Mobile Sea-Based Launch Platform

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is soliciting a Phase I SBIR effort under solicitation MDA27BZ02-DV005 to develop a commercially-owned and operated mobile sea-based launch platform. This platform is intended to launch commercially-procured target vehicles from any ocean location to more accurately and cost-effectively replicate adversary threats, enhancing the range and survivability of hypersonic technologies and increasing equatorial launch access. The project is a total small business set-aside, requiring proposers to be registered in SAM and the SBA Company Registry. The goal is to progress from feasibility documentation and prototype designs in Phase I toward a full-scale test platform in Phase III, aligning with the FY 2024 NDAA directive for sea-based launch capability planning. Awards will be based on a best value trade-off analysis, prioritizing technical merit, investigator qualifications, and commercial potential over cost. The contract mandates strict security and regulatory compliance, including a projected CMMC Level 2 requirement and adherence to DFARS 252.204-7012 for safeguarding covered defense information. All technical documents must be marked with specific distribution statements and export warnings per the Arms Export Control Act. Proposals must be submitted via the DoW SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) in a structured multi-volume format, with the technical volume submitted as a single PDF. Phase I performance typically spans six to twelve months, with subsequent Phase II efforts anticipated as firm-fixed-price or cost-reimbursement contracts.