MDA Capabilities RFI.pdf

Approved for public release.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Capabilities in response to Executive Order "The Iron

Dome for America"

Notice ID: MDA-RFI-001

NAICS Code: 541715 - Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, except nanotechnology and biotechnology

1.0 OBJECTIVE

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is conducting market research to assist in the identification of innovative missile defense technologies (system-level, component level, and upgrades), architectures, concepts, and Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to detect and defeat the threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks. MDA desires to collaborate with Industry on potential concepts to deploy and maintain a next-generation missile defense shield that will deter and defend its citizens and critical infrastructure against any foreign aerial attack on the Homeland and guarantee its secure second-strike capability. The concepts can include new system-level capabilities, component concepts, upgrades to existing capabilities, or new CONOPS across the kill chain. MDA anticipates responses from small and large businesses, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, University Affiliated Research Centers, Academia, and Non-traditional Defense Contractors.

2.0 DESCRIPTION

MDA seeks to understand Industry capabilities to address Executive Order "The Iron Dome for America".

Lines of Effort Include:

• Defense of the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries;

• Acceleration of the deployment of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer;

• Development and deployment of proliferated space-based interceptors capable of boost-phase intercept;

• Deployment of underlayer and terminal-phase intercept capabilities postured to defeat a countervalue attack;

• Development and deployment of a custody layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture;

• Development and deployment of capabilities to defeat missile attacks prior to launch and in the boost phase;

• Development and deployment of a secure supply chain for all components with next-generation security and resilience features; and

• Development and deployment of non-kinetic capabilities to augment the kinetic defeat of ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks

MDA intends to explore possible solutions and capabilities against threat classes or specific threats identified by the Government during the Industry Day (See Section 6.0).

MDA has established multiple time epochs for delivery or demonstrations of capabilities. MDA requests Industry to tie each capability with a time epoch. The time epochs defined for this RFI are:

• Epoch 1 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated NLT 31 Dec 2026

• Epoch 2 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated NLT 31 Dec 2028

• Epoch 3 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated NLT 31 Dec 2030

• Epoch 4 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated beyond 31 Dec 2030

This RFI also is intended to help MDA make informed decisions and business case analyses to:

• Understand the current marketplace and existing industry capabilities to fulfill the accelerated delivery and demonstration timeline;

• Obtain recommendations from industry on acquisition strategies to enable delivery and demonstration timelines described above;

• Identify the major technical and programmatic risks;

• Determine industry data and information needs to support accelerated delivery and demonstration timelines

The Government will use the technical submissions to support capability forecasts, enable technology program planning, inform phased implementation planning, accelerate prototyping, and support an overarching research and development investment strategy. This RFI is not a Request for Proposal and the Government does not intend to make any award based on this RFI.

Accordingly, potential responders should not interpret this RFI as a commitment by the Government to conduct a related acquisition. The Government reserves the right to contact responders for clarification of concepts or capabilities and for additional information via written correspondence or discussions as provided in Section 6.0 below.

3.0 DESIRED INFORMATION

RFI responses should address the Executive Order lines of efforts and time epochs in Section 2.0.

Submissions can include multiple system elements and technologies, deployed in phases in a logical sequence and developed as part of an incremental development strategy. More than one submission is acceptable to cover multiple lines of effort, time epochs, or capabilities.

The Information Paper must address the following:

• Detailed description and definition of the proposed concept / capability tied to a line of effort in Section 2.0

• Identification of class or specific threat to be engaged and defeated

• Schedule, to include milestones, that support demonstration and/or delivery within the associated time epochs outlined in Section 2.0

• Integration methodology, including required data and information to enable capability

• Potential or current partners to execute concept / capability

• Associated Risks to concept / capability execution

• Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for concept / capability

• Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost by FY to include buildup to minimal viable product (MVP) and incremental delivery to full capability (as applicable)

• Contract Vehicle (existing or new) / approach to enable accelerated delivery

• Industry capability and capacity to deliver capability and any constraints

4.0 RESPONSES

Responses provided to this RFI are expected to consist of information papers not to exceed 20 pages per concept / capability using Times New Roman, size 12 font. More than one submission is acceptable to cover multiple lines of effort, time epochs, or capabilities. MDA will only accept responses submitted as classified information. Responses that include hypersonic defense concepts should include the completed template quad-chart provided as an Attachment to this RFI. Neither the title page nor the quad-chart are included in the page limitation.

