Bid guide
How to bid on Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Enterprise Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)
What the AFRL is buying and why it matters to you
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is seeking innovative technologies and services to meet its research and development needs. This Enterprise Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) broadly defines the areas of interest for the AFRL.
Individual opportunities, called Spirals, will be released separately. These Spirals will solicit specific innovative technologies and services. Awards may be fixed-price contracts or prototype agreements. This is an opportunity for businesses with new or newly applied technologies, processes, or methods to work with the Department of Defense.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This overarching CSO was published on September 08, 2026. The deadline for this opportunity is April 30, 2030, at 5:00 PM ET. This is the closing date for the overall CSO framework.
Individual Spiral solicitations, which are specific bidding opportunities under this CSO, will be posted separately on SAM.gov. You should monitor SAM.gov for these individual Spiral releases and their specific deadlines.
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is suitable for firms that can provide innovative technologies, processes, or methods, or new applications of existing ones. The work falls under the professional services category.
Foreign participation is not authorized for this opportunity. Businesses should be prepared to offer solutions that meet the definition of 'innovative' as outlined by the AFRL.
How to respond
To access the opportunity, you will need to click 'View original source' on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal's homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid.
You may need a free account to view documents, though this is not always required. Once you have accessed the main CSO, you will need to refer to the enclosed Spiral Tracker for active Spiral solicitation numbers and search for those specific solicitations on SAM.gov to respond to individual opportunities.
Practical tips for preparing a competitive response
Carefully review the 'Areas of Interest' attachment to understand the specific needs of the AFRL. Ensure your proposed technology or service clearly meets the definition of 'innovative' as described in the solicitation.
When individual Spirals are released, pay close attention to their specific requirements and deadlines. Tailor your proposal to address the exact needs of each Spiral. Clearly articulate how your solution provides a new technology, process, method, or a new application of an existing one. Focus on demonstrating the value and impact of your innovation to the AFRL's mission.
See the live bid — deadline, agency details, and how to respond
Dates and requirements can change via addenda; always verify on the bid page and at the original source before responding.
View this bid on BiddingSimpleThis guide was prepared by BiddingSimple from the solicitation’s public posting. It is not official guidance from DEPT of the Air Force; the original posting controls.