Sources Sought
RFI - Contractor Support Approaches for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. FA862927R6001
Due in 19 days
AI summary Beta
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (Wright-Patterson AFB) is asking industry how it would provide contractor support (sustainment) for a fleet of small unmanned aircraft systems. This is a Request for Information for market research only, not a solicitation, and responses are due 28 October 2026 by email. The attached RFI describes the fleet as offensive small one-way attack drones.
Watch out for
- Scope wording differs between notice and attachment. The notice and title say 'small unmanned aircraft systems', but the attached RFI says offensive small one-way attack systems, which may bring export, security or policy limits that the notice does not describe.
Contractor Support Approaches for Offensive Small One-Way
- Very broad support scope. Answers must address all twelve support elements and contested, forward-deployed conditions, which is a lot for a small firm to cover in 10 pages.
All proposed sustainment approaches and life-cycle activities must address support across the twelve (12)
- RFI only, no commitment to buy. Responding costs your own time and does not guarantee a future solicitation or award.
It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP),
Read from the notice and 1 attachment.
- Request for Information - ICS for Small UAS.pdf
Full brief
What they want
- A written response describing how you would sustain an operational fleet of small unmanned aircraft
- Cover all twelve Integrated Product Support Elements (such as supply support, maintenance, technical data, training, sustaining engineering)
- Robust repair and technical field services at the point of need
- Rapid supply chain integration and recovery
- Surge capability to keep aircraft available as operations change
- Ideas for splitting support between expendable one-way airframes and reusable ground control and launch equipment
- Contract type
- Not a contract: Request for Information (market research only)
- How they'll choose
- No evaluation. This RFI is only for market research and planning.
- Offers due
- 28 October 2026 at 5:00pm EST (notice shows 2026-10-28 17:00 -04:00)
- How to submit
- Email to daniel.harkins@us.af.mil (Contracting Officer), sean.sikora@us.af.mil and daniel.schott@us.af.mil (Logistics Management Specialists), and aaron.sorrell.1@us.af.mil (Program Manager)
- Page limits
- No more than 10 pages, excluding the cover page and company profile
What to include when you submit
- Searchable Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word, 11-point font or larger, 1-inch margins
- Include CAGE code, UEI number, business size or status under the recommended NAICS code, and primary point of contact
- Clearly mark all proprietary or competition-sensitive information
Not in the notice text
- Fleet size, aircraft type and quantities are not stated
- Where the work would be performed is not stated
- Contract type, length and dollar value of any future acquisition are not stated
- Whether any small business set-aside is planned is not stated (the notice shows none)
- Security, export-control or facility clearance requirements are not stated
- The attachment says 5:00pm EST while the notice lists a -04:00 offset (Eastern daylight time); confirm the exact time with the Contracting Officer
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 28, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 7, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- FA862927R6001
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8629 AFLCMC Wisk Sof/PR
- NAICS
- 336411
- Product/service code
- 1550
- Business type
- Aircraft, ship & vehicle parts
- Contracting contact
- Dan Harkinsdaniel.harkins@us.af.mil
Full notice text from SAM.gov
The United States (US) Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces (ISR & SOF) Asymmetric Warfare Division (AFLCMC/WIS) is conducting market research via this Request for Information (RFI) to identify future sustainment approaches. The objective is to provide highly agile, comprehensive contractor support for an operational fleet of small unmanned aircraft systems. Interested parties should refer to the attached pdf. for additional information and instructions.
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