Bid guide
How to bid on CNECTS IT services for the Department of the Air Force
What the Air Force is planning to buy
The Department of the Air Force is exploring whether to combine communications, network engineering, cybersecurity, and information technology services across Peterson, Schriever, and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force installations in Colorado. The estimated requirement is $330 million.
This is a draft notice, not a solicitation. The government says vendors must not submit white papers yet; any sent in response to the draft will not be reviewed, evaluated, or kept for the official CSO.
Dates and what to expect
The notice is published October 1, 2026. The government anticipates releasing the official CNECTS Commercial Solutions Opening on or about October 15, 2026. That schedule and the draft materials may change before the official release.
The listed deadline is December 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET. The notice says the official CSO will provide the applicable Areas of Interest, submission instructions, and white paper due dates, so check those official materials to confirm what is due and when.
Who this opportunity may suit
This opportunity may interest firms that provide communications, network engineering, cybersecurity, or IT services, including companies considering a role on a team. The notice describes a planned consolidation across three Colorado Space Force installations.
Use the draft materials to assess whether your capabilities fit the stated Areas of Interest. The notice does not establish final requirements or guarantee an award.
How to review the opportunity
Click “View original source” above to open the opportunity on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal homepage, click it again to go to the bid. A free account may be needed to view documents, though it is not needed for every opportunity.
Review the draft CSO and its attachments, including Attachment 6, Areas of Interest. Do not submit a white paper in response to the draft. The notice invites questions, comments, and recommended clarifications to the contracting officer at [email protected].
Prepare carefully while the CSO is in draft
Use the draft to identify which Areas of Interest may match your services and what information the anticipated submission process and evaluation framework may require. Keep track of open questions, but verify details against the official CSO because the government may revise the approach, instructions, evaluation, or schedule.
Before preparing a response, read the final instructions closely, confirm the applicable Area of Interest and due date, and follow the required format and submission steps. Do not treat the listed deadline as a confirmed white paper deadline until the official CSO specifies it.
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.