Opportunity for Collaboration_CRADA26SN0001.pdf

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; Distribution unlimited.

Missile Defense Agency

OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLABORATION

Special Notice No. CRADA-26-SN-0001

Missile Defense Agency 5224 Martin Road

Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898

Pg. 2 of 9 Approved for public release 25-MDA-12280 (29 Dec 25)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I. OVERVIEW

SECTION II. DESCRIPTION

SECTION III. TOPICS

SECTION IV. GENERAL INFORMATION

SECTION V. SUBMISSIONS

SECTION VI. ASSESSMENT AND NOTICE

SECTION VII. ATTACHMENTS

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SECTION I. OVERVIEW

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

B. Program Name: Missile Defense Research Lab (MDRL)

C. Special Notice Name: Opportunity for Collaboration

D. Special Notice No.: CRADA-26-SN-0001

E. Closing Date: This notice closes on SAM.gov on February 16, 2026; however, opportunities may continue to be available. Refer to the instructions at https://www.mda.mil/business/lab.html for submission of all proposed agreements.

F. Agency Contact: MDAfedlab@mail.mil (Unclassified communication only)

The Missile Defense Research Lab (MDRL) seeks to develop and demonstrate multi-mission focused technologies, that hold promise for transition and commercialization, for use across the MDA enterprise by sharing knowledge, expertise, facilities, equipment, and other resources that benefit the Department of War (DoW) and/or non-DoW entities.

This special notice provides instructions for submission of a proposed agreement via 15 U.S.C. § 3710a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). This special notice is not a solicitation for a procurement contract, or a request for proposal, nor should this announcement be construed as implying any future solicitation under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), or an Other Transaction under 10 U.S.C. § 4021 or 4022, or any other mechanism, by MDA or any other Government agency in this area.

If interested in MDA Technology Transfer (T2) Mechanisms other than a CRADA, send inquiry to MDAfedlab@mail.mil. For more information on MDA as a Federal Laboratory visit https://www.mda.mil/business/lab.html.

SECTION II. DESCRIPTION

The MDFL’s purpose is to engage in T2 activities in order to contribute to DoW’s national security mission by rapidly delivering advanced asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter and specifically to advance MDA’s mission to develop, deploy, and support a layered missile defense system to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and partners from missile attacks in all phases of flight. Further such T2 activities include supporting the MDA Director as the technical authority of the DoW for integrated air and missile defense activities and programs.

CRADAs are defined in 15 U.S.C. § 3710a(d), in part, as “any agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties under which the Government, through its laboratories, provides personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property or other resources with or without reimbursement (but not funds to non-Federal parties) and the non- Federal parties provide funds, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or https://www.mda.mil/business/lab.html mailto:MDAfedlab@mail.mil mailto:MDAfedlab@mail.mil https://www.mda.mil/business/lab.html

Pg. 4 of 9 other resources toward the conduct of specified research or development efforts which are consistent with the missions of the laboratory; except that such term does not include a procurement contract…” More info on MDA’s use of CRADAs can be found at https://www.mda.mil/business/lab.html.

SECTION III. TOPICS

Proposed agreements can leverage any of the topics established in MDA’s Nimble Options for Buying Layered Effects (NOBLE) Announcement, Solicitation No. HQ0860-25-S-0001. See the NOBLE Announcement for a full description of the topics https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/08fba5c35e7c475e81b2d0b82a3ee1fa/view.

These topics should be viewed as suggestive rather than limiting.

Topic Area #1 – Hypersonic and Kinetic Defense Topic Area #2 – Command and Control Battle Management Topic Area #3 – Integrated Non-Kinetic and Electronic Warfare Topic Area #4 – Disruptive Technologies Topic Area #5 – Space-based Sensors, Interceptors and Effectors Topic Area #6 – Digital Revolution Topic Area #7 – Radiation Effects, Heavy Ion, Proton and Pulsed Neutron Single Event Effects on Electronic Devices and Systems Topic Area #8 – International Missile Defense System Cooperation

SECTION IV. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Communication

All inquiries related to this notice must be Unclassified and should be sent to MDAfedlab@mail.mil. The Government may contact respondents for questions or clarifications regarding their submission. Such communication does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Furthermore, dialogue with any Government representative related to this notice does not constitute commitment by the Government. All legally authorized Government commitments will only be made through a fully executed agreement.

