PWSA US Iron Dome Architecture Studies Call for Executive Summaries.pdf

Space Development Agency Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) –

Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) US “Iron Dome” Architecture Studies

Call for Executive Summaries 11 February 2025

Under the SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) - Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), FA240125S0001, posted on SAM.gov on January 15, 2025, SDA is issuing this Call for Executive Summaries. SDA is soliciting Executive Summaries to perform 60-day studies on a U.S. “Iron Dome” architecture and capability. This call for executive summaries falls under SDA BAA Focus Area #3; Advanced Target Custody, Warning, Tracking, and Defeat.

Background

Recognized as the Department of Defense's constructive disruptor for space acquisition, the Space Development Agency (SDA) will quickly deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The PWSA is a proliferated low-Earth orbit space architecture that provides low-latency data transport to tactical users, beyond-line-of-sight targeting and custody, and advanced missile warning/missile tracking/missile defense (MW/MT/MD) capabilities. Beginning with Tranche 1, SDA will deploy hundreds of space vehicles (SV) in orbit to field the PWSA.

On January 27, 2025, the White House issued Executive Order 14186 entitled “The Iron Dome for America,” calling for a missile defense shield to protect U.S. citizens and critical infrastructure from any foreign aerial attack on the homeland. Moreover, the EO specifically identifies the PWSA and other capabilities as part of the Iron Dome for America architecture.

SDA is interested in industry’s perspective on implementing the Iron Dome for America architecture, and is particularly interested in building on and integrating PWSA’s current contributions to global kill chains and missile defense.

Study Scope and Major Deliverables

With this Call for Executive Summaries, SDA is specifically seeking studies for one or more of the following efforts as they relate to the “Iron Dome for America Architecture” and the PWSA:

1. High fidelity Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (MS&A) of the PWSA architecture and capabilities in the defense of the United States against current and emerging threats from peer and near-peer threats.

2. Opportunities to accelerate Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) missile defense capabilities into the PWSA Tracking Layer.

3. Opportunities to accelerate technically mature and novel phenomenologies into the PWSA Custody Layer and Tracking Layer.

4. Optimization of the PWSA as a backbone of a global kill web utilizing diverse sensors and the Transport Layer to support kill chains of multiple weapons systems defending the homeland and allies.

5. Secure supply chain analysis, with focus on components with next-generation security, resilience features, and scalability.

6. Extensible and interoperable space and ground architectures for PWSA, commercial, and other missile defense systems.

7. On-orbit sensor data processing, multi-sensor track fusion, and low-latency dissemination from space directly to tactical systems and end-users.

8. Software solutions enabling autonomous satellite operations.

The purpose of this study is to perform market research on industry capabilities and inform Government reference designs and potential follow-on acquisitions of such a capability. The scope of work is engineering studies, analyses, and technical trades. All contracted studies will be fixed, short duration (60-day) technical efforts with the following major deliverables for the Iron Dome architecture:

1. Capability Definition and Driving Use Cases

2. System-of-system Architecture and Key Requirements

3. Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

4. Key mission partner capabilities and system interfaces

5. PWSA Contributions and Opportunities for Expansion and/or Acceleration

6. Implementation Approaches, Timelines, Challenges, Critical Milestones, and Key Interfaces and Dependencies

7. Other study objectives as identified and directed

SDA is expecting final results for all above deliverables on or before the conclusion of the study performance period, as well as one major interim deliverable not later than (NLT) 30 days into the performance period, with on-going, regular technical and study progress exchanges in between.

Purpose of Solicited Work

SDA is soliciting executive summaries to study and provide recommendations for an Iron Dome for America architecture. These studies will inform SDA on concepts for such an architecture and how the PWSA could contribute. SDA intends to share results of the study within the United States Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, and other U.S. Government organizations.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

All executive summaries shall comply with the proposal instructions set forth under the Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Space Development Agency (SDA) Broad Agency Announcement, FA240125S0001. Per FA240125S0001, the executive summary should be clearly marked “EXECUTIVE SUMMARY,” and the total length shall not exceed two [2] pages.

All executive summary submissions must be written in narrative form. No formal transmittal letter is required, but submissions must include the organization name, submission title, SDA focus area(s), and technical POC information (e-mail and mailing address).

Additional Proposal Instructions and Assumptions

1. SDA encourages Executive Summaries to address the Offeror’s technical approach to executing this study. SDA also strongly encourages Executive Summaries to include preliminary concepts of the Iron Dome architecture.

2. Potential Offerors shall assume a study Period of Performance (PoP) of sixty (60) calendar days and an Authority to Proceed (ATP) of March 15, 2025.

3. SDA strongly encourages a draft study report delivered not later than sixty (60) calendar days from ATP and final study report delivered not later than the full ninety (90) calendar days Period of Performance.

4. SDA strongly encourages Executive Summary submissions to be received NLT 5:00pm EDT, Friday, February 28, 2025.

5. SDA is contemplating multiple awards but the Government reserves the right to make a single award, multiple awards, or no awards at all

DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES

This is not a solicitation for proposals. SDA will not provide any compensation related to this call for Executive Summaries. SDA will respond to executive summaries with a statement as to whether SDA is interested in the idea. Regardless of SDA’s response to an executive summary, proposers may submit a proposal abstract or a full proposal but do so with the understanding that funding or interest levels may not support selection for award. SDA will review all submissions submitted using the published evaluation criteria and without regard to any comments resulting from the review of an executive summary.