Pioneering Aerospace Capabilities, Engineering and Research

Updated Oct 23, 2026

Solicitation from the Department of the Air Force. Due May 10, 2031, 3:00 PM (UTC-4), 1660 days left.

Official notice and attachments

Description

PACER BAA is a Two-Step Open BAA and BAA with Calls which will enable study efforts on novel concepts, as well as research and development efforts to mature specific technologies to appropriate technology readiness levels (TRL) depending on end use. Efforts under this BAA are intended to further AFRL/RA’s mission in pioneering transformative aerospace technologies for the warfighter’s decisive advantage.

Revision 1, posted 5 June 2024. Revision 2, posted 24 October 2024 Revision 3, posted 6 May 2025 Revision 4, posted 15 July 2026

Contracting contact

• Jac Cook · [email protected]
• Kaylee Yarger · [email protected]

As published on the official notice. Ask questions in writing and before any questions deadline the notice sets.

Is your business small enough?

For NAICS 541715, a business counts as small if it has no more than 11 employees (SBA size standard, with exceptions in the notes). This notice is not set aside, but the size decides your small business status on it. SBA table, current as of Oct 15, 2026.

Notice history

• Oct 9, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2031, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)
• Jul 15, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2031, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)
• Jul 13, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2028, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)
• Jun 17, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2028, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)
• Apr 6, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2028, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)
• Mar 31, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2028, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)
• Mar 17, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2028, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)
• Mar 16, 2026: Solicitation Due May 10, 2028, 3:00 PM (UTC-4)

Companies that win this kind of work

Federal contractors paid for research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences work, who also hold Air Force contracts (last 12 months): possible competitors, or partners to team with.

• The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC $1.9 billion in this trade
• Lockheed Martin Corporation $1.8 billion in this trade
• Raytheon Company $1.7 billion in this trade
• The Aerospace Corporation $1.1 billion in this trade
• Booz Allen Hamilton Inc $791.0 million in this trade

About the buyer

The Department of the Air Force awarded $83.0 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were The Boeing Company, The Boeing Company and Raytheon Company. See what Air Force is buying now.

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences contracts right now

There are 255 open government contract opportunities in this trade (NAICS 541715), 37 posted in the last 7 days; 32% are set aside for small businesses. The agencies buying the most are Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Most of the work with a stated place is in Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia. A notice in this trade gives a median of 80 days from posting to deadline.

All open research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences contracts

Coming up in this trade

Planned contracts from the agencies' procurement forecasts, often months before a solicitation. Plans can change.

Recent awards in this trade

• UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM Madison WI $1.8 million · Department of the Army · Oct 22, 2026
• The Sherwin-Williams Company $497,806 · Department of the Army · Oct 21, 2026
• Orefine LLC $1.9 million · Department of the Army · Oct 19, 2026
• BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Provo UT $1.1 million · Department of the Army · Oct 14, 2026
• LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAT MUNCHEN Munchen $1.1 million · Department of the Army · Oct 13, 2026

From the award notices agencies publish.

Similar open research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences bids