There are two major areas of contracting that need to get done.
One, the launching. Or the contract, which pays for the launch and the execution of the challenge itself. Two,And then a clear contracting pathway for awarding funds, the solutions that are selected.
The Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) and How It Relates To AFWERX Challenge?
The AFWERX Challenge process is an extensive market research program that attracts and surfaces potential innovative and commercial solutions to problems from the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
Each solution is vetted by subject matter experts whose analysis helps decide which teams are invited to a Challenge Showcase event. Teams who are invited to the Showcase event are eligible for a contract to bring their solution to support Airmen and Guardian end-users called a CSO.
The Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is a formal announcement allowing The Department of the Air Force to solicit formal proposals and contract any US-based companies selected for a Showcase in an AFWERX Challenge
*You can find the full CSO description and information HERE.
Any person within the Department of the Air Force can access the CSO for bringing innovative and commercial solutions to end-users and acquisition professionals.
If your solution was selected for a Showcase in a Challenge eligible for a CSO, and you have an Air Force customer interested in it, have them contact the AFWERX team so we assist them in the process.
How to contact AFWERX to use the CSO for Spiral 3?
Government customers or AFWERX Challenge Showcase selectees that can find a contracting office interested in a solution that has satisfied Spiral 1 and Spiral 2 ( AFWERX Challenge Showcase Solutions) can then connect those contracting offices to our AFRL government liaison to facilitate the Spiral 3 process by telling them to reach out to our support desk.
Our AFRL government liaison is not there to find you to these contracting offices since he does not do scouting, so don't reach out to him asking for that as he probably will not respond.