B. Eligible Respondents

In accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 3710a, eligible respondents include: Federal agencies; units of State, local, or territorial government; industrial organizations (including corporations, partnerships, and limited partnerships, and industrial development organizations); public and private foundations; nonprofit organizations (including universities); or other persons (including licensees of inventions owned by the Federal agency). Potential respondents may team with other qualified non-federal parties.

Eligible activities under proposed agreements may be either unclassified or contain classified information. If activities under a proposed agreement are contemplated to contain classified https://www.mda.mil/business/lab.html https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/08fba5c35e7c475e81b2d0b82a3ee1fa/view

Pg. 5 of 9 information, companies under Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) will be excluded unless steps are taken to negate FOCI or mitigate associated risks to the satisfaction of the U.S.

Government. In accordance with DoD 5220.22-M, a U.S. company is considered under FOCI whenever a foreign interest has the power, direct or indirect, whether or not exercised, and whether or not exercisable through the ownership of the U.S. company's securities, by contractual arrangements or other means, to direct or decide matters affecting the management or operations of that company in a manner which may result in unauthorized access to classified information or may adversely affect the performance of classified contracts.

C. Security Requirements

Responses submitted to this notice are considered Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and shall be appropriately marked and handled by the respondent. More information on CUI is provided as Attachment 1 – CUI Marking Trifold for MDA Industry Partners (Jan. 8, 2024). NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION should be included in white paper responses.

Proposed agreements should indicate any request for access to classified information, Government sponsorship, DoD Contract Security Specification (DD Form 254), or other security related matters. Respondents may be required to provide additional information to substantiate these types of requests. Requests of this nature need to be at no cost to the Government and are not guaranteed.

D. Export Control

The topic areas in this notice 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). Respondents are advised access to MDA CUI and legacy For Official Use Only (FOUO) shall be limited to U.S. persons and dual citizens that do not violate the Countries list in 22 CFR 126.1. Foreign Nationals (as defined in 22 CFR 120.16) are not be approved for access to MDA CUI and legacy FOUO.

E. 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 agreements resulting from this notice may include certain regulations related to the protection of CDI that resides on industry information systems and requirements for rapid reporting of any cyber incident involving CDI. CDI and CUI are defined in DoDI 5200.48, “Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)”.

F. Conflict of Interest

T2 activities including CRADAs must be accomplished without actual or apparent personal or organizational conflicts of interest or violations of ethics standards, in accordance with the DoDI

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5535.08, “DoD Domestic Technology Transfer Program”, and DoDD 5500.07, “Ethics and Standards of Conduct”. All respondents are required to identify any potential or actual Personal Conflict of Interest (PCI) and/or Organization Conflict of Interest (OCI) that exist as a result of responding to this notice and/or performance of the proposed partnership.

G. Use of Non-Government Personnel

MDA may use selected Federally Funded Research and Development (FFRDC), University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), non-Government contracted support, and other non- Governmental personnel to assist in the review and administrative handling of responses. These persons are bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements and organizational conflict of interest statements to protect proprietary information. A response submitted to this notice constitutes the respondent’s acknowledgment and consent to the use of non-Government personnel. Questions or objections to the use of non-Government personnel should be directed to MDAfedlab@mail.mil. Submission of a response under this special notice constitutes a grant of authority by the submitting entity to the Government to allow access by individuals of these firms to any information that may constitute material within the ambit of the Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1905.

H. Resources

Per 15 U.S.C. § 3710a(d)(1), the Government may provide personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources with or without reimbursement (but not funds to non-Federal parties). Non-Federal parties may provide funds, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources toward the conduct of specific research and development efforts which are consistent with the mission of the MDRL.

No funding is available from the Government to cover white paper preparation or submittal costs, discussions, facility visits, or any other costs incurred for preparation of participation in the proposed agreement.

SECTION V. SUBMISSIONS

A. Submission

White papers must be prepared in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF and submitted electronically to MDA via DoD SAFE. Submissions are considered Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and must be marked accordingly. To receive a DoD SAFE link for submission email MDAfedlab@mail.mil with the request. Submission links are valid for 14 calendar days.

B. Format

White papers must be submitted in the following format:

Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format limited to eight (8) pages in length, on standard 8½ by 11-inch page, with 1-inch margins at top, bottom, left and right, in mailto:MDAfedlab@mail.milS

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Times New Roman font of not less than 12-point size, with no more than 6 lines per inch.

Pages numbered sequentially in the bottom footer including company name and identification of proprietary information as appropriate on each page.

Clearly marked/identified proprietary information, photos, or diagrams. Proprietary information or trade secrets do not have to be disclosed in the response if a general technique can be otherwise described. If proprietary information is submitted, it must clearly be marked "proprietary" on every sheet containing such information and the proprietary information must be segregated to the maximum extent practicable from other portions of the response. Respondents are responsible for adequately marking proprietary information contained in their response. Note, proprietary information is neither sought nor desired by the MDA.

Do not send any classified information. If a submission contains information that should be withheld from requestors under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on the grounds that it contains “trade secrets and commercial or financial information” [5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4)], it should be marked in the following manner:

On the title page: “Some parts of this document, as identified on individual pages, are considered by the respondent to be privileged or confidential trade secrets or commercial or financial information not subject to mandatory disclosure under the FOIA. Material considered privileged or confidential on such grounds is contained on page(s) [enter page number(s)].”

Each individual item considered privileged or confidential under FOIA should be marked with the following notice: “The data or information is considered by the submitter to be confidential or privileged, and is not subject to mandatory disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.”

C. Content

White papers to enter into a CRADA should include a brief description of the challenges that will be addressed and the expected research outcomes for each, what Government personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources should be provided to make the research productive. White papers should identify a specific, quantifiable benefit to both parties, anticipated to be achieved at the end of any agreement. Collaborative work may be paper studies, trials/tests or demonstrations, modeling, and simulation as necessary to develop the concepts to demonstrate value to the Government. Specific study outputs and any development and demonstration goals may be further discussed prior to the formalization of any agreement.

CRADAs resulting from this announcement are anticipated for a 1-year period, although duration can be tailored to suit the parties’ needs before or after work begins, by mutual agreement.

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D. Sections

White paper submissions should contain the following sections:

1. Title of proposed agreement (no separate title page needed).

2. Company or organizational name, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE)

Code, and U.S. state of incorporation, and incorporation of any parent entity.

Companies with foreign ownership or parentage must identify the U.S. state of incorporation of the U.S. entity.

3. Points of contact (name, title, mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number).

4. Brief description of approach to collaboration on the selected topic and any additional topics recommended for collaborative study.

5. Brief description of what information or resources will be provided by the respondent and what personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources is requested of the Government. Resources to be provided by the respondent could include: access to proven technologies and techniques for demonstration and evaluation for utility; equipment and prototypes; access to facilities, personnel expertise, information systems, proprietary techniques, hardware, software, materials, etc. Resources requested from the Government could include:

personnel skillsets; data; access to selected environments; access to facilities including test/demo facilities, etc. (no DoD-provided funding is permitted).

6. Utilize the CRADA – Template to provide redlines to the Joint Work Statement

(JWS) (Appendix A) and any other Appendices (B-E) relative to the proposed agreement. The CRADA – Template is available at https://www.mda.mil/business/T2_Mechanisms_For_Partnering.html, or you may request a copy by email from MDAfedlab@mail.mil. The JWS should include a clear description of the collaborative research objectives, a detailed breakdown of tasks and responsibilities for each party, a timeline for key milestones, and a discussion of the resources to be contributed by each party. Instructions for each Appendix are provided within the template.

SECTION VI. ASSESSMENT AND NOTICE

A. Assessment

Based on the Government’s interest and capacity to enter into the proposed agreement, the Government will choose whether to proceed with negotiations with the respondent. If elected to proceed, the Government will conduct a separate discussion with the respondent, seeking to reach mutual agreement on objectives, duration, intellectual property, and resources to be applied by the parties in the proposed CRADA. The Government may choose to visit pertinent facilities https://www.mda.mil/business/T2_Mechanisms_For_Partnering.html

Pg. 9 of 9 for a tour of capabilities prior to final agreement. Such discussion or facility visits do not guarantee the formal execution of any CRADA.

B. Notices

MDA will notify respondents if the Government is or is not interested in pursuing the proposed agreement. Proposed agreements not identified for further discussion will be archived by the Government and appropriately protected. Any notices received from MDA do not constitute a firm commitment on behalf of the Government. Agreements are not final and in effect until fully executed by both parties. MDA will not otherwise provide respondents with any additional feedback.

SECTION VII. ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – CUI Marking Trifold for MDA Industry Partners (Jan. 8, 2024)