KIV-78A Production

The KIV-78A Production contract is a sole-source, firm fixed price award issued under FAR 6.302-1 due to the exclusive capabilities of General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS), which holds the only NSA High Assurance Certification for producing the KIV-78A cryptographic applique. The contract, awarded with solicitation number FA830726DB002 and posted on May 11, 2026, is managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Cryptologic and Cyber Systems Division (AFLCMC/HNCK) based in San Antonio, Texas, with production and delivery occurring at GDMS’s certified facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. The scope encompasses the manufacturing of 400 KIV-78A appliques in the first year, followed by 300 annually, along with delivering approximately 1,700 to 1,800 circuit card assemblies, 700 KIV-78A–3 conversion kits, and one depot test station over a 60-month ordering period. The work supports the Cryptographic Modernization 2 Program, modernizing IFF systems with quantum-resistant cryptographic capabilities using GDMS’s proprietary AIM III crypto engine, which no other vendor can replicate without prohibitive delays and costs—estimated at up to six years to achieve equivalent NSA certification. Technical data, software, and firmware remain the exclusive intellectual property of GDMS, protected under DFARS 252.227-7013 and 7014, with all production, testing, and acceptance conducted under NSA-approved, secure facilities and procedures. Inspection and acceptance are performed at the GDMS facility in Scottsdale under government oversight, with compliance required to DoD AIMS PO Standard 04-900 for Mode 5 cryptographic interfaces. No competitive evaluation factors are applicable, and while funding is allocated through 3080 Procurement appropriations, specific pricing, invoice methods, payment details, or contract value figures are not disclosed. The contract includes an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity structure with delivery orders issued over the 60-month window, and security clearance and certification exclusivity are central to the justification for non-competitive award.