Electronic copy submissions are preferred. For SECRET submissions, respondents should send directly to Jim Weinberger at james.e.weinberger@mda.smil.mil and Melody Thurmond at melody.s.thurmond@mda.smil.mil. Hard copy SECRET submissions should be coordinated with Cassidy Ory at cassidy.a.ory@mda.mil and Jim Weinberger, james.weinberger@mda.mil. For TOP SECRET or Special Access Programs contact Christopher Wellborn at christopher.wellborn.ctr@mda.mil (unclassified); JWICS: christopher.m.wellborn@coe.ic.gov;

CORE/SIC: Wellborn, Christopher Sr/MDA – HSV.

Finalized submissions must be received by MDA no later than 28 February 2025, 1600 Central Standard Time (CST). Provided responses will not be returned and respondents are advised that MDA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received except as required to confirm receipt of classified materials, or to request clarification with respect to any information that is submitted in accordance with the instructions contained in this RFI. MDA makes no commitment regarding the use of a submission; nor is any acquisition expected from this RFI or the submissions that may be made hereunder.

5.0 SUBMISSION QUESTIONS

No questions regarding this announcement will be accepted.

6.0 DISCUSSIONS

On February 18, 2025, MDA is preparing to conduct an Industry Day followed by Industry One- On-One Sessions (18-19 Feb) — either via CVTC or in person — for no longer than 60 minutes to collaborate and provide clarification to Industry. Industry One-On-One Sessions are not required and timeslots are limited on a first come first serve basis. Participation in this overall effort is strictly voluntary, with no costs incurred or obligations made on behalf of MDA.

Respondents intending to participate in Post RFI Submission Industry One-On-One Sessions with MDA, must send an unclassified email request with attendees to Ms. Cassidy Ory at cassidy.a.ory@mda.mil, Mr. Jim Weinberger at james.weinberger@mda.mil and Ms. Melody Thurmond at melody.thurmond@mda.mil no later than February 10, 2025. MDA personnel will confirm the date, time, location, and teleconference number (if requested) of the One-On-One Session.

7.0 MARKING

Respondents are encouraged to respond with the submission of information that is not constrained by proprietary information rights. If proprietary information is included in a respondent’s submission, the respondent is responsible for ensuring its submission contains appropriate and adequate markings of said proprietary information. Further, any proprietary information MUST be marked as such on a page-by-page basis.

The Government intends to use third party, non-Government (i.e. contractor, Federally Funded Research, and Development Center personnel) support personnel as subject matter experts in the review of responses received, including the review of any marked or unmarked proprietary information provided. MDA utilizes subject matter experts at Federally Funded Research Laboratories and other support contractors to meet our mission objectives. The Agency maintains non-disclosure agreements on file with these organizations and companies to allow them access to proprietary information for the purpose of evaluations and recommendations.

Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) and Personal Conflict of Interest (PCI) clauses are incorporated within each of these contracts. Submission of a response to this RFI constitutes the participant's acknowledgement and agreement that the information provided in the response, including any marked or unmarked proprietary or source selection information, may be disclosed to these non-Government support personnel.

8.0 COMPENSATION

This RFI only supports MDA planning activities. Submission of information by a respondent hereunder is entirely voluntary. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request or reimburse any costs for the information requested as a result of any company, organization, or individual providing a response to the RFI. MDA reserves the right to use information that has been voluntarily provided by respondents without compensation as part of MDA’s ongoing efforts to refine the Missile Defense System Strategic Investment Plan and Technology Roadmap.

9.0 ATTACHMENT

Rapid Hypersonic Defense Demonstration Quad template.