Phase II invitation

• Translate technical capabilities into mission-aligned value propositions

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Fractional support is $300 per hour.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

DIU - Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

DIU’s Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) solicitation PROJ00637 — Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) seeks innovative commercial solutions to enable rapid deployment and autonomous operation of large numbers of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from containerized platforms. This opportunity closes February 17, 2026 at 23:59:59 US Eastern Time — urgent submission recommended.

How much funding would I receive?

The exact award amount is not specified online. DIU typically awards prototype contracts under Other Transaction (OT) authority, with budgets determined during negotiation based on solution scope and DoD partner need. Follow-on production contracts may be possible if the prototype is successful.

What could I use the funding for?

This solicitation is looking for solutions that:

• Enable rapid, large-scale UAS deployment from containerized platforms.

• Automate storage, launch, recovery, and refit for multi-agent systems.

• Provide rapid transport and emplacement using military/commercial vehicles.

• Support resilient command and control interfaces and open architecture integration.

• Reduce human operator burden and minimize required crew size.

You’d be expected to demonstrate capabilities within ~90 days of award.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Potential follow-on production contracts without additional competition under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 if the prototype succeeds.

• A fast-moving path into Department of Defense fielding and contracting.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Proposal Deadline: February 17, 2026 @ 23:59:59 US/Eastern.

• DIU typically reviews solution briefs first, then invites selected teams to pitch/submit full proposals (often within ~30 days).

• Prototype projects are generally expected to be demonstrable within ~90 days of award.

Where does this funding come from?

DIU is part of the U.S. Department of Defense, focused on accelerating commercial tech adoption for defense applications. Funding is administered under Other Transaction (OT) authority — a flexible contracting approach outside traditional FAR rules.

Who is eligible to apply?

U.S. and international vendors are eligible to respond.

1. To use an OT agreement, requirements of 10 U.S.C. § 4022 must be satisfied (e.g., contributions by nontraditional defense contractors, small business participants, or cost sharing).

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive submissions will:

• Clearly align with rapid autonomous UAS deployment at scale.

• Demonstrate modularity, open architecture, and operational utility.

• Show ability to reduce human operator burden and handle austere environments.

• Present clear pathway to meet the ~90-day demonstration target.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Compliance with Section 889 of the John S. McCain NDAA is required for award.

1. IP is generally retained by the company, with negotiated DoD use rights.

2. OT agreements have specific cost-sharing and contractor status rules under 10 U.S.C. § 4022.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• Solution briefs are typically ~5 pages (or ~15 slides) and can be prepared in 1–3 weeks with focused effort.

• Full proposals (if invited) will require detailed technical and project execution plans.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can assist with:

• Crafting solution briefs that clearly align with DIU’s mission and review criteria.

• Developing full OT proposals with technical, cost, and operational plans.

• Strategizing for rapid prototype demonstration and DoD transition pathways.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Fractional support is $300 per hour.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

DIU - Sensors and Seekers For Fire Control

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

Act now — Responses due February 13, 2026 at 23:59:59 US/Eastern for Deorbit as a Service, a high-priority Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) to solve a strategic orbital debris and space sustainability challenge. This solicitation funds scalable autonomous technologies that can deorbit unprepared satellites safely and reliably, reducing orbital congestion and enabling future space operations. This is a rare fast-paced opportunity to partner with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) using flexible Other Transaction Authority with potential follow-on production contracts without further competition — massive market potential.

You’ll submit a Solution Brief that directly addresses specific detection, tracking, and discrimination capabilities using commercial sensing technologies. If selected, DIU can award a Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement and potentially a follow-on production contract if the prototype is successful.

How much funding would I receive?

DIU does not publicly list a fixed award size on this solicitation page. Funding amounts for DIU prototype OT agreements vary based on technical scope and negotiated project budgets with selected vendors.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may be used to develop and demonstrate prototypes that meet the Government’s technical needs, including:

A. Sensor System Development

• LIDAR/LADAR, EO/IR, RF, or combined modalities that enable high-fidelity detection, tracking, and discrimination under extreme conditions.

B. Fire Control Enablement

• Systems capable of providing real-time, fire-control-quality tracking data (range, angular resolution, update rates) for engagements against ICBMs or hypersonic glide vehicles.

C. Prototyping & Demonstrations

• Bench-top or lab demonstrations within ~6–9 months.

• On-orbit demonstrations as a hosted payload within ~12–24 months (if applicable).

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Yes. Commercial companies participating through DIU can gain:

• Access to DoD customers and mission partners who care about real outcomes.

• A potential follow-on production contract without a new competition after satisfactory prototype completion (per 10 U.S.C. §4022(f)).

• Exposure to broader government adoption via Success Memos that other DoD entities can use.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Application Deadline:
  🔹 February 17, 2026 at 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time

  Typical DIU CSO timeline:

  • Solution Brief submission → evaluation

  • ~30 days to get invited to pitch if selected

  • Contracts negotiated and awarded typically within ~60–90 days after selection (varies).

  Prototype execution milestones generally include lab demos within 6–9 months and potential on-orbit demos within 12–24 months, as outlined by this project.

Where does this funding come from?

The funding is provided through the Department of Defense (DoD) via the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) using its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process under Other Transaction (OT) Authority (10 U.S.C. 4022).

Who is eligible to apply?

U.S. and international vendors with relevant sensor and seeker technologies.

• Companies must satisfy OT authority requirements per 10 U.S.C. 4022(d) (e.g., participation of nontraditional firms, small business involvement, or non-government funding share).

No specific size, revenue, or TRL ceiling is listed, but solutions must be technically relevant and commercially viable.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Winners will propose solutions that demonstrate:

• High-performance sensing and discrimination across threat scenarios.

• Commercially scalable designs (design for manufacturability and low unit cost).

• Plan for integration into aerospace or space platforms.

• Capacity to meet aggressive prototyping timelines.

Companies offering modular, commercially producible systems that leverage dual-use technology trends have a competitive edge

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Must comply with 10 USC 4022 OT authority requirements for award eligibility.

• All submissions must certify no Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) unless expressly allowed.

• Awarded agreements will include compliance language for Section 889 of the 2019 NDAA.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Most DIU Solution Briefs are 5 pages or ~15 slides and should specifically address the challenge and key solution attributes. Preparation time depends on your level of readiness but planning 2–6 weeks to align technical, programmatic, and compliance content is reasonable.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support you to:

• Translate DIU requirements into a winning Solution Brief that aligns with your tech and DoD’s need.

• Craft compelling narrative for detection, tracking, and fire-control relevance.

• Map technical milestones and prototyping costs for rapid award.

• Prepare compliant attachments (e.g., SAM/SAM.gov, CAGE, IP/Section 889 compliance).

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Fractional support is $300 per hour.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.