Call for HAMWC dated 16 March 2026.pdf

Broad Agency Announcement: FA2391-23-S-2403 Pioneering Aerospace Capabilities, Engineering and Research (PACER)

CALL Name: Hypersonic Affordable Mass Weapon Concepts (HAMWC)

Related Notice of Contracting Action:

Rapid Maturation and Demonstration of Hypersonic Weapon Concepts

16 March 2026

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Broad Agency Announcement Type: This is a Two-Step Call against the PACER BAA FA2391-23-S-2403. The First Step is a Call for White Papers only. Offerors should monitor SAM.gov for any additional notices or modifications to this Call announcement.

NAICS Code: The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 (Research and Technology in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (with Aircraft, Aircraft Engine, and Engine Parts exception), and the small business size standard is 1,500 employees.

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, AFRL/RQ

Moratorium on White Papers: Beginning from the date of publication of this Call and continuing until three months after the due date for Proposals, no White Papers submitted during the PACER BAA Open Period covering the topic specified in this Call, Topic: RQH-25-5 - Vehicle Integration and Analysis.

DUE DATE AND TIME:

First Step: WHITE PAPER DUE DATE AND TIME: 30 April 2026, 3:00 P.M. local time, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Only White Papers are due at this time.

NOTE: White Paper receipt after the due date and time shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). Early submission is encouraged.

Second Step: PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND TIME: To be provided in the Request for Proposal (RFP) sent to offerors that submit White Papers considered to meet the needs of the Air Force and selected for RFP. Only White Papers are due at this time.

Submission: Electronic submission is required. White Papers must be submitted using DoD SAFE to the Primary Contracting Point of Contacts (POCs): Eric Carretta, Contracting Officer, AFRL/RQKPB, eric.carretta@us.af.mil; Dylan Steinke, Contract Specialist, AFRL/RQKPB, dylan.steinke@us.af.mil.

Offerors should request a DoD SAFE Drop-Off link from Eric Carretta and Dylan Steinke by email at least 4 calendar days prior to White Paper due date.

The maximum email file size the Government can receive is 8 GB. Multiple submissions may be needed to facilitate delivery. DOD SAFE Drop-Offs should be made with sufficient time for transmittal. Submissions can take up to 4 hours for delivery (recommend submission 24 hours prior to due date to ensure timely delivery).

Alternate submital Options:

Unclassified information may be sent to the organizational email box at:

AFRL.RA.Proposals@us.af.mil.

Collateral information may be sent electronically or physically (adhering to secure mailing standards) to the following mailing address:

ATTN: Lt. Col. Isaac Putnam

AFRL/RQ

2130 8th street

WPAFB, OH 45433

For secure electronic (SIPR) delivery, contact the PCO for appropriate email address. If at any time a vendor is unsure of appropriate methods for transmission, choose a secure method to avoid security spillage possibilities.

Type of Contract/Instrument: The Air Force reserves the right to award the instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. Accordingly, the Government may award any appropriate contract type under the FAR or Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype, grant, cooperative agreement, or OT for Research (See PACER BAA Attachment 1 for Supplemental Instructions for Assistance Instrument Proposals). The Air Force may also consider award of an appropriate technology transfer mechanism if applicable. It is anticipated that awards under this Call will be “C” type contracts with Firm Fixed Price (FFP), *Firm Fixed Price (FFP) with schedule incentive and *Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) with schedule and/or performance incentive CLINs anticipated. At the discretion of the offeror, Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Cost Share, or any other award type deemed appropriate will also be considered. If a cost share type contract is proposed a detailed cost share plan should be provided. Cost reimbursement contracts require successful offerors to have an accounting system considered adequate for tracking costs applicable to the contract.

*See Attachment 5 for FFP and CPFF Schedule and/or Performance Incentive Details.

Estimated Total Program Cost: AFRL anticipates that the cost for the foundational baseline effort should fall within a range of $750,000 - $1,250,000. This is an estimate only and proposals are not restricted to this range. The estimated total program cost is not being provided.

Potential offeror's should provide their best estimate of costs in their proposal based on the provided SOO and desired Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) (Classified Secret).

mailto:AFRL.RA.Proposals@us.af.mil

Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates ~ 8 awards for this Call with subsequent optional sprints. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more contracts for all, some or none of the solicited efforts based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work and funding availability.

Brief Program Summary:

As the threat space evolves, a clear and present need emerges for the United States’ industrial base to rapidly design, affordably manufacture, and flight demonstrate meaningful long-range hypersonic warfighter capabilities. These concepts should provide the capability to hold time-sensitive targets at risk from long-range, standoff positions.

