Research and Development (R&D) for Next Generation Aircraft Protection Technologies
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The Department of Defense, through the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Electronic Warfare Branch (AFLCMC/HNJW), is soliciting innovative research and development proposals for a Next Generation Aircraft Protection system under solicitation number FA2057-26-S-C001. This effort is structured as a Two-Step Closed Contracting Special Opportunity (CSO) with Calls, open for submissions over a five-year period ending November 23, 2030. The solicitation seeks capable industry partners—from traditional and nontraditional defense contractors to research institutions—to address four defined capability areas: System Architecture, Modeling and Simulation; the Detect Layer (Sensing); the Decide Layer (Processing); and the Defeat Layer (Countermeasures and Effectors). Key technology domains of interest include advanced sensor technologies across radio frequency, optical, and acoustic spectrums; advanced processing hardware, software, and algorithms; and sophisticated countermeasures such as radar and communications electronic warfare, electro-optical techniques, and emerging directed energy methods like high-power microwave systems. Offerors must demonstrate compliance or provide a technical roadmap toward adherence with the Agile Mission Suite (AMS) Government Reference Architecture that underpins the modular, upgradable open architecture design of the system. The procurement process involves initial submission of a white paper (Step 1), followed by an invitation to submit a full proposal (Step 2), which must include a detailed Statement of Work (SOW) not exceeding ten pages. This SOW should clearly define objectives, scope, background, and detailed technical tasks and milestones distinguishing base period feasibility studies from option tasks that cover design, fabrication, and testing. The contract mandates handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), necessitating that vendors have current NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity assessments on record in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS), per DFARS clauses 252.204-7019 and 252.204-7020, as a prerequisite for access to solicitations’ attachments and eligibility for award. The five-year performance period is expected to be managed through task orders with the Government retaining discretion over exercising option tasks contingent on contractor performance during initial phases. While no pricing data or explicit contract clauses in Section I are provided, the solicitation emphasizes technical innovation, alignment with Air Force electronic warfare priorities, and cybersecurity compliance as primary award factors, with proposals evaluated on technical merit, innovation, and security posture. The place of performance and acceptance is Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and the contracting office is located within AFLCMC/HNJW at the same location.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Hanscom AFB, MA, 01731, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
AFLCMC/HNJW (Electronic Warfare Branch) is publishing the attached Two-Step Closed CSO with Calls in order to obtain innovative solutions or potential new capabilities to fulfill requirements, close capability gaps, or provide potential technological advancements in specific capability areas highlighted in the attached CSO. This CSO will allow a Two-Step submission (step 1-white paper & if requested, step 2- proposal) in response to a posted Call.
Throughout the five-year period this CSO full text announcement is posted, AFLCMC/HNJW reserves the right to amend, add, or remove Areas of Interest at any time. Submission information and instructions will be identified at the Call level.
AFLCMC/HNJW is interested in capabilities from all qualified vendors to include, but not limited to, traditional defense contractors, nontraditional defense contractors, large businesses, small businesses and research institutions (collectively referred as vendors).
AFLCMC/HNJW is seeking to apply unique solutions and innovative ideas to rapidly develop technologies of novel capabilities; and characterize new technologies and system concepts that provide evolutionary, revolutionary, and disruptive capabilities for the United States Air Force through systems requirements development, prototyping, studies, and demonstrations.
AFLCMC/HNJW is developing a modular, upgradable Next Generation Aircraft Protection system based upon open architecture standards. This CSO seeks to identify eligible vendors that are capable of developing part (or all) of this Next Generation Aircraft Protection system.
AFLCMC/HNJW has defined four areas of interest for the Next Generation Aircraft Protection system:
- System Architecture, Modeling and Simulation
- The Detect Layer (Sensing)
- The Decide Layer (Processing)
- The Defeat Layer (Countermeasures and Effectors)
AFLCMC/HNJW is seeking industry partners that have experience in the following areas:
- Advanced sensor technologies (including but not be limited to radio frequency sensing (HF-EHF), optical sensing (infrared, visible, ultraviolet) to include laser warning receivers, and acoustic sensing)
- Advanced processing (hardware, software, and algorithms)
- Advanced countermeasures (kinetic and non-kinetic: including but not limited to RFCM (radar, comms) and Electro/Optical CM as well as non-traditional, emerging technologies such as High-Power Microwave and other-directed energy techniques)
System or subsystem submissions must have demonstrable compliance with Agile Mission Suite (AMS) Government Reference Architecture (GRA), or include a technical roadmap showing the pathway to compliance.
This CSO contains Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). For the Contracting Officer to grant/authorize access to the attachments, vendors must have completed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assessments and uploaded it to Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS). Your entity NIST assessments must be documented in SPRS and must be current (date of assessment must not be older than 3 years). See the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204- 7019 and 252.204-7020.
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