RFI Contractor F-16 Pilot Services
Updated
Sources Sought from the Department of the Air Force, for work in Martyr BG Ali Flaih AB, Iraq. Due Nov 24, 2026, 1:00 PM (UTC-7), 32 days left.
| Solicitation number | FA823226ACFERRY |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of the Air Force |
| Office | FA8232 Aflcmc Wwmk |
| Notice type | Sources Sought |
| Set-aside | None |
| Trade (NAICS) | Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190) |
| Product or service code | V227 |
| Place of performance | Martyr BG Ali Flaih AB, Iraq |
| Posted | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Nov 24, 2026, 1:00 PM (UTC-7) (32 days left) |
| Add the deadline to | Google Calendar · Apple / Outlook (.ics) |
Official notice and attachments
Description
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Title: “RFI Contractor F-16 Pilot Services” Notice ID: FA823226ACFERRY USAF/AFMC/AFLCMC/F-16-SPO/FMS Contracting Office, Hill Air Force Base, UT Description 1.1 The F-16 Support Program Office in support of the FMS countries is seeking information on how an interested contractor could provide Contractor F-16 Pilot Services – Ferry Flight Operations for Two (2) F-16 Block 52 Fighting Falcon Aircraft (Lockheed Martin Facility, Greenville, SC to Martyr BG Ali Flaih AB, Iraq) 1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.
This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Air Force is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.
Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it could possibly be synopsized on the SAM.gov website.
It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement; however, if you do provide information, you could possibly be sent the solicitation notification directly and this is NOT guaranteed. Background 2.1 The United States Government (USG) has an emerging requirement to execute a point-to-point ferry flight delivery of two (2) F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 52) aircraft originating from the Lockheed Martin Facility in Greenville, South Carolina (Lockheed Martin F-16 Production and Sustainment Facility, Donaldson Field / KGYH) to Martyr BG Ali Flaih Air Base in the Republic of Iraq.
2.2 Anticipated Execution Period: March 2027. 2.3 Pre-Mission Integration & Approvals: Q1 FY2027 / January–February 2027 (flight records review, GFR approvals, ALSS inspections, APACS clearances, Lockheed Martin site access/badging, and AMC Coronet coordination). 2.4 Operational Division of Responsibility: Contractor Responsibility: Furnish two (2) fully qualified, current, and mission-capable F-16 Block 50/52 Pilot-in-Command (PIC) aviators (plus one designated alternate) to conduct the flight operations.
Ensure flight crew compliance with theater entry, medical readiness, survival training standards, and badging/facility access protocols at the Lockheed Martin Greenville facility. Program Office Responsibility: All aircraft maintenance support, pre-/post-flight inspections, en-route servicing, and technical troubleshooting will be coordinated directly by the USG Program Office (e.g., AFLCMC Program Office / designated depot field service teams) in coordination with Lockheed Martin facility personnel prior to release.
AMC / ACC Responsibility: All aerial refueling (AAR) support, tanker boom operations, Coronet flight movements, and military oceanic flight plans will be scheduled and coordinated through Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Combat Command (ACC). 2.5 Objective The primary objectives of this market research notice are to: Identify commercial sources capable of providing two (2) qualified F-16 Block 52 ferry pilots with documented currency, Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 operational familiarity, boom aerial refueling certifications, and international long-range flight experience ready for deployment from the Lockheed Martin Greenville facility to Martyr BG Ali Flaih AB in March 2027.
Assess industry capacity to integrate into US Air Force operational flight packages (e.g., cell formation flying and Coronet missions supported by AMC tanker assets) and coordinate closely with Program Office maintenance and plant representatives. Evaluate compliance mechanisms under Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Instruction 8210.1 and Government Flight Representative (GFR) flight crew approval processes operating from a contractor/OEM facility.
Solicit industry feedback regarding life support equipment provisioning, survival certifications, theater entry lead times, weather delay/standby structures, and mobilization horizons leading into March 2027. 2.6 Scope of Work and Technical Requirements Areas Task Area 1: Pilot Qualifications, Credentials, and Currency The contractor shall supply two (2) primary ferry pilots and one (1) designated backup/alternate pilot meeting the following mandatory thresholds: Flight Hours & Airframe Currency: Minimum 1,500 total military/tactical flight hours, with at least 500 hours as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) in the F-16.
Documented PIC qualification and currency in the F-16 Block 50/52 configuration (Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine familiarity). Documented F-16 flight currency leading up to the March 2027 departure date (including instrument, formation, and emergency procedures). Aerial Refueling (AAR) Qualification: Current or recent qualification in military boom aerial refueling (day and night tanker receiver procedures) compatible with USAF KC-135, KC-10, or KC-46 tankers.
Survival Training & Physiological Standards: Valid Water Survival / Underwater Egress Training (Dunker/HUET) certification current within standard service intervals for oceanic crossings. Valid Physiological / High-Altitude Chamber training (or altitude chamber refresher) compliant with USAF standards. Basic Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) familiarization or tactical isolated personnel guidance appropriate for operations into the CENTCOM AOR.
Licensing & Medical Certifications: Valid FAA Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with instrument rating, or military equivalent documentation (DD Form 759 / Flight Record). Current FAA Class I Medical Certificate (or military flight physi
The description continues in the official notice.
Contracting contact
- Joseph Barthold · [email protected]
- Joseph Merriam · [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 488190, a business counts as small if it has no more than $40.0 million in average annual receipts (SBA size standard). This notice is not set aside, but the size decides your small business status on it. SBA table, current as of Oct 15, 2026.
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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.
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There are 39 open government contract opportunities in this trade (NAICS 488190), 25 posted in the last 7 days; 33% are set aside for small businesses. The agencies buying the most are Defense Logistics Agency, Department of the Air Force and US Coast Guard. Most of the work with a stated place is in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. A notice in this trade gives a median of 11 days from posting to deadline; this one gives 33 days.
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