Pre-Solicitation Notice - Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract - F35 Cockpit Upgrade
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Air Force Test Center (AFTC/PZZG), Edwards AFB, has issued a presolicitation notice indicating its intent to award a sole-source, Firm-Fixed Price contract to Driven Technologies Inc. for an F-35 Cockpit Upgrade. This action is justified under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) due to the specialized nature of the requirement and the unique capabilities of the intended contractor. The purpose is to modernize the F-35 cockpit architecture to support Block 4 capabilities and address hardware degradation. Responses from other potentially qualified sources are due by June 25, 2026.
Scope of Work
This acquisition requires a specialized F-35 Cockpit Upgrade designed to meet IFAST (445TS/EWJN) mission requirements. Key components include:
- Cockpit structure, internals, and communication systems.
- Displays and Panels (Qty 1), including PEDALS Aerostronics.
- Two F-35 Panoramic Center Displays (PCD) with an 8x20 viewing area and 2560x1024 image resolution (1280x1024 per slide). The new cockpit must achieve configuration parity with existing simulation architecture, replacing a low-fidelity PMIC cockpit that no longer supports critical training and mission rehearsals.
Contract & Timeline
- Opportunity Type: Presolicitation Notice (Intent to Award Sole Source)
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price
- Intended Awardee: Driven Technologies Inc., 1740 E. Wilshire Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705
- NAICS: 336413, "Other Aircraft Part and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing" (Size Standard: $1,250 million)
- Set-Aside: None (Sole Source Justification)
- Response Due: June 25, 2026, NLT 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time
- Published Date: June 5, 2026
Sole Source Justification
The justification for other than full and open competition cites that the current F-35 cockpit architecture (TR-2) has reached its maximum computational capacity, necessitating a transition to the TR-3 modernization suite for Block 4 capabilities. Driven Technologies Inc. is identified as the only responsible source due to the specialized nature of JSE F-35 cockpits architecture. Introducing another vendor would result in substantial cost duplication, delays, and require the government to fund design from scratch, potentially doubling the baseline cost. The legacy mobile demonstrator's parts face Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS), and hardware degradation poses significant risk to operational readiness, with replacement lead times exceeding 12 months.
Submission Requirements
Vendors who believe they can meet the described requirements should submit a complete technical package. This package must provide clear and convincing evidence of their capability and include any special requirements for a commercial contract (e.g., commercial financing, warranty provisions, delivery information). All information must be in writing and contain sufficient detail for government evaluation.
Additional Notes
An Ombudsman has been appointed for this acquisition; concerned parties should first address issues with the Contracting Officer. Responses should be submitted via email to Contract Specialist Carmen Barahona (carmen.barahona@us.af.mil) or Contracting Officer Abel Alcantar (abel.alcantar.1@us.af.mil).