Air Force AEROS: AMC Mobility C2 Operations Support

AFLCMC’s C3BM Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Operating Location 2 at Scott AFB, has completed market research for Air Force Enterprise Rapid Operations Support (AEROS). The Government states it anticipates competing the requirement as a Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 541512, with the solicitation expected in the first quarter of calendar year 2027 and award anticipated by September 2027.

AEROS supports Air Mobility Command’s Rapid Global Mobility Command and Control program, which underpins all Air Force Transportation operations, including air refueling, cargo, and personnel delivery worldwide for USTRANSCOM. The requirement covers non-personal commercial services for:

  • AFTRANS enterprise functional help desk services and technical operations help desk services across both the existing legacy system portfolio and the Next Generation modernized portfolio — comprehensive functional and technical operations support of critical command and control capabilities within a government-provided environment

Four characteristics define the operating environment and together they set the bar for who can compete: a 24/7/365 global tempo with applications under constant load; a high consequence of error, where system failure or data inaccuracy causes operational disruption and mission delay; deployment across unclassified and classified networks, requiring all contractor personnel to hold active clearances; and a blend of modernized cloud-native services with specialized Government-Off-The-Shelf software.

OPPORTUNITY SNAPSHOT

  • Opportunity: Air Force Enterprise Rapid Operations Support (AEROS)
  • Agency: AFLCMC, C3BM Portfolio Acquisition Executive
  • Anticipated Set-Aside: Small Business Set-Aside
  • NAICS: 541512, Computer Systems Design Services; PSC DA01
  • Anticipated Solicitation: 1st QTR 2027
  • Anticipated Award: 3rd QTR 2027
  • Contract Length: Five years
  • Estimated Value: TBD
  • Clearance: Active clearances required for all support personnel; secret facility clearance expected
  • Place of Performance: Scott AFB, IL, supporting a globally distributed user base

WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY MATTERS

The RFI questions tell you more about the evaluation than the scope statement does. The Government asked respondents to address:

  • Project management of large-scale DoD or Air Force programs; demonstrated National Security Systems experience; post-development software sustainment; SLA frameworks for issue resolution; secret facility clearance status or a credible path to one; root cause correlation across disparate data sources during critical incidents; cloud performance and cost efficiency recommendations; and 24/7/365 monitoring in secure, potentially air-gapped environments

One theme runs through nearly every technical question and deserves attention from anyone considering a bid. The Government repeatedly asks about supporting software you did not build, deployed and maintained by a separate development contractor, where you do not control the deployment pipeline. AEROS is an operations and sustainment role inside someone else’s development lifecycle — a different discipline from building the system, and the winning answer must address it directly.

The help desk itself is not a tiered script operation. The Government requires subject matter experts who understand operational intent, not just software, and who can distinguish enterprise-level global management from theater-specific tactical execution. Competitive offerors typically bring:

  • An active or in-progress secret facility clearance and a cleared staffing pipeline; documented Air Force or DoD C2 operations support past performance; measurable SLA performance on National Security Systems; experience sustaining GOTS alongside cloud-native services; training pipelines that keep staff proficient on proprietary interfaces; and round-the-clock staffing across all time zones

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY

This requirement is built for cleared small businesses that operate and sustain mission-critical software rather than develop it. Firms with experience in the following should assess their fit now:

  • Small businesses providing enterprise service desk and technical operations support to DoD customers
  • Firms operating National Security Systems in secure production environments
  • Operations and sustainment contractors supporting software built by a separate developer
  • 24/7/365 monitoring and incident response providers working in air-gapped or classified environments
  • Cloud operations specialists advising on performance tuning and cost efficiency in secure environments
  • Firms with Air Mobility Command, USTRANSCOM, or Air Force C2 program past performance
  • Current AFTRANS or RGM C2 subcontractors seeking a prime position

HOW OST CAN HELP

The solicitation is roughly a quarter away and the window to resolve clearance posture, build teaming, and document past performance is now. OST supports firms preparing for Air Force services competitions with:

  • Bid/No-Bid assessment: Evaluating fit against the draft PWS, your clearance position, and your capacity to staff a 24/7/365 requirement
  • Capture planning: Positioning with AFLCMC C3BM OL-2 and shaping win themes around operations of systems you did not build
  • Teaming strategy: Identifying complementary partners via OST’s partnering portal (200+ companies) to close clearance, cloud, and C2 domain gaps
  • Past performance strategy: Documenting National Security Systems operations references with measurable SLA outcomes
  • Proposal development: Technical approach, staffing and transition plans, pricing, and compliance once the solicitation releases

With a Small Business Set-Aside signaled, a five-year term, and a solicitation expected in the first quarter of calendar year 2027, AEROS is a near-term opportunity for cleared small businesses that specialize in operating mission-critical systems rather than building them. The Government has been unusually direct about what it will ask, which gives firms time to get clearance posture and past performance in order. If this interests you, please book a call with OST Partner and President Bill Schalik via the button below.

Schedule a discussion today.