The objectives of this program are to design and demonstrate affordable and producible hypersonic weapon concepts through a multi-vendor, phased research and development (R&D) activity. The primary objective of this activity is to explore the lowest cost solutions that are rapidly producible and meet the minimum required speed, range, and payload. This activity will integrate mature, innovative technologies from conceptual design to flight demonstration, with the intent to select and fly at least two vehicle concepts. To maximize program execution speed, and preserve flexibility for phased maturation, the program will be executed utilizing options to structure the phased sprints. The Government intends to award baseline contracts (with a base period/option for foundational work, e.g., kickoff, conceptual development, preliminary manufacturing plan, and risk assessment) to multiple qualified vendors through competitive selection.

Subsequent optional sprints (e.g. Sprint 1: PDR, Sprint 2: CDR, Sprint 3: Manufacturing and Prototyping Demonstration, Sprint 4: Flight Test) will be exercised via separate contract options.

If sprint 4 is exercised and successful flight test is achieved, the contract may mature to include related within scope additions for producibility and test production and to conduct a manufacturing readiness assessment with an objective to demonstrate manufacturability and scalability toward twenty (20) AURs per month for representative hardware, enabling affordable production for ground/flight testing, qualification, and/or incremental modular performance enhancements.

Communication Between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: All communication prior to and after the White Paper deadline shall be directed to the Contracting POCs listed below.

Contracting POCs:

Eric Carretta Contracting Officer

AFRL/RQKPB

E-mail address: eric.carretta@us.af.mil

Dylan Steinke Contract Specialist

AFRL/RQKPB

E-mail address: dylan.steinke@us.af.mil

All communication after solicitation release must be in writing to maximum extent practical.

Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged until submission of White Papers. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT

I. Program Description: Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RQT, Turbine Engine Division, is soliciting White Papers on the following research effort:

Hypersonic Affordable Mass Weapon Concepts (HAMWC)

1. Statement of Objectives:

See Attachment 1 for the Statement of Objectives (SOO) Distribution Statement D version cover page and the complete Distribution Statement A version. This effort falls within the PACER BAA (FA2391-23-S-2403), Technical Objective Area, Topic: RQH- 25-5 - Vehicle Integration and Analysis: Research and development to facilitate the design, analysis, and integration of high-speed vehicles and develop concepts of operation and assessment of the military utility analysis of durable, expendable or reusable high-speed systems. Robust model-based systems engineering and digital engineering approaches should be utilized to support the requirements, design, analysis, test, verification, and validation associated with the development of high-speed systems.

Research efforts should address enabling processes such as materials and manufacturing, military utility analysis, digital engineering/digital material management and test.

The following HAMWC requirements documents are Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and as a result cannot be attached directly to this Call:

• The Statement of Objectives (Distribution Statement D version)

• DD Form 254

• Program Specific Protection Plan (PSPP)

• Associated Security Classification Guides (SCGs)

Offerors should submit requests for CUI documents from the Government Contracting POC (identified above) within 2 weeks of the Call posting date. Please submit a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with the request. The Government will then send the requested CUI documents via DoD SAFE to the potential offeror(s). Offerors are encouraged to ensure the secuirty parameters for the project are fully understood prior to submitting any documentation/proposals to the government.

The Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) are classified (secret) and must be requested. Therefore, potential offerors are required to have the appropriate Facility Clearance (FCL) and Safeguarding necessary to support classified work before classified KPPs will be provided.

2. Within Scope Modification: Potential offerors are advised that due to the inherent uncertainty of research and development efforts, awards resulting from this announcement may be modified during performance to make within scope changes, to include but not limited to, modifications which increase the overall contract ceiling amount.

3. Deliverable Items:

a. Data Items: Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL): See Attachment 2 of this Call for the applicable CDRLs.

b. Hardware: Hardware deliverables are not anticipated for this effort.

c. Software: Software deliverables are not anticipated for this effort.

4. Schedule:

a. Base Program Overall Period of Performance (PoP): 48 months

b. Base Program Technical PoP: 45 months

c. Base Program Reporting: 3 months

d. Overall PoP w/ all Option exercised: 48 months

*The no later than (NLT) award dates listed above are an estimate of when the Options may be exercised. However, AFRL reserved the right to exercise the Options at anytime during the active Baseline technical period of performance.

5. Other Requirements:

a. Program Security Classification: Secret. See Attachment 4 for the Solicitation DD

Form 254.

b. OPSEC: Operations Security (OPSEC) requirements, per the PACER BAA, FA2391- 23-S-2403, I. (page 9), will be incorporated into the Statements of Work.

c. Export-Controlled Items: As prescribed by DFARS 225.7901-4, DFARS 252.225-

7048, “Export-Controlled Items (JUN 2013)” shall be contained in ALL resulting

Hypersonic Affordable Mass Weapon Concepts (HAMWC)

Overall PoP Technical PoP Final Reporting Anticipated No Later Than (NLT) Award

Foundational Baseline 48 months 45 months 3 months At Contract Award

Optional Sprint 1: Preliminary Design 6 months 3 months 3 months (Delivered with CLIN 0001)

