Research Engineering and Technical Services

Washington Headquarters Services is procuring research, engineering, and technical services through a Master IDIQ established November 19, 2020 on behalf of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The vehicle closed to new orders on November 18, 2025 and is no longer accepting task orders. The combined potential value across all task orders is $786.9 million, with $513.3 million obligated (65% of combined potential).

Three prime contractors hold 100% of awarded task orders. American Systems Corporation and Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. each won seven orders and dominate the vehicle by activity and value, with American Systems commanding $414.3 million combined potential and Modern Technology Solutions $311.1 million. Applied Research Associates, Inc. holds two orders valued at $61.5 million combined potential. The Office of the Secretary of Defense funds 15 of 16 task orders worth $786.9 million; one order for the Department of Defense totals $29 thousand.

Ordering momentum declined sharply after the vehicle's first two years. The vehicle awarded seven orders in 2022 and three in 2023, but only one order each in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The most recent task order was awarded March 3, 2026, four months ago.

The task order portfolio is heavily skewed toward small-business set-asides. Fifteen of 16 orders (94%) are designated Total Small Business; one unrestricted order was issued in 2022 for Mission Prototype Program Support. Task orders span technical and engineering support for capability development, systems engineering, prototyping and experimentation, operations research, and assessments across OUSD(R&E)'s Directorates for Advanced Capabilities, Research and Technology, and Modernization. Representative task orders range from $29 thousand for facility services to $92.9 million ceiling for Mission Integration Support Services (labor hours pricing, completion November 2030) and $125.8 million ceiling for Program Engagement and Independent Technical Assessments (cost-plus-fixed-fee, completion February 2027). Pricing models vary: firm fixed price dominates, with labor hours and cost-plus-fixed-fee structures on larger engagements. Work is performed at contractor facilities and government locations in the Washington D.C. area.

Washington Headquarters Services / Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) on behalf of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering OUSD(R&E) to awards this IDIQ to support the mission of OUSD(R&E). The mission of OUSD (R&E) as the Chief Technology Officer is to foster technological dominance across the Department of Defense and ensure the advantage of the American warfighter. The OUSD (R&E) enterprise is composed of the Directorate of Defense Research and Engineering for Advanced Capabilities (AC); the Directorate of Defense Research and Engineering for Research and Technology (RT); the Directorate of Defense Research and Engineering for Modernization (M); and 11 modernization priority areas.