Bid guide
How to bid on TEMPEST research and development with the Dept of the Air Force
What the Air Force is buying and why it matters
The Department of the Air Force is seeking research and development for Trusted and Elastic Military Platforms and Electronic Warfare (EW) System Technologies, known as TEMPEST. This effort focuses on improving cybersecurity and open-system architecture for various avionics, sensors, and electronic warfare systems.
This includes technology for manned and unmanned aircraft, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and munitions. The goal is to find new methods to protect these critical systems from cyberattacks and make them more adaptable to future threats and changes. Vendors who can contribute to these areas will find this opportunity relevant.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This is a Request for Information (RFI) that was published on April 10, 2026. The deadline for responses is March 31, 2027, at 2:00 PM ET. This RFI has had several administrative updates, including extensions to the close date and updates to technical points of contact.
At the deadline, the Air Force will stop accepting submissions. It is important to submit your response well before this time to ensure it is received.
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is suitable for firms specializing in professional services related to cybersecurity, avionics, sensor technology, electronic warfare, and open-system architecture development. Companies with expertise in research, development, integration, assessment, evaluation, and demonstration of these technologies for military applications are encouraged to respond.
The Air Force is looking for new and emerging concepts, so firms with innovative solutions in these areas will be a good fit. This includes work on manned, unmanned, autonomous, and remotely piloted vehicles, as well as on-board ISR systems and munitions.
How to access and respond to this RFI
To access the full details of this RFI, you will need to go to the original source on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal's homepage, simply click the link again to go directly to the bid.
You may need to create a free account on the portal to view all associated documents. However, for many bids, an account is not required to view the basic information.
Practical tips for preparing a competitive response
When preparing your response to this RFI, focus on clearly articulating your firm's specific capabilities and experience in cybersecurity, open-system architecture, and advanced avionics or sensor technologies. Highlight any unique methodologies, tools, or techniques you possess that align with the Air Force's stated needs.
Since this is an RFI, the agency is seeking information to shape future procurements. Therefore, provide detailed, yet concise, information about your proposed concepts and how they address the challenges of identifying susceptibilities, mitigating vulnerabilities, and enabling agile capabilities in multi-domain environments. Emphasize how your solutions contribute to mission assurance for Air Force weapon systems and tactical platforms.
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.