No Later Than 9 months after Contract Award

Optional Sprint 2: Critical Design 6 months 3 months 3 months (Delivered with CLIN 0001)

No Later Than 18 months after Contract Award

Optional Sprint 3: Manufacturing and Prototyping Demonstration

9 months 6 months 3 months (Delivered with CLIN 0001)

No Later Than 24 months after Contract Award

Optional Sprint 4: Flight Test 9 months 6 months 3 months (Delivered with CLIN 0001)

No Later Than 30 months after Contract Award contracts. The contractor must have an active DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, and a NIST 800-171 assessment in SPRS.

d. Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) may apply to contract awards resulting from this 2-Step Call if determined to be in the best interest of the government. Interim and final evaluations of contractor performance for contract awards will be prepared in accordance with AFFARS 5342.1503. The final performance evaluation will be prepared at the time of completion of work. In addition to the final evaluation, interim evaluation(s) will be prepared annually.

CPARS will be conducted per contract. Awardees will be requested to provide a POC to receive notifications of the opportunity to provide feedback. The contractor will be permitted 14 days to review the document and to submit additional information or a rebutting statement. If agreement cannot be reached between the parties, the matter will be referred to an individual one level above the Contracting Officer, whose decision will be final. Copies of the assessments, contractor responses, and review comments, if any, will be retained as part of the contract file, and may be used to support future award decisions for other procurements.

e. Science and Technology (S&T) Protection: See PACER BAA Attachment 11:

Security Risk Review – AFRLI 61-113. However, the Government may require the offeror to submit additional information and/or a mitigation plan for any identified S&T protection risks. If the Government determines the offeror failed to provide adequate additional information; or an acceptable mitigation plan; or it is determined the offeror’s S&T protection approach is high risk & does not provide adequate protection of S&T information, the Government may reject the proposal & withdraw it from consideration for award.

6. Other Information:

a. Government Furnished Property (GFP): Potential offerors should propose GFP as needed to complete the contract. S-Vision and High Performance Computing Clusters (HPC) are offered as GFP. If required, GFP must be identified in the White Paper. In accordance with FAR 45.201(b), the contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the property available for use, such as payment of all transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs.

b. Government Furnished Information (GFI) and/or Software: Digital Reference Architectures are offered as GFI.

c. Contractor Acquired Property (CAP): Potential for CAP per proposal.

d. Base Support/Network Access: None anticipated. If required must be identified in white paper.

e. Data Rights:

1) Technical Data: Unlimited desired for Interface Control Documents (ICDs). GPR will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2) Non-Commercial Software (NCS): N/A

3) NCS Documentation: N/A

4) Commercial Computer Software Rights: N/A

Unlimited rights are desired. In accordance with DFARS 252.227-7013(c)(1), the government shall have unlimited rights for all form, fit, and function data. “Form, fit, and function data” means technical data that describe the required overall physical, functional, and performance characteristics (along with the qualification requirements, if applicable) of an item, component, or process to the extent necessary to permit identification of physically and functionally interchangeable items. Other than unlimited rights, must be identified in the Proposal in accordance with PACER BAA and as required by DFARS 252.227-7017, Identification and Assertion of Restrictions on the Government’s Use, Release, or Disclosure of Technical Data or Computer Software. See PACER BAA I.6.c.

II. Award Information

1. Anticipated Award Date: Anticipated contract award date is approximately August 2026.

2. Anticipated Funding: R&D funding with incremental funding. The estimated funding for the program is not being provided. Potential offerors should provide their best estimate of costs in their Step 2 Proposal based on the provided SOO.

III. Eligibility Information: See PACER BAA Para. III (FA2391-23-S-2403) for Eligibility Information. Foreign Industry participation is not authorized at the prime contractor level.

Foreign Nationals employed by the prime will be limited to public domain information only.

IV. Proposal Submission Information

Overview: This Call is a Two-Step Call. For a Two-Step Call, White Papers will be solicited, and subsequent RFPs may follow after White Paper Reviews.

1. FIRST STEP – White Paper Instructions

a. General Instructions: The FIRST STEP requests a White Paper and a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost. The White Paper shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the offeror’s proposed technical approach. The Government will review the White Papers in accordance with the FIRST STEP White Paper Review Criteria, set forth in Section IV.3.a. below. Based on this review, the Government will determine whether the White Paper has the potential to best meet the Air Force’s needs. Those offerors submitting White Papers assessed as meeting Air Force needs will be asked to submit a Technical and Business/Cost proposal.

White Papers will remain eligible for Government review for 1 year from the date of submission during which time the offeror may receive written communication from the Contracting Officer requesting a proposal. An offeror submitting a proposal without first submitting a White Paper will not be eligible for an award. The cost of preparing White Papers in response to this Solicitation is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract; however, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18.

