Microelectronics and Embedded Systems Assurance (MESA)

The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded this Master IDIQ on September 21, 2015, to conduct basic, applied, and advanced R&D on microelectronics and embedded-systems security and reliability for DoD weapon systems, with a combined ceiling of $48.7 million and a last date to order of September 20, 2020—the vehicle is no longer accepting new task orders.

Ordering closed in September 2020. The vehicle issued eight task orders between September 2015 and October 2022, with $70.5 million obligated against a combined potential value of $89.5 million (79% burn). The ordering pattern shows front-loaded activity: two orders in the establishment year (2015), four in 2017, one in 2020, and one final order in October 2022. All task orders carried Cost Plus Fixed Fee pricing and unrestricted competition; none used set-asides.

Work spans microelectronics assurance research across multiple named programs: NORTH WINDOW, FORD POINT, EL CAPITAN, TOTEM POLE, and WATCHMAN. Individual task orders ranged from $1.98 million to $18.9 million in potential value, with durations typically spanning 18 to 36 months from award through completion.

Three primes share the workload, with Battelle Memorial Institute holding the largest position: four orders worth $46.5 million combined potential value. Riverside Research Institute holds the remaining four orders collectively worth $42.9 million combined potential value (three orders at $23.9 million and one order at $19 million). Competition is concentrated; the top two firms account for the entire awarded base.

Customer concentration is also narrow. The Air Force Research Laboratory (the contracting entity) funds six of the eight orders, representing $78.6 million in combined potential value. The Air Force Lifecycle Management Center at Wright Patterson Air Force Base funded one order ($2 million), and DOD Washington Headquarters Service funded one order ($8.9 million). Roughly 88% of the vehicle's awarded value flows to Air Force R&D priorities.

All delivery orders have reached their ultimate completion dates as of 2023. New competition under this vehicle is not available.

The objective of the MESA program is to conduct basic, applied, and advanced Research and Development (R&D) to develop, evaluate, and facilitate the transition of technologies to improve the security and reliability of microelectronics and embedded systems. This research will encompass a multi-faceted approach to assurance for Department of Defense (DoD) weapon systems at the microelectronics device and architecture level.