Alternate Access for Cyber Applications: Exodus
Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA8750-26-S-7004
- Agency
-
Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Not on record
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Rome Research Site, intends to solicit offensive cyberspace operations (OCO) alternate access cyber capability prototypes supporting Long Range Kill Chains (LRKC) through an open, two-step Advanced Research Announcement (ARA FA8750-26-S-7004) with white paper submissions due by 30 September 2030 and formal proposals by invitation only thereafter, with the solicitation remaining open until 30 June 2031.
This is an open, unclassified solicitation with no set-aside. The effort is restricted to U.S. entities; foreign participation is closed except for unclassified fundamental research and contractors with approved Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI) mitigation. Place of performance is not limited geographically.
Total estimated funding across the ARA is approximately $999 million. Individual awards typically range from $10 million to $50 million and do not normally exceed 60 months, though awards up to $99.99 million are possible. Multiple awards are anticipated. Suggested white paper submission windows align to fiscal year funding: FY27 by 30 September 2026; FY28 by 30 September 2027; FY29 by 30 September 2028; FY30 by 30 September 2029; and FY31 by 31 December 2030.
Step One requires submission of 4-to-5-page white papers only; selected offerors will be invited to submit formal technical and cost proposals in Step Two. Evaluation criteria in descending order of importance are overall scientific and technical merit, potential contribution to Air Force objectives, demonstrated relevant technology and domain knowledge, and reasonableness of proposed costs. Awards may be issued as FAR-based procurement contracts or Other Transactions under 10 USC 4021, 4022, and 4023. Submit white papers to Thomas Parisi at afrl.rf.hellfire@us.af.mil; direct contractual questions to Contracting Officer Amber Buckley at Amber.Buckley@us.af.mil.
Notice text
NAICS CODE: 541715
FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information & Spectrum Warfare Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514
ARA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement
ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (ARA) TITLE: Alternate Access for Cyber Applications: Exodus
ARA NUMBER: FA8750-26-S-7004
PART I – OVERVIEW INFORMATION
This announcement is for an Open, two step ARA which is open and effective until 6:00PM EST on 30 June 2031. Only white papers will be accepted as initial submissions; formal proposals will be accepted by invitation only. While white papers will be considered if received prior to 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 30 SEP 2030, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding:
FY27 by 30 Sep 2026
FY28 by 30 Sep 2027
FY29 by 30 Sep 2028
FY30 by 30 Sep 2029
FY31 by 30 Dec 2030
Offerors should monitor the Contract Opportunities on the SAM website at https://SAM.gov in the event this announcement is amended.
CONCISE SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT: Seeking to develop offensive cyberspace operations (OCO) alternate access cyber capability prototypes in support of Long Range Kill Chains (LRKC) that could transition into Department of War (DoW) operational organizations to facilitate gaining adversary infrastructure access that would otherwise not be possible through traditional cyber capabilities ensuring our Nation’s superiority in the Cyber Domain.
ARA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this ARA is approximately $999M. Individual awards will not normally exceed sixty (60)months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $10M to $50M. There is also the potential to make awards up to $99.99M.
ANTICIPATED INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: Multiple Awards are anticipated. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Procurement Contracts/Other Transactions, for all, some, or none of the solicited effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work and funding fluctuations. There is no limit on the number of OTs that may be awarded to an individual offeror.
TYPE OF INSTRUMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED:FAR based procurement contracts or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 and 10 USC 4023 (previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b and 4004, 2373)
In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive ARA, and the prototype project is successfully completed, there is the potential for a prototype project to transition to award of a follow-on production contract or transaction. The Other Transaction for Prototype agreement itself will also contain a similar notice of a potential follow-on production contract or agreement.
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: All white paper submissions and any questions of a technical nature shall be directed to the cognizant Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) as specified below (unless otherwise specified in the technical area):
ARA PROGRAM MANAGER:
Thomas Parisi
AFRL/RFGD
525 Brooks Rd
Rome, NY 13441-4505
Telephone: (315) 315-832-4041
Email: afrl.rf.hellfire@us.af.mil
Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below (email requests are preferred):
Amber Buckley
Email: Amber.Buckley@us.af.mil
Emails must reference the solicitation ARA number and title of the acquisition.
Pre-Proposal Communication between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged. Technical and contracting questions can be resolved in writing or through open discussions. 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.
Offerors are cautioned that evaluation ratings may be lowered and/or proposal rejected if proposal preparation (Proposal format, content, etc.) and/or submittal instructions are not followed.
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 26-04 synopsis v5.pdf |
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