Advanced Novel Spectrum Warfare Environment Research (ANSWER)

The Advanced Novel Spectrum Warfare Environment Research (ANSWER) is a Master Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Sensors Directorate. The contract focuses on researching, developing, and transitioning resilient, adaptive spectrum warfare technologies and techniques for mission-assured warfighting capabilities in contested and denied environments. Technical areas covered include Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Warfare, Trusted Cyber-Resilient Avionics Systems Engineering, Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) in Contested/Denied Environments, and Electro-Optics Countermeasures.

Task orders under the ANSWER IDIQ have consistently been cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery orders with values ranging from $66,000 to nearly $10 million. Key contractors include Riverside Research Institute and Leidos Inc., with task orders addressing specialized research domains such as Assured PNT Through All Modalities, Advanced Novel Spectrum Warfare Environment Research EO/RF Multi-Spectrum Threat Defeat, Improved Next-Gen Infrared Countermeasure Techniques, and Advanced Cognitive Electronic Warfare. Most task orders are not set-aside and are primarily performed in locations such as Herndon, Virginia, with performance periods typically spanning two to three years. The contract's shared ceiling is $47 million, and task orders have been consistently awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, focusing on advanced technological research for national defense capabilities.