Optical Radiation Bioeffects and Safety (ORBS 2. 0) - Industry Day
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 9-12-2025
- Agency
-
Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Place of performance
- San Antonio, Texas, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Air Force Research Laboratory's Optical Radiation Bioeffects Branch (AFRL/RHDO) is seeking contractor support for the Optical Radiation Bioeffects and Safety (ORBS 2.0) program under the Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS) Multiple Authority Announcement #FA2384-24-S-2233. The procurement encompasses research and development services across three primary functional areas: Novel Laser Bioeffects, Nuclear Flash and Laser Eye Protection (LEP), and Modeling, Simulation & Analysis. Key technical objectives include characterizing bioeffects of directed energy technologies, developing advanced protective devices, creating computational models for laser-tissue interactions, supporting safety standards development, and conducting laboratory and field studies involving human and animal subjects. The work requires expertise in vision psychophysics, programming languages, numerical analysis, high-performance computing, human and animal research protocols, and laser systems operation, with a minimum Secret clearance and potential TS/SCI classification requirements. An Industry Day was held on October 1, 2025, to provide program overviews, lab tours, and Q&A sessions; questions regarding the notice were due by September 24, 2025, with follow-up questions accepted through October 1, 2025.
This procurement includes no set-aside designations and will be issued as an order off the CHEERS schedule contract vehicle using Business Agreement Act (BAA) requirements rather than FAR-15 procedures. The current contract effort was valued at approximately $58 million, with the estimated budget for the new effort expected to be in a similar range and to be published in the upcoming solicitation. The government welcomes multiple awards and actively encourages subcontracting and teaming arrangements among potential contractors. Key responsibilities include providing animals for testing, supporting veterinary staff operations, conducting laser bioeffects testing using human tissue surrogates, developing virtual reality and augmented reality simulations using Unity and AFSIM platforms, and creating wargaming simulations. The contractor will be responsible for developing scenes, codes, and custom equipment configurations, though warranty provisions and property ownership transfer to the government upon final delivery. Annual work planning between the government and contractors will determine project scope, deliverables, and staffing requirements, with expectations that planned work will be executed as scheduled.
Notice text
4 versions
Update #4 · Latest ·
The Air Force Research Lab, Optical Radiation Bioeffects Branch (AFRL/RHDO) hosted an Industry Day on 4 Dec 2025. This event supported the “Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)” Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) #FA2384-24-S-2233; specifically, the technical requirements of the Bioeffects Division found within section 3.0 of the CHEERS MAA Technical Requirements - Statement of Objectives.
The Q&A from the Industry Day is attached.
Update #3 ·
The Air Force Research Lab, Optical Radiation Bioeffects Branch (AFRL/RHDO) will be hosting an Industry Day, tentatively scheduled for TBD. This event will support the “Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)” Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) #FA2384-24-S-2233; specifically, the technical requirements of the Bioeffects Division found within section 3.0 of the CHEERS MAA Technical Requirements - Statement of Objectives.
Submit questions regarding this notice to the POCs identified herein not later than 5:00PM Eastern, 1 Oct 2025.
Update #2 ·
The Air Force Research Lab, Optical Radiation Bioeffects Branch (AFRL/RHDO) will be hosting an Industry Day, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025. This event will support the “Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)” Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) #FA2384-24-S-2233; specifically, the technical requirements of the Bioeffects Division found within section 3.0 of the CHEERS MAA Technical Requirements - Statement of Objectives.
Submit questions regarding this notice to the POCs identified herein not later than 5:00PM Eastern, 24 Sep 2025
Update #1 ·
The Air Force Research Lab, Optical Radiation Bioeffects Branch (AFRL/RHDO) will be hosting an Industry Day, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025. This event will support the “Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)” Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) #FA2384-24-S-2233; specifically, the technical requirements of the Bioeffects Division found within section 3.0 of the CHEERS MAA Technical Requirements - Statement of Objectives.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Day_Main Q and A.pdf | ||
| QA_OneOnOne_1.pdf | ||
| Industry Day QA Private Sessions.pdf | ||
| TSRL Industry Day Flyer and Agenda.pdf | ||
| TSRL Industry Day Flyer and Agenda 1.pdf | ||
| SOO ORBS 2025 Final Draft for SAM 1.pdf | ||
| SOO ORBS 2025 Final Draft for SAM.gov.docx | DOCX document | |
| TSRL Industry Day Flyer and Agenda.docx | DOCX document |
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