Reminder: Electronic submission is required. White Papers must be submitted using DoD SAFE to the Primary Contracting Point of Contacts (POCs): Eric Carretta, Contracting Officer, AFRL/RQKPB, eric.carretta@us.af.mil; Dylan Steinke, Contract Specialist, AFRL/RQKPB, dylan.steinke@us.af.mil.

Offerors should request a DoD SAFE Drop-Off link from Eric Carretta and Dylan Steinke by email at least 4 calendar days prior to White Paper due date.

b. Page Limitation: The White Paper shall be limited to 15 pages. White Papers shall be prepared and submitted in Word format. Font shall be standard 10-point business font Arial. Character spacing must be “normal,” not condensed in any manner. Pages shall be double-spaced (must use standard double-space function in Microsoft Word), 8.5 by 11 inches, with at least one-inch margins on both sides, top and bottom. All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to all font size and line spacing requirements listed herein. Font and line spacing requirements do not have to be followed for illustrations, flowcharts, drawings, diagrams, cover page, table of contents, and restrictive/proprietary markings (in header or footer). These exceptions shall not be used to circumvent formatting requirements and page count limitations by including lengthy narratives in such items. Pages shall be numbered starting with the cover page being Page 1, and the last page being no greater than Page 15. The page limitation covers all information including indices, photographs, foldouts (counted as 1 page for each 8.5 by 11 portion) tables, charts, appendices, attachments, resumes, etc. The Government will not consider pages in excess of these limitations.

c. Format: The white paper will be formatted as follows:

1) Section A: BAA Number, Title of Program, Topic Number, Name of Company, Business Size, Company’s Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number, Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, Contracting POC and Technical POCs with appropriate telephone numbers, and email addresses for the POCs. For submissions that will result in classified work, add the following information:

Classified level at which company is cleared, contractor address for forwarding classified material (name, address, zip code), cognizant security office (name, address, zip code), and offeror’s security officer’s name and telephone number).

2) Section B: Period of Performance and Task Objectives;

3) Section C: Technical Summary and Proposed Deliverables; and

4) Section D: Cost of Task (Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM))

5) Section E: A Certified DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data

Agreement. This does not count towards page count limitations.

d. Technical Portion: The technical portion of the White Paper shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the offeror’s proposed technical approach/solution. It may also include any proposed deliverables. Resumes, descriptions of facilities and equipment, and a proposed Statement of Work are not required at this point.

e. Cost Portion: The cost portion of the White Paper shall include a ROM cost estimate.

No detailed price or cost support information should be included; only a time-phased bottom line figure should be provided.

f. Other Information: If the offeror wishes to restrict its White Papers, they must be marked with the restrictive language stated in FAR 52.215-1(e).

g. White Paper Content Summary: You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the due date.

2. SECOND STEP – Proposal Instructions

a. General Instructions:

1) The SECOND STEP consists of offerors submitting Technical and Cost/Business Proposals within 45 calendar days of an RFP. After receipt, Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the award criteria in Section IV.3.b. below.

Proposals will be categorized and subsequently selected for negotiations.

NOTE: AFRL plans to hold a Technology Interchange Meeting (TIM) within 7 days of RFP release. The time, date and location will be identified in the RFP and may be subject to change based on Government availability. The purpose of this TIM is to review and address questions regarding the RFP. Once the RFP is received, please indicate your organization’s interest in participating in this TIM as soon as possible by emailing the TIM POCs below. A copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, must be submitted with the request to participate. Once your DD 2345 is received, instructions to participate in the meeting will be provided thereafter.

TIM POCs:

Eric Carretta Contracting Officer AFRL/RQKPB E-mail address: eric.carretta@us.af.mil

Dylan Steinke Contract Specialist AFRL/RQKPB E-mail address: dylan.steinke@us.af.mil

Lt. Col. Isaac Putnam Program Manager AFRL/RQHV E-mail address: isaac.putnam@us.af.mil mailto:dylan.steinke@us.af.mil

2) Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in FAR 52.215-1(e)

Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisition. Offerors should consider proposal instructions contained in the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Guide for Industry, which can be accessed on line at https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/HQ/BAA%20Ind%20Guide%2020 20.pdf?ver=7AivkWvoUoptKgypgCuIvw%3d%3d. This guide is specifically designed to assist the offeror in understanding the BAA proposal process.

3) Technical/Management and Cost/Business volumes should be submitted in separate volumes and must be valid for at least 180 days. Offerors must state this on the cover page of each volume of their proposal.

4) Proposals must reference the announcement number FA2391-23-S-2403, Call

Name, and the relevant Topic Number.

5) Offerors must submit one electronic copy of their Proposals per the directions in the Overview Information. Please contact the Contracting POC if there are any issues submitting an electronic copy.

a. The cost file(s) spreadsheets must be in Microsoft Excel and include the formulas for calculating cost element bases (i.e., G&A, O/H, etc.).

6) Offerors are advised that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the Government.

7) The cost of preparing Proposals in response to this BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract; however, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in

FAR 31.205-18.

8) No classified technical proposals or cost volumes are expected. Offerors are encouraged to keep all elements of the proposal package unclassified. In the rare case where an offeror has a need to submit a classified appendix, please contact the Contracting POC for delivery instructions.

Guidance on Teaming: Partnerships with new or emerging manufacturing-focused companies that bring innovative capabilities not represented in prior project or program cycles are highly encouraged. Proposed partners should be organizations that have not previously collaborated with the submitting offeror and are not large or established enterprises. The Government intent is to introduce fresh industry entrants, early-stage manufacturers, or small businesses offering novel technologies, processes, or expertise that expand the program’s innovation landscape. In addition, partners must be able to operate in classified environments or have the potential to do so. For emerging companies that do not yet have the required clearances or infrastructure in place, the government will support and guide partners through the process of becoming https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/HQ/BAA%20Ind%20Guide%202020.pdf?ver=7AivkWvoUoptKgypgCuIvw%3d%3d https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/HQ/BAA%20Ind%20Guide%202020.pdf?ver=7AivkWvoUoptKgypgCuIvw%3d%3d eligible to work in secure or classified spaces and obtain their Facility Clearance Levels (FCL) and safeguarding as needed.

b. Technical/Management Proposal:

1) Page Limitations: The following describes proposal page limitations:

a. The Technical/Management Proposal shall be limited to 50 pages.

Technical/Management proposals and Statements of Work must be provided in Microsoft Word. Signed pages may be submitted in Adobe.

b. Font shall be standard 10-point business font Arial.

c. Character spacing must be “normal,” not condensed in any manner.

d. Pages shall be double-spaced (must use standard double-space function in Microsoft Word), double sided (each side counts as one page), 8.5 by 11 inches, with at least one-inch margins on both sides, top and bottom.

e. All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to all font size and line spacing requirements listed herein. Font and line spacing requirements do not have to be followed for illustrations, flowcharts, drawings, diagrams, cover page, table of contents, and restrictive/proprietary markings (in header or footer). These exceptions shall not be used to circumvent formatting requirements and page count limitations by including lengthy narratives in such items.

f. Pages shall be numbered starting with the cover page being Page 1, and the last page being no greater than 50. The page limitation covers all information including indices, photographs, foldouts (counted as 1 page for each 8.5 by 11 portion) tables, charts, appendices, attachments, resumes, etc.

g. The proposal page limit does not include the offeror’s proposed Statement of Work (SOW); however, the same formatting rules apply to the SOW, which is limited to 20 pages.

h. Please Note: The Government will check the Proposal and SOW for conformance to the stated requirements. Any pages in excess of the stated page limitation after the format check will not be considered for review purposes.

2) The Technical/Management proposal(s) shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, use of base support (if requested), data and facilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal. These volumes shall include a SOW detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Do not include any proprietary information in the SOW. Refer to the BAA Guide for Industry referenced above to assist in SOW preparation. In addition to the contractor proposed SOW, a Government generated Supplemental SOW containing additional contracting requirements will be included in any resulting contracts (See PACER BAA Attachment 8).

3) Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Contracting POCs.

c. Cost/Business Proposal:

1) Separate the Proposal into a business section and cost section. If adequate price competition does not exist, and the threshold for a negotiated contract is equal to or expected to exceed $2,500,000.00, submission of certified cost or pricing data may be required.

a. See PACER BAA Attachment 2 for the Model Contract. Note that the document awarded may include contract line items (CLINs)/clauses/articles in addition to those in the model, and/or some of the CLIN/clauses/articles in the model may be deleted, depending on the specific circumstances of the individual award. Any additions or deletions will be negotiated with the offeror prior to award.

Section H – Special Contract Requirements “Wright Research Site Security Requirements (June 2023)” applies and will be included in any awarded contract. See Attachment 3 of this Call.

Additionally, the following FAR and DFARS clauses are applicable and will be included in any awarded contract:

o FAR 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021) o FAR 52.244-6, Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2025) (Deviation 2025-O0003) o DFARS 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services (Jan 2023) o DFARS 252.204-7020, NIST SP 800-171 DOD Assessment Requirements (Nov 2023) o DFARS 252.225-7058, Postaward Disclosure of Employment of Individuals Who Work in the People’s Republic of China (Jan 2023) o DFRAS 252.225-7967, Prohibition Regarding Russian Fossil Fuel Business Operations (Deviation 2024-O0006, Revision 1) (Feb 2024)

b. The business section should contain all business aspects to the proposed contract, such as type of contract, any exceptions to terms and conditions of the announcement including the model contract, any information not technically related, etc. Provide rationale for exceptions.

c. Associate Contractor Agreements: Associate Contractor Agreements (ACAs) are agreements between contractors working on Government contracts that require them to share information, data, technical knowledge, expertise, or resources. The contracting officer may require ACAs when contractors working on separate Government contracts must cooperate, share resources or otherwise jointly participate in working on contracts or projects. Prime contractor to subcontractor relationships do not constitute ACAs. For each award, the contracting officer will identify associate contractors with whom agreements are required.

d. Identify any technical data that will be delivered with less than unlimited rights.

e. Subcontracting Plans: For efforts to exceed $900,000, Subcontracting Plans shall be submitted in the cost/business proposal. Reference FAR 19.704 and DFARS 219.704 for subcontracting plan requirements. Small business concerns are exempt from this requirement. If an IDIQ contract arrangement is anticipated, the basis for the subcontracting plan should reflect the entire ceiling amount.

f. Limitations on Pass-Through Charges: As prescribed in FAR 15.408(n)(1) & 15.408(n)(2), provisions 52.215-22, “Limitations on Pass Through Charges- Identification of Subcontract Effort (Oct 2009),” apply.

g. Completed Certifications and Representations (Section K) are due with the Proposal. Certifications and Representations (Section K) can be found in PACER BAA Attachment 3. Offerors may also be required to submit updated or supplemental Certifications and Representations based on the specifics of their proposal.

h. If an offeror proposes the use of GFP, the offer must specifically identify each piece of GFP in the Cost/Business Proposal and propose and substantiate a rental cost for evaluation purposes in accordance with FAR

45.202. Include the following information in the proposal:

i. A list describing all Government property that the offeror or its subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the contracting officer having cognizance of the property);

ii. The dates during which the property will be used and, for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the amounts of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent;

iii. The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245-9, Use and Charges; and

iv. The voluntary consensus standard or industry leading practices and standards to be used in the management of Government property, or existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for accounting for property.

2) Cost Element Breakdown: Clear, concise, and accurate cost proposals reflect the offeror's financial plan for accomplishing the effort contained in the technical proposal. As a part of its cost proposal, the offeror shall submit the information outlined below, together with supporting breakdowns. All direct costs (labor, material, travel, computer, etc.) as well as labor and overhead rates should be provided by contractor fiscal year (CFY). Detailed cost element breakdowns by Government Fiscal Year or calendar year are not required. The supporting schedules may include summary level estimating rationale used to generate the proposed costs. The cost element breakdown should include the following if applicable.

a. Direct Labor: Direct labor should be detailed by number of labor hours by category of labor.

b. Labor and Overhead Rates: Direct labor hours, with their applicable rates, must be broken out and the bases used clearly identified. The source of labor and overhead rates and all pricing factors should be identified. For instance, if a Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) is in existence, that should be noted, along with the Administrative Contracting Officer’s (ACO's) name and telephone number. If the rates are based on current experience in your organization, provide the historical base used and clearly identify all escalation, by year, applied to derive the proposed rates.

If computer usage is determined by a rate, identify the basis used and rationale used to derive the rate.

c. Material/Equipment: List all material/equipment items by type and kind with associated costs and advise if the costs are based on vendor quotes, data and/or engineering estimates; provide copies of vendor quotes and/or catalog pricing data.

d. Subcontractor Costs: Submit all subcontractor proposals and analyses with your cost proposal (See FAR 15.404-3(b)). If the subcontractor will not submit cost and pricing information to the offeror, this information must be submitted directly to the Government for analysis. On all subcontracts and interdivisional transfers, provide the method of selection used to determine the subcontractor and the proposed contract type of each subcontract. An explanation shall be provided if the offeror proposes a different amount than that quoted by the subcontractor. The offeror’s proposal must:

i. Identify principal items/services to be subcontracted.

ii. Identify prospective subcontractors and the basis on which they were selected. If non-competitive, provide selected source justification.

iii. Identify the type of contractual business arrangement contemplated for the subcontract and provide rationale.

iv. Identify the basis for the subcontract costs (e.g., firm quote or engineering estimate, etc.).

v. Identify the cost or pricing data submitted by the subcontractor.

vi. Provide an analysis of the proposed subcontract in accordance with

FAR 15.404-3(b). Provide an analysis concerning the reasonableness, realism and completeness of each subcontractor’s proposal. If the analysis is based on comparison with prior prices, identify the basis on which the prior prices were determined to be reasonable. The analysis should include, but not be limited to, an analysis of: materials, labor, travel, other direct costs and proposed profit or fee rates.

e. Special Tooling or Test Equipment: When special tooling, and/or test equipment is proposed, attach a brief description of items and indicate if they are solely for the performance of this particular contract or project and if they are or are not already available in the offeror's existing facilities.

Indicate quantities, unit prices, whether items are to be purchased or fabricated, whether items are of a severable nature and the basis of the price. These items may be included under Direct Material in the summary format.

f. Consultants: When consultants are proposed to be used in the performance of the contract, indicate the specific project or area in which such services are to be used. Identify each consultant, number of hours or days to be used and the consultant's rate per hour or day. State the basis of said rate and give your analysis of the acceptability of the consultant's rate.

g. Travel: Travel costs must be justified and related to the needs of the project. Identify the number of trips, the destination and purpose. Travel costs should be broken out by trip with number of travelers, airfare, per diem, lodging, etc.

h. Computer Use: Detail the amount and kind of computer usage, the cost, and how the costs were derived.

i. Facilities Capital Cost of Money: If Facilities Capital Cost of Money is proposed, a properly executed DD Form 1861 is required.

j. Project Funding Profile: Offerors should include a project funding profile by Government Fiscal Year (GFY) (1 Oct through 30 Sept) for budgetary purposes. This will enable the Government to easily identify program funding needs by GFY.

k. If an offeror takes exceptions to the requirements called out in the announcement (e.g., base support, GFP, CDRLs), the exceptions should be clearly stated in the cost proposal.

l. Forward Pricing Rate Agreements: Offerors who have forward pricing rate agreements (FPRA’s) and forward pricing rate recommendations (FPRR’s) should submit them with their proposal.

m. Cost/Business proposals have no page/formatting limitations.

n. The cost file(s) spreadsheets must be in Microsoft Excel and include the formulas for calculating cost element bases (i.e., G&A, O/H, etc.)

3) Proposal Content Summary: You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the proposal due date.

3. White Paper/Proposal Review Information

a. FIRST STEP – White Paper Peer or Scientific Review Criteria: Those offerors submitting White Papers as assessed as meeting Air Force needs will be asked to submit a Proposal (Second Step). Offerors not selected to proceed will be notified of the disposition of their White Paper. The Government will review White Papers to determine which of them have the potential to best meet the Air Force’s needs based on the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of importance:

1) Unique and innovative approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives.

New and creative solutions and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and the state of the art.

2) The offeror’s understanding of the scope of the technical effort.

3) Soundness of the offeror’s technical approach.

4) Affordability (Proposed ROM Cost Estimate).

b. SECOND STEP – Proposal Peer or Scientific Review Criteria: Proposals will be reviewed through a Peer or Scientific Review process.

The following are the standard Proposal Peer or Scientific Review Criteria. The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be reviewed based on the following criteria that are of descending order of importance:

(1) Technical:

(a) Unique and innovative approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives.

New and creative solutions and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and the state of the art.

(b) The offeror’s understanding of the scope of the technical effort.

(c) Soundness of the offeror’s technical approach including whether the proposal identifies major technical risks, clearly defines feasible mitigation efforts, and demonstrates related experience and qualifications of technical personnel.

(d) The potential to transition the research and development deliverables to future

Government needs. Any proposed restriction on technical data or computer software will be considered.

(2) Cost/Price: The cost evaluation includes the realism of the proposed cost. Cost/Price is a substantial factor but ranked as the second order of priority. (If an offeror proposes the use of GFP other than any GFP identified in this BAA, and that proposed GFP provides the offeror an unfair competitive advantage, then FAR 45.202 requires rental equivalent be applied to the Cost Factor for evaluation purposes only).

c. SECOND STEP – Proposal Review and Selection Process

1) Categories: Based on the Peer or Scientific Review, Proposals will be categorized as Selectable, or Not Selectable (see definitions below). The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on the Peer or Scientific Review, as well as importance to agency programs and funding availability.

(a) Selectable: Proposals are recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available.

(b) Not Selectable: Even if sufficient funding existed, the proposal should not be funded.

Note: The Government reserves the right to award some, all, or none of the proposals. When the Government elects to award only a part of a proposal, the selected part may be categorized as Selectable, though the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization.

2) No other evaluation criteria will be used.

3) Prior to award of a potentially successful offer, the Contracting Officer will make a determination regarding price reasonableness.

4) As indicated in Section I.5.f. above, the Government will conduct a S&T Protection Initial Risk Review only for those Proposals categorized as Selectable and selected for funding and negotiations.

5) Additional terms, conditions, and instructions applicable to the Second Step –

Proposal will be sent with the RFP.

6) Section K: A completed Section K is required to be completed and submitted with the Proposal (Second Step). See PACER BAA Attachment 3.

7) Model Contract: The BAA contains a model contract as an example only.

Applicable Clauses, terms, and conditions may vary per contractor and per proposal and will be addressed during potential negotiations. See PACER BAA Attachment 2.

4. Award Administration Information

1) Award Notices: Offerors will be notified whether their Proposal is recommended for award by e-mail. The notification is not to be construed to mean the award of a contract is assured, as availability of funds and if necessary, successful negotiations are prerequisites to any award.

V. Other Information

1. BAA terms, conditions, and instructions: All BAA terms, conditions, and instructions contained in BAA FA2391-23-S-2403 shall be considered applicable to this Call and First Step - White Papers/Second Step - Proposals shall be in accordance with the BAA, unless deviations are authorized in this call. Any perceived conflicts between the BAA and Call should be addressed with the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer.

