Solicitation
Amendment #10: Common Very Low Frequency Receiver (VLF) Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. FA8735-26-R-B001
Due in 12 days
AI summary Beta
Some details are in the notice's attachments, which this summary didn't read. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center is asking for proposals to design and build a common Very Low Frequency receiver for nuclear command and control aircraft and ground systems. Only companies already holding a Category 2 contract on the AFLCMC/XA IDIQ can bid, and one or two delivery orders may be awarded. Place of performance is listed as Hanscom AFB, MA.
Watch out for
- Limited to existing IDIQ holders. Only Category 2 awardees under the AFLCMC/XA IDIQ can bid, so a business without that contract cannot compete directly (a teaming role would be the only way in).
Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees.
- Controlled and classified work. The package has CUI and classified material, requiring JCP certification and classified-handling facilities.
The solicitation package contains Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
- Many amendments and shifting deadline. This is Amendment #10 and the due date has moved repeatedly, so check the latest amendment before planning.
This amendment updates the Proposal Submission Date to 19 October 2026 at Noon Eastern.
- AI used in proposal evaluation. Amendment #9 says the Government will use AI tools in evaluation, which may affect how proposals should be written.
Inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Evaluation
- No award until funds are available. Award is subject to funding and the Government may cancel without paying offerors' costs.
No award will be made under this solicitation until funds are available.
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Design a common advanced VLF receiver to modernize legacy airborne and ground-based nuclear command and control VLF systems
- Make it Crypto Modernization-2 compliant, new-waveform capable, NSA certified and Open Mission Systems capable
- Rapidly develop a production-ready, fully functional receiver
- Provide the required ancillary support equipment
- Contract type
- Delivery order(s) under an existing IDIQ, under a Fair Opportunity Proposal Request
- Place of performance
- Hanscom AFB, MA, USA
- Contract vehicle
- AFLCMC/XA IDIQ, Category 2 awardees only
- How they'll choose
- Best value; the Government may use AI tools in evaluating proposals
- Offers due
- October 19, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern (as updated by Amendment #10)
What to include when you submit
- The solicitation package contains CUI; access is limited to offerors certified by the Joint Certification Program (JCP)
- Give your CAGE Code and all locations where classified information will be accessed, handled or processed (the notice's deadline for this was 20 April 2026)
- Proposal volumes (Technical - Engineering, Technical - Logistics) are described in the FOPR attachment
You must have
- Must hold a Category 2 award under the AFLCMC/XA IDIQ
All offerors must be awardees under Category 2 of the referenced AFLCMC/XA IDIQ to be eligible for consideration.
- Joint Certification Program (JCP) certification to access the controlled solicitation package
access will be restricted to Offerors who are certified by the Joint Certification Program (JCP)
- A CAGE code and classified-handling locations given to the Contracting Officer
Offerors shall provide their CAGE Code and identify all locations where classified information will be accessed, handled, or processed
Not in the notice text
- Evaluation factors and their weights (in the FOPR Section 6.1)
- How proposals are submitted
- Page limits and proposal format
- Estimated value and period of performance
- Details of the Statement of Work and bidder's library, which are in attachments
- Whether small businesses without the IDIQ can participate as subcontractors
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 19, 2026, 4:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 3, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Solicitation
- FA8735-26-R-B001
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8735 Nuclear NTW Div Afnwc PZHN
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 541715
- Product/service code
- 5821
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Place of performance
- Hanscom Afb, MA, 01731
- Contracting contact
- Timothy Coittimothy.coit@us.af.mil
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Amendment #10 (3 September 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment updates the Proposal Submission Date to 19 October 2026 at Noon Eastern. Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees. Amendment #9 (12 August 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) - Extension of Submission Date and Solicitation of Industry Feedback to All Potential Offerors Regarding a Need for an Additional Potential Due Date Extension. This notice is to formally announce the release of Amendment #9 to the Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization effort, effective 12 August 2026. This amendment enacts the following modifications: Proposal Submission Extension: The deadline for proposal submissions has been officially extended to 18 September 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Evaluation: Section 6.1, "Basis of Award," of the FOPR has been updated to detail the Government's intended use of AI tools as part of the proposal evaluation process. Clarification to Industry Questions: The official response to Question #12 within the "Responses to Questions from Industry Spreadsheet" attachment has been revised. Call for Feedback on Submission Timeline: The Government recognizes that these updates may impact proposal development. To ensure all potential offerors have adequate time to prepare a comprehensive and high-quality proposal, the Government is open to considering an additional extension to the submission deadline. Interested parties who determine that more time is required are encouraged to submit a formal request for an extension, along with the potential reasons for the extension, to include technical areas driving the request for additional extension. All such requests must be submitted in writing to both Points of Contact (POCs) no later than Close of Business on 21 August 2026. Please be advised that eligibility for this award remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees. We look forward to receiving your responses. Amendment #8 (31 July 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment extends the Proposal Submission Date to 24 August 2026 at Noon Eastern to make changes for AI usage. Further information shall be provided on 3 August 2026. Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees. Amendment #7 (15 July 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment included more responses to questions from industry. Question 21 has been added to the Responses to Questions from Industry excel attachment. The Proposal Submission Date remains unchanged on 5 August 2026 at Noon Eastern. Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees. Amendment #6 (8 July 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment included more responses to questions from industry. Questions 18-20 have been added to the Responses to Questions from Industry excel attachment. The Proposal Submission Date remains unchanged on 5 August 2026 at Noon Eastern. Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees Amendment #5 (29 June 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment updates Section 2.0 (Proposal Preparation) of the FOPR document. The Proposal Submission Date remains unchanged on 5 August 2026 at Noon Eastern. Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees. Amendment #4 (8 June 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment updates the Proposal Submission Date to 5 August 2026 at Noon Eastern. Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees. Amendment #3 (28 May 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment updates the Bidder's Library, corrects SOW deficiencies, introduce a new contract clause, and incorporates formal responses to industry's questions. Award eligibility remains restricted to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 awardees. Updates: Industry Q&A: Incorporates responses to questions submitted by Industry. Bidder’s Library (Appendix 3): The Content List has been updated; unclassified documents are now available for download. SOW Incorporated a MIL-STD correction. Model Contract: Added clause RFO 52.222-90. Amendment #2 (19 May 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) has been released. This amendment updates Appendix 3 (Bidder’s Library Content List) of the FOPR and extends the proposal deadline to 8 July at Noon Eastern Time. The Unclassified Documents of the Bidder’s Library are now available to download. Please note that award eligibility remains strictly limited to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 contract awardees. Amendment #1 (4 May 2026) for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver (VLF) Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) is now available. This update incorporates supplemental language into Section 3.4.1 Volume 1 Technical – Engineering and Section 3.4.2 (Volume 1 Technical - Logistics). Please be advised that eligibility for award is strictly limited to AFLCMC/XA IDIQ Category 2 contract awardees. Common Very Low Frequency Receiver (VLF) Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization: - AFNWC/NC3's VLF Enterprise Program Office (EPO) is soliciting proposals from Industry for the design of a "common" advanced VLF (e.g., secure Beyond Line of Site comms of Emergency Action Messages thru all levels of conflict) capability that will modernize all legacy VLF NC3 airborne and ground-based VLF systems and equip future NC3 platforms with a Crypto Modernization-2 (CM2) compliant, New Waveform capable, NSA certified, and Open Mission Systems (OMS) capable "common, one-size-fits all" receiver system. The objective of this program is the rapid development of a production-ready, fully functional very low frequency receiver and its required ancillary support equipment. This Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) outlines the requirements for the submission of proposals for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Program. The Government intends to award to one or two Delivery Orders (DOs) based on best-value determination and the availability of funding. This competitive action is conducted in accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 16.507. As orders under IDIQ contracts are not source selections, DoD source selection procedures do not apply. All ordering will be conducted IAW RFO 16.507 and the AFLCMC/XA IDIQ contract ordering procedures. All offerors must be awardees under Category 2 of the referenced AFLCMC/XA IDIQ to be eligible for consideration. No award will be made under this solicitation until funds are available. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an offeror for any cost. This is the public notice of the solicitation. The solicitation package contains Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and access will be restricted to Offerors who are certified by the Joint Certification Program (JCP). Offerors shall provide their CAGE Code and identify all locations where classified information will be accessed, handled, or processed prior to receipt of classified documentation. This information shall be provided to the Contracting Officer no later than 20 April 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
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