HQ0860-25-S-C002_CCMD Solicitation_MAA No. 2.pdf

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Missile Defense Agency

Electromagnetic Protection and Threat Object Discrimination

Solicitation No. HQ0860-25-S-C002

Missile Defense Agency 5224 Martin Road

Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898

Approved for Public Release 25-MDA-12147 (18 Jul 25)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I. OVERVIEW

SECTION II. PURPOSE

SECTION III. USE AND AVAILABILITY

SECTION IV. AUTHORITIES

SECTION V. DESCRIPTION

SECTION VI. GENERAL INFORMATION

SECTION VII. SOLICITATION INFORMATION

SECTION VIII. EVALUATION AND SELECTION

SECTION IX. FEEDBACK

SECTION X. ATTACHMENTS

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SECTION I. OVERVIEW

A. Federal Agency Name: Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

B. Program Name: Advanced Capability

C. Solicitation Name: Electromagnetic Protection and Threat Object Discrimination

D. Solicitation Number: HQ0860-25-S-C002

E. Solicitation Period: Phase I – Chart Package must be received by MDA no later than August 29, 2025. MDA anticipates invitations for Phase II – Concept Presentations will be sent to select offerors 30 calendar days after chart packages are due.

F. Solicitation Process: This is a two-phase solicitation process which provides for the competitive selection of responses. See Section VI. Solicitation Information for full details.

Phase I – Chart Package: Submission and evaluation of charts. Upon completion of Government evaluation, select offerors will receive an invitation for Phase II – Concept Presentations.

Phase II – Concept Presentations: Select offerors will receive an invitation to present their technical concept to the Government using the previously submitted charts.

G. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

H. Agency Contact: All communication regarding this solicitation is limited to Unclassified questions of an administrative nature. Unclassified inquiries should be sent to mda.mbx.ccmd@mail.mil. If higher than Unclassified communication is necessary, send an Unclassified request to mda.mbx.ccmd@mail.mil for further instructions.

SECTION II. PURPOSE

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) “Electromagnetic Protection and Threat Object Discrimination” solicitation is seeking solutions to improve countermeasure mitigation and engagement performance against all missile threats. This solicitation invites all industry partners, including non-traditional defense contractors, to present the Government with new, unique and innovative concepts and ideas. Offerors are invited to learn more about the MDA at www.mda.mil.

SECTION III. USE AND AVAILABILITY

This solicitation is issued under MDA’s Multiple Authority Announcement, HQ0860-25-S-0001.

mailto:mda.mbx.ccmd@mail.mil mailto:mda.mbx.ccmd@mail.mil http://www.mda.mil/

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This solicitation seeks new technology, advancements of existing technology, innovative applications of technology, concepts from outside the defense sector, and scientific breakthroughs that will significantly enhance the robustness and effectiveness of the Missile Defense System to improve electromagnetic protection and threat object discrimination.

SECTION IV. AUTHORITIES

The following authorities provide guidelines for the submission of responses under this solicitation:

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2) – Other Competitive Procedures FAR 35.016 – Broad agency announcement Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 235.016 – Broad agency announcement DFARS 235.006-71 – Competition 10 U.S.C. §4022: Authority of the Department of Defense (DoD) to carry out certain prototype projects 10 U.S.C. §4023 – Procurement for experimental purposes

Offerors proposing under FAR/DFARS Part 35 broad agency announcement (BAA) authority are reminded BAAs are utilized by the agency to fulfill the requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge and understanding rather than focusing on a specific system or hardware solution. Offerors are responsible to ensure their submission aligns with one or more of the authorities listed above.

SECTION V. DESCRIPTION

A. Overview

This solicitation is seeking solutions in identifying sensor technologies, system architectures, operational concepts, and command and control algorithms to improve countermeasure mitigation and engagement performance against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries. The concepts can include new capabilities, improvements-to or expansions-of existing capabilities, or entirely new methods and tactics to advance electromagnetic protections and threat object discrimination for the purpose of improving our capability to defeat any (or all) categories of missile threats.

B. Topic Areas

This solicitation is issued under Topic Area #3, Integrated Non-Kinetic and Electronic Warfare and Topic Area #4, Disruptive Technologies from the overarching MDA Multiple Authority Announcement (HQ0860-25-S-0001).

3. Integrated Non-Kinetic and Electronic Warfare: Develop and integrate scalable, multi-domain non-kinetic and electronic warfare (INK&EW) capabilities to achieve decisive effects, Pg. 5 of 12 enhance decision-making tempo, minimize collateral damage, and ensure operational advantage in contested environments.

