FY28 KC-46A Aircraft Beddown Infrastructure Program | Altus AFB, OK

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Tulsa District is issuing this special notice to announce an upcoming competition for a design and construction solicitation for the FY28 KC-46A Aircraft Beddown Infrastructure Program at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma using Progressive Design-Build under 10 USC §2808a Other Transaction Authority for Construction.  This notice is for informational and planning purposes to allow interested parties to prepare for and provide feedback prior to the official solicitation release. 

I. INDUSTRY DAY 

Tulsa District intends to conduct a virtual Industry Day on Friday, September 25, 2026 at 11:00AM Central Time to provide an overview of the project, acquisition strategy, and anticipated requirements. This event will provide interested parties with an opportunity to gain additional insight into the project and proposed Progressive Design-Build (PDB) approach under an Other Transaction (OT) framework, ask questions, and provide input in advance of the solicitation release. 

General questions from industry participants will be permitted during the Industry Day; however, all discussions and responses provided during the event are considered unofficial and are for informational purposes only. Statements made during the Industry Day do not constitute a commitment, authorization, or binding guidance related to the future Program Solicitation. Official Questions and Answers (Q&A) will be accepted and addressed following the release of the Program Solicitation. 

The Industry Day Team’s meeting link will be posted as an update to this notice NLT close of business on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. Please be advised this meeting will be recorded.

II. PROJECT OVERVIEW 

• Project Title: FY28 KC-46A Aircraft Beddown Infrastructure Program

• Location: Altus Air Force Base, OK

• NAICS Code:  236220

III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

The KC-46A Aircraft Beddown Infrastructure Program at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, will deliver comprehensive flight-line, industrial maintenance, and advanced aircrew flight simulator training facilities necessary to support the 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW) - the Department of the Air Force’s sole formal training unit for heavy mobility aircraft. This $304M consolidated capital program will  modernize the installation’s infrastructure to replace Eisenhower-era KC-135 operations with the next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tanker while sustaining concurrent training and maintenance for C-17 and legacy fleets.

The program delivers three primary facility complexes along with associated airfield civil site infrastructure:

Aircraft Maintenance Facilities

• KC-46A Aircraft Maintenance Hangar (General Maintenance): A fully enclosed, single-bay aircraft general maintenance facility (Cat Code 211-111) engineered to support maintenance tasks and provide inclement weather protection for multi-craft fleets (KC-46A, KC-135, C-17, and C-137). Structural components include reinforced concrete foundations, a structural steel frame and standing seam metal roof system, insulated metal wall panels, and high-strength concrete floor slabs. Interior functional space integrates personnel support areas, flight chief/production supervisor offices, expediter offices, break rooms, locker/shower rooms, tool rooms, laser rooms, hazardous material (HAZMAT) storage, a dedicated hazardous waste collection system, and Consolidated Tool Kits (CTK) suites. Airfield site work includes heavy-duty concrete pavement, taxiway tie-ins, aircraft wash racks, exterior lighting, and utility distribution.
• KC-46A Multipurpose Hangar (Corrosion Control & Open-Tank Fuel Cell Maintenance): A highly complex, fully enclosed single-bay hangar (Cat Code 211-159) engineered specifically to execute high-risk corrosion control operations (sanding, washing, aircraft depainting/painting) and open-tank fuel cell maintenance. Structural features include steel framing, insulated metal walls, and explosion-resistant construction. Functional spaces encompass paint storage and mix rooms, clean rooms, blast booths, sanding/filter storage, dedicated fuel tank repair and tool storage shops, breathing air systems, specialized industrial ventilation/exhaust systems, hazardous waste collection, and administrative personnel spaces.

Flight Crew Training & Simulator Facility

• KC-46A Simulator Facility Phase 4 (Flight Training Center Expansion): An expansion to the existing Flight Training Center (FTC) (Cat Code 171-212) designed to support classified training operations for KC-46A aircrews. The expansion adds dedicated high-bay simulator bays and support space to house:
  • High-bay Weapons System Trainers (WST) (full-motion flight simulators);
  • Boom Operator Trainers (BOT) and Part Task Trainers (PTT);
  • Integrated bridge and overhead servicing cranes for simulator maintenance and hydraulic/motion platform equipment removal;
  • Specialized mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire detection and suppression systems, including redundant, high-efficiency Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) / precision HVAC systems for computer rooms, simulator visual systems, and motion equipment;
  • Dedicated classroom spaces, flight briefing/debriefing rooms, and administrative offices;
  • Secure areas designed, engineered, and constructed to strict Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 705 Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) physical, acoustic, and tempest security standards;
  • Associated heavy-duty exterior pavements, access driveways, delivery bays, and personnel parking areas.
  • Associated utility hookups and extensions.

Enabling Civil Infrastructure & Demolition

• Aircraft Refueler Vehicle Parking Area Relocation: Site preparation for the General Maintenance Hangar requires the complete relocation and replacement of an existing 68,620 SF aircraft refueler parking yard. Scope includes high-strength concrete paving, dedicated secondary containment, security fencing, lighting, and an integrated environmental stormwater control and oil-water filtration system.
• Liquid Oxygen (LOX) Plant Relocation: Enabling work for the Multipurpose Hangar requires the decommissioning, demolition, and off-site reconstruction of the active base LOX facility. The replacement facility encompasses specialized oil-free/hydrocarbon-free concrete paving, cryogen storage pads, an overhead weather protection structure, security fencing, hazardous gas detection, and dedicated utility connections.
• Demolition: Demolition of three aging flight-line structures (approx. 155 SM total) and existing asphalt/concrete parking areas to clear the building footprints.

All facilities will be designed and constructed as permanent construction in accordance with UFC 1-200-01 (DoD Building Code), UFC 4-010-01 (DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings), and the installation's Architectural Compatibility Plan.

IV. ACQUISITION STRATEGY - PRE-AWARD 

 The USACE will use a streamlined competitive selection process:  

• Step 1 – Statement of Qualifications: Interested parties will submit a Statement of Qualifications (max # of pages to be defined in solicitation). The Government intends to down-select up to three Design-Build Teams to proceed to Step 2.  
• Step 2 – Pitch Presentations: Selected Design-Build Teams will participate in pitch meetings. One company will be selected as the Design-Build team for award of the initial design and preconstruction services with a modification for design completion and construction award.  

V. ACQUSITION STRATEGY – AWARD 

 The agreement will be awarded to the most qualified progressive design-build entity (PDBE) to provide design development, preconstruction services, and construction. Post-award Phase 1 of PDB includes design and pre-construction services and Post-award Phase 2 includes the final design and construction. The agreement will be Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP). The FFP for successive design and construction milestones will be agreed to as the design progresses and funds are available.   

VI. KEY SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 

The Department of War (DoW) has established the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, as codified in 32 CFR Part 170, to ensure that entities handling government information implement appropriate cybersecurity standards. As a matter of DoW policy, the principles of the CMMC program are applicable to the OT resulting from this Request for Qualifications. Performance under the resulting Agreement will require the handling of Federal Contract Information (FCI).

The Government anticipates this project will require the implementation of cybersecurity practices equivalent to CMMC Level 1. The CMMC Level 1 requirements apply to all information systems owned or operated by the Design-Builder (and its subcontractors) that will process, store, or transmit FCI in the performance of the OT.

NOTE: All interested parties should monitor the official solicitation announcement, which will provide complete details and submission instructions. Draft documents are included in this special notice for feedback and informational purposes only and are subject to change upon issuance of the formal Request for Qualifications.