Open federal opportunities

Protective Coating Maintenance IDIQ

DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE.AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND.FA3020 82 CONS LGC · Response deadline: Thu, 29 Oct 2026

What the government is buying

The U.S. Air Force is establishing an Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract for protective coating maintenance services. IDIQ contracts are commonly used for recurring maintenance needs where the government cannot specify exact quantities in advance—work is ordered through delivery or task orders as needs arise. Protective coating maintenance typically involves applying, repairing, and maintaining specialized coatings on aircraft, equipment, or infrastructure to prevent corrosion, wear, and environmental damage. This type of work is critical in military aviation environments where equipment longevity and operational readiness depend on proper surface protection.

Key facts

Who can bid

This opportunity is exclusively reserved for Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) concerns. To compete, your business must:

• Be at least 51% unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens
• Meet the SBA's economic disadvantage criteria for personal net worth, adjusted gross income, and fair market value of all assets
• Be designated as "EDWOSB" or "WOSB/EDWOSB" in the SAM.gov system at time of offer submission
• Be small under the size standard for NAICS 238320 ($16.5 million average annual receipts, as established by SBA)

The Air Education and Training Command performs training operations at installations across the United States, so bidders should consider their capacity to perform at potentially dispersed locations. See the solicitation for any specific geographic scope, minimum guarantee, or contract ceiling.

How to put together a competitive bid

For an EDWOSB protective coating IDIQ, focus on these elements:

Demonstrate aviation-specific expertise. AETC operates extensive aircraft fleets for training. Emphasize any Department of Defense or Federal Aviation Administration experience, MIL-SPEC coating qualifications, NACE/SSPC certifications for inspectors and applicators, and familiarity with corrosion control programs.

Build realistic pricing structures. IDIQ contracts require careful unit pricing since actual volumes are unknown. Develop prices that account for mobilization to multiple potential bases, variable workload demands, and the administrative burden of managing numerous task orders. Consider whether to propose fixed-price or time-and-materials line items—see the solicitation for permitted contract types.

Address environmental and safety compliance. Protective coating work involves hazardous materials and often requires confined space entry, fall protection, and strict environmental controls. Detail your OSHA compliance, EPA hazardous waste management protocols, and any ISO 14001 or similar certifications.

Present past performance strategically. List comparable IDIQ or on-call maintenance contracts, particularly with Air Force, Army, or Navy customers. Include contactable references with similar scope and dollar value.

Validate EDWOSB status early. Ensure your SAM.gov profile, SBA certification (if required under current rules), and DUNS replacement identifiers are current and accurately reflect EDWOSB eligibility. Discrepancies at submission time cause automatic rejection.

Next steps

Read the complete solicitation on SAM.gov using notice ID or solicitation number FA302026Q0104. The full document will contain the statement of work, evaluation criteria, required certifications, and any amendments. Note that offers are due October 29, 2026 at 1:00 PM Central Time—verify whether SAM.gov or a designated contract portal is the proper submission channel and confirm your system registration status well in advance of this deadline.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →