AFWERX Challenge Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)
This AFWERX Challenge CSO funds nontraditional solutions and prototypes for specific Air Force challenge topics such as expeditionary basing, aviation support equipment, UAS power generation, air-to-air refueling mechanism design, and mixed-reality goggles.
⚑ Federal contract CSO/Combined Synopsis-Solicitation, not a grant. · Individual calls under the CSO have their own topic-specific instructions and deadlines. · University applicants are not directly eligible as prime contractors under this notice as characterized; competition is for contracted solutions to Air Force challenges.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 60 good | funds commercialization; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
| IPPRA | 15 none | university cannot apply directly (ineligible) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 15 none | university cannot apply directly (ineligible) |
Description
This CSO is for the AFWERX Challenge Program. Individual Calls against the CSO will be posted under this notice, as well as afwerxchallenge.com. 08/05/2025: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 001 ACE Common Aviation Support Equipment Challenge Updated Attachment "07.29.2025 ACE Common Aviation Support Equipment Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled “02.27.2023 A2RM ACE Common Aviation Support Equipment Challenge”. A summary of changes is included in the BLUF. 08/05/2025: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 005 A2RM Design Challenge Updated Attachment "08.05.2025 A2RM Design Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled “01.24.2024 A2RM Design Challenge Update”. A summary of changes is included in the BLUF. 08/05/2025: Updated attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001-003 UAS Power Generation Challenge Updated attachment "07.29.2025 UAS Power Generation Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "07.19.2023 UAS Power Generation Challenge". A summary of changes is included in the BLUF. 08/05/2025: Updated attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001-004 Expedient Basing Part 2 Challenge" Updated attachment "07.29.2025 Expedient Basing Challenge Part 2” supersedes previously posted attachment titled "07.11.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge Part 2". A summary of changes is included in the BLUF. 8/05/2025: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 006 Super Goggles Challenge Updated Attachment "07.29.2025 Super Goggles Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "05.01.2024 Super Goggles Challenge ". A summary of changes is included in the BLUF. 08/05/2025: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 002 Expedient Basing Challenge Updated attachment "07.29.2025 Expedient Basing Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "01.15.2025 Expedient Basing Challenge." A summary of changes is included in the BLUF. 01/15/2025: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 002 Expedient Basing Challenge Updated attachment "01.15.2025 Expedient Basing Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "07.20.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge." Updates in document contained in Government Contracting Terms and Conditions. 05/01/2024: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 006 Super Goggles Challenge Updated Attachment "05.01.2024 Super Goggles Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment. This document updates the non-Government personnel and removes Spiral 1 Networking Opportunities. 03/12/2024: FA2280-23-S-C001-006 Super Goggles Challenge This Call is issued under the CSO. All details regarding submission and evaluation criterion are provided in the attached document titled "03.15.2024 Super Goggles Challenge" https://afwerxchallenge.com/emergingtechnology/mixed-reality-xr-super-goggle-challenge/overview 01/24/2024: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 005 A2RM Design Challenge Updated Attachment "01.24.2024 A2RM Design Challenge Update" supersedes previously posted attachment. Updates to the non-Government personnel provided in this update. 11/29/2023: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 005 A2RM Design Challenge Updated attachment "11.29.2023 A2RM Design Challenge Update 3" supersedes previously posted attachment titled “11-20-2023 A2RM Design Challenge Update.” Please note the due date is extended to 01.04.2023. 11/21/2023: Updated Attachments for FA2280-23-S-C001 005 A2RM Design Challenge Updated attachment “11-20-2023 A2RM Design Challenge Update2” supersedes previously posted attachments titled "11.06.2023 A2RM Design Challenge Update" and "10.23.2023 A2RM Design Challenge." 11/06/2023: Updated Attachments for FA2280-23-S-C001 005 A2RM Design Challenge Updated attachment "11.06.2023 A2RM Design Challenge Update" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "10.23.2023 A2RM Design Challenge." 10/23/2023: FA2280-23-S-C001-005 Air to Air Refueling Mechanism (A2RM) Digital Design Challenge This Call is issued under the CSO. All details regarding submission and evaluation criterion are provided in the attached document titled "10.23.2023 A2RM Design Challenge" https://afwerxchallenge.com/air-to-airrefueling/air-to-air-refueling-mechanism-a2rm-digital-design-challenge/overview 07/20/2023: Updated Attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 002 Expedient Basing Challenge Updated attachment "07.20.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "06.22.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge." Updates in document contained in Government Contracting Terms and Conditions. 07/19/2023: Updated Attachments for FA2280-23-S-C001 CSO and FA2280-23-S-C001 003 UAS Power Generation Challenge Updated attachment "AFWERX Challenges CSO FINAL 07.19.2023" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "AFWERX Challenges CSO FINAL 02.24.2023." Updates in document contained in Sections 5.5.5.1 and 5.8. Updated attachment "07.19.2023 UAS Power Generation Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "06.01.2023 UAS Power Generation Challenge." Updates in document contained in Government Contracting Terms and Conditions. 07/11/2023: FA2280-23-S-C001-004 Expedient Basing Part 2 Challenge This Call is issued under the CSO. All details regarding submission and evaluation criterion are provided in the attached document titled "07.11.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge Part 2" https://afwerxchallenge.com/expedientbasing/expedient-basing-challenge-focus-areas-4-5/overview 06/22/2023: Updated attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001 002 Expedient Basing Challenge Updated attachment "06.22.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "05.30.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge" in order to update and extend the Spiral 1 submission due date. 06/01/2023: Updated attachment for FA2280-23-S-C001-003 UAS Power Generation Challenge Updated attachment "06.01.2023 UAS Power Generation Challenge" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "05.31.2023 UAS Power Generation Challenge." Website link updated to: https://afwerxchallenge.com/uaspower/uas-power-challenge_265/overview 05/31/2023: FA2280-23-S-C001-003 UAS Power Generation Challenge This Call is issued under the CSO. All details regarding submission and evaluation criterion are provided in the attached document titled "05.31.2023 UAS Power Generation Challenge" http://www.afwerxchallenge.com/uaspower/uas-power-challenge/overview 05/30/2023: Updated attachment provided for FA2280-23-S-C001-002 Expedient Basing Challenge Updated attachment document titled "05.30.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge.pdf" supersedes previously posted attachment titled "05.25.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge.pdf" 05/25/2023: FA2280-23-S-C001-002 Expedient Basing Challenge This Call is issued under the CSO. All details regarding submission and evaluation criterion are provided in the attached document titled "05.25.2023 Expedient Basing Challenge.pdf" https://afwerxchallenge.com/expedientbasing/expedient-basing-challenge/overview 02/27/2023: FA2280-23-S-C001-001 Agile Combat Employment (ACE) Aviation Support Equipment Challenge This Call is issued under the CSO. All details regarding submission and evaluation criterion are provided in the attached document titled "02.27.2023 ACE Common Aviation Support Equipment Challenge.pdf" https://afwerxchallenge.com/operationaleffectiveness/ace-common-aviation-support-challenge
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE / FA2280 AFRL/RGKA.
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