MQ-25 Radio Frequency Blanker Unit (RFBU) and Advanced Networking Tactical System Hardware Build 2.2

The Naval Air Systems Command issued a sole-source modification under Delivery Order N00019-23-F-0151 to The Boeing Company for the procurement of initial spares and radar equipment for the MQ-25A unmanned carrier-based aerial refueling tanker program. This action is part of the broader Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and is authorized under FAR 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(1), citing Boeing’s exclusive possession of the proprietary technical data package and the unacceptable program delays and substantial cost duplication that would result from recompetition. The modification, effective 1 June 2026 with authority extending through 30 September 2028, supports delivery of integrated systems from Boeing’s facility in St. Louis, Missouri, with final acceptance occurring at the Naval Air Systems Command facility in Patuxent River, Maryland. Inspection responsibilities fall to Boeing under government oversight, with quality assurance tied to program milestones including a Physical Configuration Audit scheduled for late 2027. The work involves sensitive Cross Domain Solution components requiring secure handling, and Boeing’s role as both designer and manufacturer introduces inherent organizational conflict of interest considerations not explicitly mitigated in documentation. No detailed pricing, clause listings, packaging specifications, or evaluation factors are disclosed, reinforcing the nature of this as a non-competitive, sole-source acquisition grounded in technical exclusivity rather than competitive trade-offs. The contract does not include socioeconomic set-asides, and while Boeing’s size status is not stated, its status as the sole provider of critical MQ-25A system capabilities inherently positions it as a large, non-small business under the acquisition framework.