Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT)
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The Department of the Air Force, through its Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at the Rome Research Site, has issued Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8750-25-S-7004, titled "Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT)." This solicitation invites innovative research proposals focused primarily on enhancing Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) kill chain and point defense capabilities. The technical scope emphasizes advancements across Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyberspace Operations (CO), Command and Control (C2) automation and autonomy, low-collateral defeat and effect interceptors, sensor technologies, UAS Traffic Management integration, and robust communications, particularly to operate effectively in contested environments. The intent is to blur the lines between EW and CO by developing cyberspace countermeasures that disrupt sUAS command and control links, improve system resilience, enable AI/ML-driven automation for threat response, and foster the creation of low-cost autonomous interceptors with integrated EW/CO payloads. Additional goals include establishing indexed cyberspace effects libraries, advancing swarm operations with resilient waveforms and AI-enhanced networking, and integrating UAS into existing air traffic management architectures. This is an open, two-step BAA with an active submission window through August 4, 2030, encouraging white papers as initial submissions, with formal proposals accepted only by invitation. Suggested submission milestones correspond to fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to align with funding cycles. Total anticipated funding for this program is approximately $499 million, with individual awards typically ranging between $500,000 and $20 million, but potential awards up to $99 million are possible. Multiple awards are expected, encompassing a range of instrument types such as FAR-based contracts, CFR-based grants and cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions under applicable U.S. Code authorities. The contracting mechanism offers flexibility to accommodate diverse technical efforts. The contract includes rigorous compliance and security requirements, including organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) disclosures and mitigation plans, export control adherence, and security risk reviews for classified and sensitive work. Key personnel must undergo security vetting, and offerors must manage foreign talent and component disclosures diligently. Proposals are evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, risk assessments (technical, cost, schedule), security risk reviews, and alignment with Air Force mission objectives, in a merit-based trade-off approach rather than lowest price technically acceptable. Point of Contacts for technical inquiries include designated AFRL personnel, while Amber Buckley serves as the contracting
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NAICS CODE: 541715
FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514
BAA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial announcement
BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)
TITLE: Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT)
BAA NUMBER: FA8750-25-S-7004
PART I – OVERVIEW INFORMATION
This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step BAA which is open and effective until 4 AUG 2030. Only white papers will be accepted as initial submissions; formal proposals will be accepted by invitation only. While white papers will be considered if received prior to 3pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 4 AUG 2030, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding:
FY26 by 05 SEP 2025
FY27 by 31 AUG 2026
FY28 by 31 AUG 2027
FY29 by 31 AUG 2028
FY30 by 31 AUG 2029
Offerors should monitor the Contract Opportunities on the SAM website at https://SAM.gov in the event this announcement is amended.
CONCISE SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT: Seeking innovative research to enhance Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) kill chain and point defense capabilities through advancements in Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyberspace Operations (CO), Command and Control (C2) Automation and Autonomy, Low-Collateral Defeat (LCD), Low-Collateral Effect Interceptors (LCEI)/Blue Force Interceptors (BFI), and communications.
One goal is to blur the line between EW and CO by developing cyberspace countermeasures that disrupt sUAS operations, particularly command and control links. This includes improving system resiliency in contested environments and prioritizing low-collateral damage solutions. C2 advancements aim to automate and optimize responses to sUAS threats, especially swarm attacks, through AI/ML, sensor fusion, and automated decision-making. Research into LCD/LCEI/BFI could lead to the development of low-cost, autonomous interceptors with integrated EW/CO capabilities and other C-sUAS payloads.
Further research will focus on improving sensor technologies for enhanced detection, identification, and tracking, as well as developing a library for storing and indexing cyberspace effects. In parallel, efforts will be made to advance UAS Traffic Management (UTM) systems, integrating them with existing air traffic control, enabling safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the airspace.
Finally, communication systems will be enhanced through advanced modeling and simulation, development of resilient waveforms and networking protocols for swarm operations, and integration of AI for network optimization and spectrum management.
BAA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this BAA is approximately $499M. Individual awards will not normally exceed sixty (60) months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $500K to $20M. There is also the potential to make awards up to $99M.
ANTICIPATED INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: Multiple Awards are anticipated. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Procurement Contracts or Other Transactions and assistance instruments, for all, some, or none of the solicited effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work and funding fluctuations. There is no limit on the number of OTs that may be awarded to an individual offeror.
TYPE OF INSTRUMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED: FAR based Procurement contracts, CFR based grants and cooperative agreements or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 (previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b) depending upon the nature of the work proposed. 10 USC 4023 also allows for FAR based contracts, OTs for research, OTs for Prototype, and assistance instruments.
In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive BAA, and the prototype project is successfully completed, there is the potential for a prototype project to transition to award of a follow-on production contract or transaction. The Other Transaction for Prototype agreement itself will also contain a similar notice of a potential follow-on production contract or agreement.
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: All white paper submissions and any questions of a technical nature shall be directed to the cognizant Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) as specified below (unless otherwise specified in the technical area):
BAA PROGRAM MANAGER: Deputy BAA Manager
TRISTEN M. CARRIG PETER J. FITZGERALD
AFRL/RIGD AFRL/RITGB
525 Brooks Rd 525 Brooks Rd
Rome, NY 13441-4505 Rome, NY 13441-4505
Telephone: (315) 330- 2558 Telephone: (315) 330-2081
Email: tristen.carrig@us.af.mil Email: peter.fitzgerald.1@us.af.mil
Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below (email requests are preferred):
Amber Buckley
Email: Amber.Buckley@us.af.mil
Emails must reference the solicitation (BAA) number and title of the acquisition.
Pre-Proposal Communication between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged. Technical and contracting questions can be resolved in writing or through open discussions. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.
Offerors are cautioned that evaluation ratings may be lowered and/or proposal rejected if proposal preparation (Proposal format, content, etc.) and/or submittal instructions are not followed.
Amendment No. 1 to BAA FA8750-25-S-7004
The purpose of this amendment is to:
- Part II, FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT, updates the language regarding Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders;
FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders: Depending on the date of issuance of this solicitation, FASCSA order(s) may be applicable. Therefore, the Offeror shall search for the phrase “FASCSA order” in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) for any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if there is an applicable Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders prohibition. This requirement only applies to FAR based awards.
No other changes are made.
Amendment No. 2 to BAA FA8750-25-S-7004
The purpose of this amendment is to update the Pre-Proposal Communication language as shown below:
- Part I Overview Information, is changed as shown below:
Pre-Proposal Communication between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged. Technical and contracting questions can be resolved in writing through email. Communications with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.
No other changes are made.
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL AMENDMENT DETAILS.
Amendment No. 3 to BAA FA8750-25-S-7004
The purpose of this amendment is to:
- PART I-OVERVIEW INFORMATION, adds new language regarding assistance instruments regarding Gold Standard Science in accordance with Executive Order 14303;
- PART II, Section V, paragraph 1, adds new language regarding evaluation criteria for assistance instruments.
See attachment for full amendment details.