AFRL Rocket Lab Hermes BAA

The AFRL Rocket Lab Hermes Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), solicitation FA9300-20-S-0001, is a two-step open solicitation issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directorate at Edwards Air Force Base. This BAA is designed to solicit innovative research white papers and full proposals to enable study efforts on novel concepts and the maturation of specific technologies to appropriate technology readiness levels. While the government anticipates awarding multiple contracts of varying duration and value, the maximum single award value is currently capped at 250 million dollars. The program utilizes a trade-off evaluation process where proposals are categorized as Highly Recommended, Selectable, or Not Selectable, with a priority on unique technical approaches. Administrative requirements include the use of the Wide Area Workflow Receipt and Acceptance system for electronic invoicing and the adherence to strict cybersecurity standards, including NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC compliance. Contractors must provide a SAM Unique Entity ID and CAGE code, and those with contracts exceeding 10 million dollars must be listed in the OFCCP National Pre-Award Registry. The BAA is subject to periodic annual reviews and amendments, with recent updates focusing on the Capability Repository and changes to points of contact. Performance is managed through individual contracts and calls issued under the BAA, with specific deliverables and periods of performance defined at the individual award level.