Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Engineering and Technical Support (RETS) Presolicitation Notice

The Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate is issuing a presolicitation notice for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Engineering and Technical Support (RETS) services to support the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering. The procured services will encompass eight primary task areas including mission engineering, systems engineering, prototyping and experimentation, modeling and simulation, strategic operational analysis, science and technology research, data management and analysis, technology protection, and ad hoc surge support across emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and hypersonics. All contractor personnel must possess a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, and the contractor must maintain a Top Secret facility clearance. Evaluation will be based equally on technical merit and past performance factors, which are weighted as significantly more important than price. The formal solicitation will be issued on SAM.GOV in the near future, with an offer due date of May 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM.

This acquisition is set aside as a 100% Total Small Business under NAICS Code 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), with a maximum contract value of $1.4 billion across four contract line items covering Firm Fixed Price services, Labor Hour services, and Time and Materials travel and supplies costs. The contract will be structured as a multiple-award Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) vehicle with a five-year ordering period from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2031, plus a 12-month option extension, with a minimum order value of $3,000 per task order. Task Order 001 will commence on April 3, 2026 with an estimated workload of approximately 3.4 Full-Time Equivalents during the base 12-month period, with four optional 12-month renewal periods, requiring highly qualified personnel with 5 to 20+ years of experience depending on specific labor categories. Work will be performed at both contractor facilities and government locations including the Pentagon, Mark Center, and other National Capital Region sites, with anticipated 50% on-site and 50% off-site staffing arrangements.