All-domain Radiant Optical Research and Applications (ARORA)

The All-domain Radiant Optical Research and Applications (ARORA) program, solicitation FA2377-26-R-B007, is a negotiated request for proposal issued by the Department of the Air Force's Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. The program focuses on the design, fabrication, and testing of prototype photonic technologies to provide technical offsets for Department of the Air Force applications, specifically targeting directed energy, infrared sensing, signal processing, electronic warfare, PNT, and spectral agility. This effort is structured as a new Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for basic and applied research, utilizing a cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing arrangement with a performance period extending to January 1, 2035. The acquisition process follows a two-step selection method starting with a white paper and followed by a full proposal consisting of technical, management, and cost volumes. Awards are based on a peer or scientific review, agency program importance, and funding availability, with technical merit serving as the primary evaluation factor and cost/price as the secondary factor. Strict security and compliance requirements are in place, including CMMC Level 2 certification, adherence to AFRLI 61-113 S&T Protection standards, and mandatory OPSEC training for all personnel. Deliverables include all developed hardware, computer software, algorithms, and technical reports, with all invoicing and reporting managed through the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) system.