4. Disruptive Technologies: The Missile Defense System shall incorporate mature, disruptive technologies to rapidly field advanced capabilities. This effort prioritizes innovations ready for immediate application or near-term transition, focusing on areas such as AI, directed energy, hypersonic defense, resilient networking, and cybersecurity. This could include novel concepts in the areas of satellite ground Telemetry, Tracking and Commanding (TT&C) capabilities, effectors, high-performance sensor algorithms, space-based tracking phenomenologies and discrimination, space-based off-board sensing concepts for weapons guidance and AI/machine learning (ML) for space/ground applications. These technologies shall enhance the defense system's effectiveness against rapidly evolving threats through enhanced situational awareness, rapid decision-making, and effective response options.

This could also include rapid demonstration and prototype development of disruptive technologies to accelerate the deployment and maintenance of a next-generation defense shield over the United States. This effort, encompassing new system-level capabilities, component concepts, upgrades to existing systems, and novel concepts of operation (CONOPS) across the entire kill chain, will focus on enhancing the Missile Defense System ability to deter and defend against any foreign aerial attack, guaranteeing a secure second-strike capability.

C. Technical Description

MDA encourages effective, “out-of-the-box”, explorations of diverse technologies and concepts.

Attributes might include:

Ability to support rapid (<24 months preferable, but may consider up to 36 months) development to at least the point of producing field-ready prototype(s) Minimizing technology development New electromagnetic protection or threat object discrimination solutions that offer clear improvements in performance, resiliency, or both Methods to obtain new or improved sensor measurements that can reliably support the identification and recognition of features or attributes that are invariant to threat objects, particularly in electromagnetic-contested environments

New or significantly improved sensor tracking, track handover, sensor data fusion, and track correlation techniques

Electromagnetic protection technology, methods, and tactics, applicable to all relevant sensors and communications links that are tailored-to or specifically developed-for use in a missile defense context.

Leveraging commercial and/or non-traditional partner capabilities Proposes innovative partnerships within the DoD or with Other Government Agencies that result in new or enhanced capabilities of mutual benefit Identifies approach for modeling or testing proposed solutions. Includes ideas for assessing concepts and/or demonstrating performance through hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) or Modeling and Simulation (M&S).

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SECTION VI. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Communications

All Unclassified communication regarding this solicitation should be submitted via email to mda.mbx.ccmd@mail.mil. If higher than Unclassified communication is necessary, send an Unclassified email to the address listed for further guidance. Communication is limited to administrative questions about the solicitation. Questions of a technical nature will not be accepted.

Dialogue with any Government representative related to this solicitation shall not constitute a commitment by the Government. Any dialogue that takes place will not be taken into consideration during review and evaluation of responses to this solicitation. Only Contracting and Agreements Officers are legally authorized to make commitments on behalf of the Government.

B. Eligible Offerors

All qualified offerors who meet the requirements of this solicitation are eligible to respond.

Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to:

Private industry (large and small businesses) Commercial and/or non-traditional defense contractors (defined at 10 U.S.C § 3014) Domestic accredited colleges, universities or institutions of higher learning registered by the U.S. Department of Education Non-profit organizations

Government entities (including Government and/or National laboratories, military educational institutions, etc.) interested in this solicitation should email mda.mbx.ccmd@mail.mil for further information.

Federally Funded Research Development Centers (FFRDCs) are not prohibited from responding to this solicitation. However, FFRDCs will be required to provide: 1) Determination by the FFRDC’s sponsoring agency that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, and general scope or special competency of the FFRDC; 2) Determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry; and 3) A plan to transition the proposed effort to industry.

C. SAM Requirements

Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) https://www.SAM.gov at time of response to this solicitation and prior to any award. This includes completion of all required representations and certifications.

D. Security Requirements https://www.sam.gov/

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Responses under this solicitation can be submitted at the Unclassified (U), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Secret (S), Top Secret (TS) and Special Access Program (SAP) level. Any offeror planning to propose a higher than Unclassified approach will need to contact MDA (via mda.mbx.ccmd@mail.mil) for instructions on how to submit a chart package.

Offerors are responsible to ensure higher than Unclassified submissions contain the requisite security markings.

E. Export Control

The technical areas in this solicitation may contain export controlled technologies that are subject to U.S. Export Control laws, including the Arms Export Control Act (22 USC Chapter 39), the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) 22 CFR § 120-130 and/or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR) 15 CFR § 730-774). Offerors are advised the proposed performance of any foreign nationals (FNs) may be restricted due to the nature of the technical data. All offerors must disclose any proposed use of FNs, their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN. Only MDA approved FNs may perform on any efforts proposed under this solicitation. It is encouraged for the proposed Program Manager (PM) and/or Principal Investigator (PI) to be a U.S. person, as defined by 22 CFR § 120.62.

F. Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting

Protection of Covered Defense Information (CDI), to include Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Controlled Technical Information (CTI) is of paramount importance to MDA and can directly impact the ability of MDA to successfully conduct its mission. Any awards resulting from this solicitation may include certain regulations related to protection of CDI that resides on awardee information systems and requirements for rapid reporting of any cyber incident involving CDI. CDI, CUI and CTI are defined in DFARS Subpart 204.7301.

Awardee information systems may be subject to the security requirements in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations” (available at https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/sp800) in effect at the time of this solicitation. Offerors selected for an award will be required to have at least a Basic NIST SP 800-171 Department of Defense (DoD) Assessment that is current (not more than three (3) years old) posted to the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) at https://www.sprs.csd.disa.mil/.

G. Organizational Conflicts of Interest

It is MDA policy to ensure all appropriate measures are taken to resolve Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs) and unfair competitive advantages to prevent the existence of conflicting roles that might bias an offeror’s judgement and deprive MDA of objective advice or assistance, and to prevent offerors from gaining an unfair competitive advantage. All offerors are responsible for identifying and analyzing any potential or actual OCIs that exist as a result of responding to this solicitation.

https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/sp800 https://www.sprs.csd.disa.mil/

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All offerors, regardless of award type, are subject to the OCI rules, procedures and responsibilities described in FAR Subpart 9.5 “Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest” and DFARS Subpart 209.5 “Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest”.

These regulations prescribe responsibilities, general rules and procedures for identifying, evaluating and resolving OCIs. All offerors, regardless of award type, are also subject to the rules in FAR 3.101-1 “Standards of Conduct – General” and the cases implementing it (See Health Net Fed. Svcs., B-401652.3 and others), which address unfair competitive advantages that can result from contractors hiring or associating with former Government employees.

H. Rights in Intellectual Property to include Technical Data and Computer Software

All offerors, to the maximum extent practicable, should be prepared to appropriately define the rights of the Government regarding Intellectual Property, including but not limited to rights in technical data and/or computer software to be delivered to the Government under any proposed effort. This includes both commercial and non-commercial items. If no restrictions to the Government’s use of Intellectual Property including technical data and/or computer software delivered under the effort are intended, the offeror should so state. Government rights in Intellectual Property may be further negotiated prior to award, which could include the use of priced options.

I. Use of Non-Government Personnel

The Government may use selected FFRDC, University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), non- Government contracted support, and other non-Governmental personnel to assist in the evaluation and administrative handling of responses. These persons are bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements and organizational conflict of interest statements to protect proprietary information. Non-Government advisors are limited to reviewing responses and providing technical advice to the Government and are prohibited from making recommendations for selection. Responses submitted under the solicitation constitutes the offeror’s acknowledgment and consent to the use of non-Government personnel.

J. Ineligibility

Responses may be considered ineligible if the requirements of this solicitation are not met.

SECTION VII. SOLICITATION INFORMATION

A. Response Date

Phase I – Chart Package must be received by MDA no later than 1700 Central Daylight Time (CDT) on August 29, 2025. Any responses received after this date and time will not be taken into consideration.

B. Anticipated Selections

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Multiple selections are anticipated under this solicitation. MDA does, however, reserve the right to select all, some, or none of the responses submitted to this solicitation. MDA also reserves the right to select all, some or none of a particular response.

C. Award Type

MDA anticipates using a mix of FAR and non-FAR award types to include, but not limited to:

FAR-based Procurement Contract Other Transaction (OT) Agreement or OT-like Agreement

As part of the Phase I – Chart Package, offerors should recommend an award type (FAR-based Procurement Contract or OT/OT-like Agreement) to be considered for the effort. Prior to award, the Government and offeror may further negotiate the best award type for the effort. Other award types may be considered and some award types may be prioritized as mandated by law or policy. See Attachment 1 for additional details on FAR-based Procurement Contracts and Attachment 2 for additional details on OT Agreements.

D. Period of Performance

The period of performance should be commensurate with the proposed technical approach.

MDA is interested in the rapid development of cutting-edge, disruptive technologies to revolutionize missile defense capabilities. This includes the acceleration of development and deployment of critical technologies and emphasis on agility, iterative development and a focus on delivering tangible results within compressed timelines. This solicitation seeks rapid development of a prototype for fielding in <24 months (36 months may be considered). Offerors may consider a phased approach and/or use of option periods for subsequent performance.

Inclusion of options in any resulting award is at the discretion of the Government.

E. Funding Availability

Due to the varying scientific and technical approaches anticipated, there is not a defined budget or funding level associated with this solicitation. Offerors are welcome to propose a cost-sharing type arrangement. Funding may become available to pursue promising innovative concepts of interest. Offerors should be aware that funding availability might change with little or no notice.

