SBX Development, Operations and Sustainment, Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity

The Missile Defense Agency has awarded contract HQ085926DE008 on October 23, 2026, on a sole-source basis under a justification for exception to fair opportunity, for development, operations, and sustainment of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) as a task order under the MDA SHIELD IDIQ. Per the attached JEFO summary, the awardee is Raytheon Company; the notice's description does not name the vendor or an award amount. The Set Aside line reads "No Set-Aside Used."

The justification states that only Raytheon possesses the unique qualifications for the ocean-going, mechanically slewing discrimination radar, citing proprietary infrastructure, calibration requirements, and 20 years of demonstrated operational performance. It cites 10 U.S.C. 3406(c)(2) as statutory authority. Three RFIs posted in October 2022, March 2024, and September 2024 confirmed Raytheon's singular capability, and prior related task orders were awarded to Raytheon as sole-source efforts.

The period of performance is 10 years: a 4-year base beginning in Fiscal Year 2027 and two 3-year options. The contract is Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee with Cost CLINs and is funded through RDT&E appropriations. Scope covers program management, engineering services for systems and software, cybersecurity, configuration management, modeling and simulation, logistics engineering, product modernization, and radar operations support. The estimated total contract value spans FY2027 through FY2037, with no dollar figure stated. Place of performance is not stated. The procurement is coded NAICS 541715 and PSC AC13.

Pricing will be established through Defense Contract Audit Agency review and Defense Contract Management Agency assessment, benchmarked against an Independent Government Cost Estimate. Planned competition-enabling actions include strategic teaming requirements for subcontracting, technical data rights acquisition planning, and a Technical Data Package analysis two years before exercising future SBX contract options.