Prometheus Flame - Request for Information

SOL #: FA8694-26-S-8888Special Notice

Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSE

Dept Of The Air Force

Place of Performance

Dayton, OH

NAICS

No NAICS code specified

PSC

No PSC code specified

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/68a071f69a1c4ec883b8392c5ae040b1/view

Timeline

Posted

Apr 8, 2026

Last Updated

Apr 13, 2026

Action Date

Apr 17, 2026, 9:00 PM

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 Department of the Air Force (DAF) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the Prometheus Flame Challenge, seeking feedback on a draft Request for Solutions. This initiative aims to establish an open, modular, and competitive ecosystem for Government-owned, open-source software standards for Autonomy and Mission Systems. The challenge offers prizes and a pathway to long-term strategic partnerships through Prototype and Production Other Transaction (OT) Agreements. Feedback is requested by April 17, 2026.

Purpose & Vision

The DAF is transforming software development for Autonomy and Mission Systems, moving away from proprietary systems. The Prometheus Flame Challenge seeks to build a vibrant, open, and competitive ecosystem around Government-owned, open-source software standards. This effort will be guided by two foundational Government Reference Architectures (GRAs) – the Agile Mission Suite GRA (AMS GRA) and Autonomy GRA (A-GRA) – which are anticipated to be publicly released around June 2026.

Opportunity & Pathway

This is more than a prize competition; it is a pathway to long-term strategic partnerships and recurring funding. The program features flexible, 3-6 month competition phases, each concluding with a "fly-off" demonstration where top teams earn cash prizes. Offerors can enter at any phase. The primary goal is to identify long-term strategic partners, with the intent to award follow-on Prototype and Production Other Transaction (OT) Agreements (under 10 U.S.C. § 4025 and 10 U.S.C. § 4022) to align solutions with the DAF's long-term vision, providing a recurring funding stream.

Key Requirements

Solutions must include:

Open-Source Implementations: AMS GRA and A-GRA compliant, demonstrable on Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware, and released under a permissive open-source license.
Turn-Key Projects: End-to-end examples demonstrating GRA compliance (e.g., "hello world," communications, data fusion).
Public-Facing Resource: A comprehensive package including source code repository, public website, getting-started guides, documentation, and instructional videos.

Eligibility & Participation

Participation is invited from a broad spectrum of innovators, including open-source software developers, non-traditional defense contractors, commercial software companies, start-ups, academic institutions, and traditional defense contractors. The competition is open to industry and academia with U.S. or U.S. ally-based headquarters and ownership.

Submission & Evaluation

The challenge is a continuous, multi-phase competition.

Initial Qualification (Step 1): Requires a 5-page white paper, AMS GRA/A-GRA compliance report, and a demonstration video. Deadline is NLT two months after the final solicitation is posted.
Fly Off (Step 2): Requires source code, CI/CD pipelines, documentation, compliance reports, a 5-page Work Plan, and a price proposal. Deadline is NLT 24 hours prior to the Fly Off.
Evaluation Criteria: Solutions will be assessed on Mission Performance, Usability & Onboarding, Technical Implementation & Standards Compliance, and Risk.