SAF/CDM Commercial Solutions Opening and Specific Calls

Quick Summary

The Secretary of the Air Force Concepts Development and Management (SAF/CDM) has issued a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) (FA7146-21-S-C001) for Defense-Related Activities. This CSO seeks innovative commercial items, technologies, and services to fulfill requirements, close capability gaps, and offer technological advancements. It operates under a two-step process, starting with White Paper submissions. The general CSO is open for White Papers until September 1, 2026. A specific call, Call A002 for AF/A1 Agile Refactoring and Integration (AR&I), has a White Paper due date of April 25, 2026.

Purpose & Objectives

This Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), initiated under the Defense Commercial Solutions Offering Pilot Program, aims to competitively select innovative commercial solutions or new capabilities. SAF/CDM is interested in solutions that address mission or technical interests, particularly those detailed in the CSO attachment. Call A002 specifically targets modernization of the Air Force's fragmented HR enterprise, which currently suffers from outdated applications, data silos, and high sustainment costs.

Scope of Work (Call A002 - AF/A1 Agile Refactoring and Integration)

Call A002 focuses on modernizing the AF/A1 HR landscape. Key areas include:

• Application Refactoring & Modernization: Re-architecting legacy systems into secure, sustainable SaaS portfolios.
• DevSecOps: Implementing CI/CD pipelines for rapid, secure software delivery.
• Human-Centered Design (HCD) & Discovery: Employing user-centric methods for requirements and technical blueprinting.
• Enterprise Integration & API Development: Building reusable APIs for system connectivity and unified data.
• Data Migration & Validation: Securely migrating data to modern cloud environments. Responses can address singular or multiple focus areas.

Submission Process

This CSO follows a two-step process:

1. White Paper Submission: Contractors may submit White Papers at any time during the Open Period (until September 1, 2026). For Call A002, the deadline is April 25, 2026. Submissions must include a Cover Page, Technical/Management section, and Rough Order of Magnitude. The email subject line must include the CSO number (FA7146-21-S-C001) and the specific call number, if applicable. Multiple submissions are permitted.
2. Proposal Submission: Following White Paper review, the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) may invite selected contractors to submit a full Technical/Management and Price proposal. A proposal will not be considered without a prior White Paper and PCO invitation.

Contract Details & Eligibility

• Type: Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), potentially leading to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) contracts or Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).
• Awards: Multiple awards are anticipated.
• Set-Aside: This is a full and open acquisition. White Papers will be considered from all interested vendors, including small businesses and non-traditional contractors. Foreign participation is allowed.
• Security (for Call A002): Solutions must use DAF-authorized hosting and comply with DoW Impact Level (IL) 5+ requirements, with scalability to IL6. DD Form 254 guidance applies.

Timeline

• CSO Open Period for White Papers: Initiation to September 1, 2026.
• Call A002 White Paper Due: April 25, 2026, at 4:00 PM Washington, DC Local Time.
• Overall Ordering Period: Initiation to September 30, 2026.
• Overall Response Date: October 1, 2026.

Points of Contact

• Procuring Contracting Officer: Kevin Adams (kevin.adams.20@us.af.mil, 301-203-4766)
• Program Manager: Ms. Catherine Anderson (catherine.anderson.5@us.af.mil)