Bid guide
How to bid on Commercial and Economic Research and Innovation (CERI) for the Dept of the Air Force
What the Air Force is buying and why it matters
The Department of the Air Force, specifically the Office of Commercial and Economic Analysis (OCEA), is seeking innovative commercial solutions or new capabilities for commercial and economic research and innovation. This includes technologies, processes, or methods that are new, or new applications of existing ones.
This is an opportunity for businesses to provide solutions that fulfill OCEA requirements, close existing capability gaps, or offer technological advancements. The Air Force can make multiple awards under this program.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
The Air Force will accept initial white papers until September 01, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. Awards can be made until September 30, 2026. This is a two-step process.
First, you submit a white paper. If your white paper is selected, you will then be invited to submit a full proposal. You cannot submit a full proposal without first having your white paper selected and receiving an Invitation to Propose (ItP).
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is suitable for firms that can offer innovative commercial items, technologies, or services related to commercial and economic research. It is a full and open acquisition, meaning white papers from all interested vendors, including small businesses and non-traditional contractors, will be considered.
The Air Force is looking for solutions that are new as of the proposal submission date, or new applications of existing technologies, processes, or methods.
How to respond to this solicitation
To respond, you must first submit a white paper. White papers should include a Cover Page, a Technical/Management section, and a Rough Order of Magnitude. You can submit multiple white papers.
White papers and proposals must be submitted to the Contracting POCs only, as specified in the solicitation attachment and within any amendments or calls. The primary contact for this CSO is Jennifer Villarreal, and you should also cc [email protected] for white paper submissions.
Practical tips for preparing a competitive response
Focus your white paper on clearly demonstrating the innovative nature of your solution. Highlight how your technology, process, or method is new, or how it represents a new application of an existing one, directly addressing OCEA's objectives or capability gaps.
Ensure your white paper is concise and directly addresses the technical and management aspects, along with a realistic rough order of magnitude. Since this is a two-step process, a strong white paper is crucial for advancing to the full proposal stage. Pay close attention to any specific calls or amendments issued under this CSO, as they may request targeted white papers for specific objectives.
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.