BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- In today’s fast-evolving defense landscape, delivering innovative technology to the warfighter is essential to maintaining operational superiority. To do so effectively—and at the pace demanded by modern threats—the traditional approaches to acquisition and integration must adapt.
To meet this challenge, Air Force Global Strike Command has embarked on a significant initiative, awarding a $100 million, five-year contract to strengthen commercial engagement and streamline the acquisition processes. The contract, known as a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award for Commercial Engagement and Integration – Rapid Acquisition Decision Support (CEI- RADS), represents the command’s latest step in meeting warfighter needs with speed and precision.
The contracting milestone builds upon the successful efforts of AFGSC’s Commercial Capabilities Integration & Transition Division (CCIT) to unlock faster access to the nation’s most innovative non-traditional defense technology partners. The work is also supported by local Shreveport business, the Small Business Consulting Corporation, which started working with the CCIT Division via a SBIR Phase II contract in 2022.
"CEI-RADS allows us to tap into commercial innovations that were previously out of reach,” said Lt. Col. Alyssa Premus, CCIT deputy division chief. “This ensures we can rapidly respond to emerging threats, keeping our forces prepared and our operations ahead of adversaries."
The CEI-RADS IDIQ contract will enable AFGSC and other USAF customers to order services that integrate cutting-edge commercial solutions into critical operations, transforming research and development initiatives into fully scalable and deployable programs, Premus said. At its core, the initiative will enable decision-makers in AFGSC to execute rapid acquisitions and expand partnerships with the small business sector—all essential to maintaining the U.S. Air Force’s edge in the Great Power Competition.
Enhanced Capabilities for the Warfighter
The CCIT Division has been vital to the command’s understanding and actions to solve warfighter needs in a rapidly changing technological environment. Within two years, the division identified crucial opportunities for engagement with 70 civilian technology companies, acquiring $240M for AFGSC modernization projects from sources outside the command. The follow-on opportunities afforded by the CEI-RADS Phase III award will directly contribute to this growing network of commercial partners, assuring the command’s continued dominance in long-range precision strike capability.
"Our goal is to build sustainable, results-driven partnerships with the private sector. This CEI-RADS contract will help ensure we not only identify promising private sector commercial technologies, but also that we transition those technologies efficiently for military use,” said Maj. Gen. Ty Neuman, AFGSC Director for Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements. “We recognize that to compete and win in today’s strategic environment, we must leverage commercial technology to bring war-winning capability to the warfighter faster than our adversary. CEI-RADS delivers that advantage to AFGSC and the Air Force."
This new Phase III CEI-RADS contract supports tech scouting in the commercial market, acquisition analysis to bring those technology solutions into the Air Force, and workforce training—all designed to elevate engagement with new small business partners and integrate their products into the DoD ecosystem. In particular, CEI-RADS will launch the next phase of the Insights Portal for Operational Decision Support (IPODS) tool, which delivers real-time data and analysis, offering government leaders deeper insights into commercial capability integration for data-based decision support.
Supporting the USAF’s Strategic Vision
The CEI-RADS initiative aligns closely with the Air Force’s goals for innovation and operational readiness. It streamlines access to the best commercial technologies to meet warfighter’s evolving needs by providing practical tools to refine requirements, execute rapid operational acquisition, and educate government customers on using the IPODS tool.
This focus echoes the broader vision articulated by Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. In his statement on operational imperatives, Kendall stressed the importance of agility and rapid capability delivery, noting: “The success of our military depends upon the ability to control the air and space. Achieving these imperatives will enable the Air Force and Space Force to maintain our competitive advantages. This is the change we must accelerate to win.”
Navigating Challenges in the Defense Sector
With global competitors investing heavily in technology, the Air Force, and the entire Defense Department, face increasing pressure to secure the best commercial solutions. While private capital continues to outpace federal research and development spending four to one, initiatives like CEI-RADS are essential to close the technology gap.
AFGSC’s commitment to fostering relationships with the commercial sector and integrating dual-use technologies underscores the Air Force’s efforts to outpace and deter increasingly sophisticated adversaries. This contract will directly support USAF stakeholders, including multiple Major Commands, Air Force Materiel Command Centers, and Program Offices, further enhancing the Command’s ability to deliver advanced capabilities to meet future operational demands.
Looking Toward the Future
As AFGSC moves forward with its strategic goals, CEI-RADS work will continue as a critical enabler to AFGSC’s operational success. By leveraging the best technologies and business practices, AFGSC will help ensure the U.S. Air Force remains the global standard for innovation and military readiness, poised to meet future challenges head-on and empowered with the capabilities needed to dominate any operational environment.