Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

The Department of the Navy Information Warfare Systems Command, a sub-agency within the Navy's information-warfare acquisition structure, procures systems engineering, cybersecurity, laboratory support, communications infrastructure, and integration services to support major C4ISR and tactical warfare programs across shipboard, subsurface, and airborne platforms. The command operates through two principal regional warfare centers—Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific in San Diego and NIWC Atlantic in Charleston—each fielding engineering and sustainment contracts for integrated information-warfare capabilities.

The command's contract footprint is substantial and mature. Since 1981, the agency has issued 179,087 contract awards with combined potential value of $196.04 billion, of which $139.29 billion has been obligated. Recent award volume totaled 2,883 in 2022, 2,842 in 2023, 2,701 in 2024, 2,493 in 2025, and 1,133 year-to-date in 2026. The most recent award was recorded on September 30, 2026. Contract concentration among prime contractors is moderately concentrated; the top five primes by award count—Leidos Inc., Science Applications International Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Advanced Computer Concepts Inc., and Carahsoft Technology Corp—hold 24 percent of recent awards, with Leidos and Carahsoft each posting $2.05 to $2.16 billion in combined potential value. By-value concentration is highly fragmented at 4 percent coverage among the top five, driven by heavy transaction volume through below-threshold task orders and modifications across the agency's multiple contracting vehicles. The set-aside mix is heavily weighted to open competition: 81 percent of awards carry no set-aside designation, with small-business set-asides (11 percent combined) and 8(a) awards (7 percent combined) comprising the balance.

Grant activity is minimal. The agency has issued 12 grant awards totaling $16.9 million in federal obligations since 2014, with the most recent award closed on June 8, 2020. Grant recipients are distributed across nine distinct entities, and awards split 75 percent Cooperative Agreements and 25 percent Project Grants.

Recent contract opportunities reflect the command's core acquisition priorities. NIWC Pacific is conducting market research for DICE Laboratory Sustainment and Engineering Support (due October 28, 2026), seeking systems engineering and cybersecurity support from SeaPort-NxG MAC holders for a proposed hybrid Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee/Firm-Fixed-Price structure over five years with TS/SCI clearance requirements. NIWC Atlantic is preparing a Software Defined Radio Solutions (SDRS) Integrated Product Team Technical Support RFP (formal release planned November 2026, pre-solicitation conference October 29, 2026) and issuing RFP N6523626RE073 for C5ISR Acquisition, Engineering, and Integration Production (government estimate $500 million to $1 billion, pre-solicitation conference October 22, 2026). The command is also pursuing Area of Interest N0003926RR002 for Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Phase II Integration and Testing with a rolling open-window model accepting submissions through September 23, 2031, leveraging Other Transactions and commercial-solutions authorities for modular autonomous vessel procurement. Additional near-term solicitations include In-Service Engineering Activity Navy Enterprise Networks (pre-solicitation, total small-business set-aside) and routine small purchases for COTS IT equipment and components.

In June 2019, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR or SPAWARSYSCOM) was renamed the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR or NAVWARSYSCOM), based in San Diego, is an Echelon II organization within the United States Navy and is the Navy's technical authority and acquisition command for C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), business information technology and space systems.