2. Availability of Funds: Funds are not presently available for this contract. The Government’s obligation under this contract is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.

3. White Paper/ Proposal Reminders: You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met.

a. White Papers are due no later than the due date and time specified in the Call.

b. If selected to provide a Proposal, Proposals are due no later than the due date and time specified in the RFP.

c. White Paper and Proposal Page limits are strictly enforced.

d. White Papers and Proposals must be submitted in the format specified.

e. White Papers are due to the Contracting POCs identified in the Call.

f. Offerors other than small businesses must include a subcontracting plan.

g. Selectable Offerors must submit with their Proposals (Second Step) a completed Section K, Standard Form 424, and Security Program Questionnaire.

VI. Attachments

1. Statement of Objectives (SOO) (Distribution Statement D / CUI version) Cover Page and complete SOO (Distribution Statement A version) dated 5 March 2026

2. Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs)

3. Section H Clause- H0023- Wright Research Site Security Requirements

4. Solicitation DD Form 254 (CUI version) Cover Page

5. Contract Incentives Description

HAMWC Call Solicitation Attachment 1

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO)

SOO (Distribution D / CUI version) COVER PAGE ONLY

SOO (Distribution A version) Attached

Pioneering Aerospace Capabilities, Engineering and Research (PACER)

5 March 2026

The Contractor shall perform in accordance with Statement of Objectives entitled “Pioneering Aerospace Capabilities, Engineering and Research (PACER): Hypersonic Affordable Mass Weapon Concepts (HAMWC)” dated 5 March 2026, hereinafter “SOO”.

Access to the complete Statement of Objectives (SOO) for this solicitation is restricted. The complete SOO (Distribution Statement D version) is CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION (CUI) and is only available to qualified US contractors, as defined by DoDD

5230.25 (which established the certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, as the mechanism for certifying qualified U.S. Contractors). For more information on establishing eligibility, please refer to DoDD 5230.25 and the Joint Certification Program, both of which can be accessed from:

http://www.dla.mil/HQ/InformationOperations/Offers/Products/LogisticsApplications/JCP.aspx

Because of CUI restrictions, the Distribution Statement D version of the SOO is not being directly attached to the HAMWC Solicitation. Qualified U.S. contractors must request a copy of this version of the SOO by contacting the POCs listed below and attaching a certified current DD Form 2345. Upon confirmation of eligibility, the SOO will be provided via the DoD Safe Website and provide a separate password to decrypt the file.

A publicly releasable version of the Statement of Objectives (SOO), designated as Distribution Statement A, is provided below. Please note that this is an excerpt, only containing unclassified technical information that has been approved for public release. The Distribution Statement D version of the SOO must be formally requested as instructed above.

SOO POCs:

Eric Carretta Contracting Officer AFRL/RQKPB E-mail address: eric.carretta@us.af.mil

Dylan Steinke Contract Specialist AFRL/RQKPB E-mail address: dylan.steinke@us.af.mil

Lt. Col. Isaac Putnam Program Manager AFRL/RQHV E-mail address: isaac.putnam@us.af.mil http://www.dla.mil/HQ/InformationOperations/Offers/Products/LogisticsApplications/JCP.aspx mailto:isaac.putnam@us.af.mil

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO) 5 March 2026

Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release, distribution unlimited.

Background As the threat space evolves, a clear and present need emerges for the United States’ industrial base to rapidly design, affordably manufacture, and flight demonstrate meaningful long-range hypersonic warfighter capabilities. These concepts should provide the capability to hold time-sensitive targets at risk from long-range, standoff positions. This Statement Of Objectives (SOO) describes the technical effort to be performed by the Contractor(s) in support of the Hypersonic Affordable Mass Weapon Concept (HAMWC).

1.0 Objectives

The objectives of this program are to design and demonstrate affordable and producible hypersonic weapon concepts through a multi-vendor, phased research and development (R&D) activity. The primary objective of this activity is to explore the lowest cost solutions that are rapidly producible and meet the minimum required speed, range, and payload. This activity will integrate mature, innovative technologies from conceptual design to flight demonstration, with the intent to select and fly at least two vehicle concepts. To maximize program execution speed, and preserve flexibility for phased maturation, the program will be executed utilizing options to structure the phased sprints. The Government intends to award baseline contracts (with a base period/option for foundational work, e.g., kickoff, conceptual development, preliminary manufacturing plan, and risk assessment) to multiple qualified vendors through competitive selection.

Subsequent optional sprints (e.g. Sprint 1: PDR, Sprint 2: CDR, Sprint 3: Manufacturing and Prototyping Demonstration, Sprint 4: Flight Test) will be exercised via separate contract options.

If sprint 4 is exercised and successful flight test is achieved, the contract may mature to include related within scope additions for producibility and test production and to conduct a manufacturing readiness assessment with an objective to demonstrate…