The Prometheus Flame Challenge is a draft Request for Solutions (RFS) from the Department of the Air Force, aiming to foster an open-source ecosystem for autonomy and mission systems. The challenge seeks to move away from closed, proprietary systems by developing standards-compliant dual-use autonomy and mission systems product lines. It involves a continuous competition with phases culminating in flyoff demonstrations in Dayton, Ohio, where top teams can earn prizes. The initiative also aims to identify long-term strategic partners for Other Transaction (OT) agreements, providing recurring funding. Participation is open to industry and academia with U. S. or U. S. ally-based headquarters and ownership. Key deliverables include open-source implementations of AMS GRA and AGRA, turnkey projects, and public-facing resources like code repositories and documentation. Feedback on the draft RFS is requested by May 12, 2026, with the final solicitation anticipated around June 1, 2026. The estimated project budget for Phases I and II is $20,000,000.
The bid notice does not specify a delivery deadline for proposals or final products, but feedback on the draft solicitation is requested no later than May 12, 2026, and the final solicitation is anticipated around June 1, 2026.
The bid notice mentions prizes and potential follow-on Other Transaction (OT) agreements with recurring funding streams, but specific payment terms are not detailed.
The bid notice states that judging will heavily favor solutions that are not only technically proficient but also easy to use, well-documented, and extensible. Solutions will be evaluated in two steps: pre-flyoff qualification and flyoff. Evaluation factors include technical solution, risk, mission, usability, and compliance with AMS GRA and AGRA standards.
To qualify for prizes, a solution must prove AMS GRA and/or AGRA compliance and be delivered with a permissive open-source license for public release. For pre-flyoff qualification, offerors must submit a 5-page white paper, AMS GRA and AGRA compliance report, a video demonstrating code, hardware and software bill of materials, and access to the current codebase.
The bid notice does not mention any requirement or possibility for a site visit.
The bid notice does not require the submission of samples.
Feedback on the draft solicitation is requested no later than May 12, 2026. The final solicitation is anticipated to be released on or around June 1, 2026.
The anticipated project budget for Phases I and II is $20,000,000.