Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT)

NAICS CODE:  541715

FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514

BAA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE:  Initial announcement

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

TITLE: Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT)                                                                                       

BAA NUMBER: FA8750-25-S-7004

PART I – OVERVIEW INFORMATION

This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step BAA which is open and effective until 4 AUG 2030.  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 3pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 4 AUG 2030, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding:

FY26 by 05  SEP 2025

FY27 by 31 AUG 2026

FY28 by 31 AUG 2027

FY29 by 31 AUG 2028

FY30 by 31 AUG 2029

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 innovative research to enhance Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) kill chain and point defense capabilities through advancements in Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyberspace Operations (CO), Command and Control (C2) Automation and Autonomy, Low-Collateral Defeat (LCD), Low-Collateral Effect Interceptors (LCEI)/Blue Force Interceptors (BFI), and communications.

One goal is to blur the line between EW and CO by developing cyberspace countermeasures that disrupt sUAS operations, particularly command and control links. This includes improving system resiliency in contested environments and prioritizing low-collateral damage solutions. C2 advancements aim to automate and optimize responses to sUAS threats, especially swarm attacks, through AI/ML, sensor fusion, and automated decision-making. Research into LCD/LCEI/BFI could lead to the development of low-cost, autonomous interceptors with integrated EW/CO capabilities and other C-sUAS payloads.

Further research will focus on improving sensor technologies for enhanced detection, identification, and tracking, as well as developing a library for storing and indexing cyberspace effects. In parallel, efforts will be made to advance UAS Traffic Management (UTM) systems, integrating them with existing air traffic control, enabling safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the airspace.

Finally, communication systems will be enhanced through advanced modeling and simulation, development of resilient waveforms and networking protocols for swarm operations, and integration of AI for network optimization and spectrum management.

BAA ESTIMATED FUNDING:  Total funding for this BAA is approximately $499M.  Individual awards will not normally exceed sixty (60) months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $500K to $20M. There is also the potential to make awards up to $99M.

ANTICIPATED INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:  Multiple Awards are anticipated.  However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Procurement Contracts or Other Transactions and assistance instruments, 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, CFR based grants and cooperative agreements or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 (previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b) depending upon the nature of the work proposed. 10 USC 4023 also allows for FAR based contracts, OTs for research, OTs for Prototype, and assistance instruments.

In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive BAA, 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):

BAA PROGRAM MANAGER:                                            Deputy BAA Manager                       

TRISTEN M. CARRIG                                                         PETER J. FITZGERALD

AFRL/RIGD                                                                          AFRL/RITGB

525 Brooks Rd                                                                        525 Brooks Rd

Rome, NY 13441-4505                                                           Rome, NY 13441-4505

Telephone: (315) 330-            2558                                                    Telephone: (315) 330-2081

Email: tristen.carrig@us.af.mil                                              Email: peter.fitzgerald.1@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 (BAA) 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.

Amendment No. 1 to BAA FA8750-25-S-7004

The purpose of this amendment is to:

1. Part II, FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT, updates the language regarding Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders;

FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders: Depending on the date of issuance of this solicitation, FASCSA order(s) may be applicable. Therefore, the Offeror shall search for the phrase “FASCSA order” in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) for any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if there is an applicable Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders prohibition. This requirement only applies to FAR based awards.  

No other changes are made.

Amendment No. 2 to BAA FA8750-25-S-7004

The purpose of this amendment is to update the Pre-Proposal Communication language as shown below:

1. Part I Overview Information, is changed as shown below:

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 through email. Communications 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.

No other changes are made.

SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL AMENDMENT DETAILS.

Amendment No. 3 to BAA FA8750-25-S-7004

The purpose of this amendment is to:

1. PART I-OVERVIEW INFORMATION, adds new language regarding assistance instruments regarding Gold Standard Science in accordance with Executive Order 14303;
2. PART II, Section V, paragraph 1, adds new language regarding evaluation criteria for assistance instruments.

See attachment for full amendment details.

Amendment No. 4 to BAA FA8750-25-S-7004

The purpose of this amendment is to:

1. PART I-OVERVIEW INFORMATION and PART II-Section VII; update the agency contacts email address to AFRL.RFGW.MFAT_BAA_7004@us.af.mil

No other changes are made.

SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL AMENDMENT DETAILS.

AMENDMENT 5 TO BAA FA8750-25-S-7004

The purpose of this modification is to republish the original announcement, incorporating any previous amendments, pursuant to FAR 35.016(c).

This republishing also includes the following changes:

1. Part I, Overview Information:
   1. Updates the Federal Agency Name;

1. Part II, Full Text Announcement:
   1. Section V.3, updates the Simplified Acquisition Threshold to $350,000;
   2. Section V.4, updates the certified cost and pricing data threshold to $10M for large businesses;
   3. Section VI.1, updates the proposal formatting language;
   4. Section VI.3, updates the debriefing language;
   5. Section VI.5.b.3, updates the DFARS clause;
   6. Section VI.5.c, updates the DFARS clause;
   7. Section VI.7, updates the provisions;
   8. Section VI.9; updates the DFARS reference;
   9. Section VII: updates the OMBUDSMAN language.

No other changes are made.

SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL AMENDMENT DETAILS.