F. Responses

This is a two-phase solicitation process which provides for the competitive selection of responses.

Phase I – Chart Package

Offerors shall refer to “Attachment 3 – Chart Package Requirements” for submission requirements. Interested parties are welcome to submit multiple chart packages to address different technical concepts. Chart packages will be evaluated on a “Pass/Fail” basis as described in Section VIII: Evaluation and Selection.

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Offerors with a chart package that “Pass” both criteria in Phase I will receive an invitation for Phase II. Invitations will include instructions for scheduling, security requirements and rules of engagement for the presentation. The Government reserves the right to extend invitations for all, some, or none of the chart packages received.

Phase II – Concept Presentation

Offerors should present their concept to the Government using the previously submitted chart package. Concept presentations will be held at the required security level. Concept presentations are limited to 30 minutes (10 minute presentation with 20 minutes reserved for Question & Answer (Q&A) session). The concept presentation will be evaluated for Scientific and Technical Merit, Execution and Relevance to Mission Needs and Cost/Price as described in Section VIII: Evaluation and Selection.

MDA will protect all responses and proprietary information from unauthorized disclosure and will only disclose the contents for the purpose of evaluation. Offerors are responsible for marking proprietary information with the proper disclosures, along with any required security markings. All chart packages submitted in response to this solicitation will be considered expired, and properly disposed of, six (6) months following the closing date of this solicitation.

This solicitation does not commit the Government to pay for the preparation of chart packages or concept presentations. The cost of preparing a response to this solicitation is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting award. The Government intends to review Phase I submissions and issue invitations for Phase II without discussions; however, the Government reserves the right to contact offerors if deemed necessary.

SECTION VIII. EVALUATION AND SELECTION

A. Evaluation Criteria

Phase I: Chart packages will be initially evaluated on a “Pass/Fail” basis for technical interest and execution potential as described below:

Technical Interest: Does the chart package describe and define a solution, concept, or capability that correlates to the technical description in this solicitation? Does the offer provide a capability or mitigation against a specific and relevant threat?

Execution Potential: Does the proposed technical solution, concept or capability demonstrate the ability to support rapid (<24 months preferable, but may consider up to 36 months) development to at least the point of producing field-ready prototype(s)?

Phase II: Concept presentations will be evaluated for: 1) Scientific and Technical Merit, 2) Execution and Relevance to Mission Needs and 3) Cost/Price as described below. Scientific and Technical Merit and Execution and Relevance to Mission Needs are more important than

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Cost/Price. Sub-categories under Scientific and Technical Merit and Execution and Relevance to Mission Needs are of equal merit.

1) Scientific and Technical Merit:

a. Description of objectives, including task outline and project plan

b. Explanation of how the proposed concept makes initial revolutionary contributions and enables new possibilities and advancements

c. Identification of known high-risk areas, mitigation and benefit (benefit/risk analysis)

d. Description of next steps and/or transition strategy

2) Execution and Relevance to Mission Needs:

a. Alignment to MDA and/or DoD priorities

b. Application to the next-generation of missile defense

c. Project schedule and ability for rapid prototype and/or demonstration

d. Personnel, partners, facilities and infrastructure in place to execute

3) Cost/Price: Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for each phase or period presents a cost that is reasonable for the work to be performed.

B. Selection Criteria

Upon conclusion of the concept presentations, offerors may be selected to proceed with negotiations towards an award. These offerors will receive a detailed request with the additional information and/or documentation required. Selections will be based on overall technical merit, importance to agency programs and funding availability.

The Government reserves the right to select all, some or none of the concept presentations. The Government also reserves the right to select all, some, or none of a particular concept. Selection for negotiation is not an assurance of award. The requirements for an award are dependent on selection of the concept (all or part) and the proposed award type.

C. Notices

The MDA Contracting Office will notify offerors:

1. At the conclusion of Phase I: With an invitation or non-invitation for Phase II – Concept Presentation. Invitations will include instructions for scheduling, security requirements and rules of engagement for the presentation. Presentations may be held in-person or virtual depending on schedule availability and security classification requirements.

2. At the conclusion of Phase II: With selection or non-selection for negotiation towards award. Selections for negotiation will state whether the entire concept or a portion of the concept, is being pursued.

Any communication from the MDA Contracting Office does not constitute assurance of an award. Concept presentations not selected due to funding availability may be considered

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SECTION IX. FEEDBACK

Feedback and/or debriefs will not be provided at any point during the submission, evaluation or selection phase of this solicitation.

SECTION X. ATTACHMENTS

1. FAR-based Procurement Contract Requirements

a. OCI Analysis/Disclosure Form

2. Other Transaction (OT) Agreement Requirements

3. Chart Package Requirements