ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND NEXT GENERATION DISTRIBUTED COMMAND AND CONTROL
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Air Force (DAF), through AFRL - Rome Research Site, has issued an Open, 2-Step Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8750-23-S-7006 for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Next Generation Distributed Command and Control (C2). This BAA seeks to accelerate research and development of novel AI-based and distributed capabilities to achieve strategic decision advantage for the DAF and Joint Force C2. The total estimated funding is approximately $99 million, with individual awards typically ranging from $200K to $20M over up to 48 months. White papers are accepted until August 30, 2028.
Scope of Work
This BAA focuses on advancing AI and distributed C2 concepts across strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Key technical areas include:
- Command & Control of AI Systems: Developing mission-tailored AI models, including AI COA Design, AI Model Production, and AI Common Operating Picture. Government Furnished Software (GFS) may be provided for this area.
- Federated, Composable Autonomy & AI Toolbox: Creating tools for federated deployment and lifecycle management of AI capabilities with common standards.
- Interactive Learning for C4I: Exploring data-efficient machine learning using human-in-the-loop for C4I problems.
- C2 Complexity Dominance: Researching techniques to impose complexity on adversary forces (human and AI).
- Generative AI C4I: Investigating generative AI for C4I applications like data aggregation and reasoning.
- Software Defined Distributed C2: Optimizing and orchestrating distributed C2 nodes for agile operations.
- Tactical AI: Developing scalable C2 protocols for distributed signal detection and geolocation.
- Mission Planning for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP): Developing an Autonomous Aerial Mission Manager (A2M2).
- AI Decision Support for Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2): Seeking AI-enabled decision support for managing complex Long-Range Kill Chains (LRKCs). Note: Technical Area 3 (Advanced Wargaming Agents) has been removed, and no new white papers will be accepted for it.
Contract & Timeline
- BAA Number: FA8750-23-S-7006
- NAICS Code: 541715 (National Defense R&D Services)
- Estimated Funding: Approximately $99M total.
- Individual Awards: Normally $200K to $20M, up to 48 months. Potential for awards up to the BAA ceiling.
- Anticipated Awards: Multiple awards (Procurement Contracts, Other Transactions, Grants, Cooperative Agreements). Successful OTs may transition to follow-on production.
- White Paper Submission Deadline: August 30, 2028, 1600 EST.
- Suggested Submission Dates (for alignment with funding): FY24 (Sep 13, 2023), FY25 (Mar 15, 2024), FY26 (Mar 15, 2025 for general, specific dates for TA9/TA10), FY27 (Mar 15, 2026), FY28 (Mar 15, 2027).
Submission & Evaluation
This is a 2-step process; only white papers are accepted initially, with formal proposals by invitation. White papers should be 3 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, and only one copy is required. Evaluation criteria include Scientific and Technical Merit, Related Experience, Openness/Maturity/Assurance of Solution, and Reasonableness/Realism of Costs. For assistance instruments, adherence to Gold Standard Science (GSS) policies (Executive Order 14303) is a critical evaluation factor, requiring explicit agreement and compliance in proposals. Proposals must also avoid promoting racial preferences, denying the sex binary, facilitating illegal immigration, or promoting anti-American values.
Eligibility & Notes
- Eligibility: All qualified offerors. Closed to foreign participation/nationals, with exceptions for unclassified fundamental research.
- S&T Protection: Proposals are subject to a Security Risk Review. Offerors must submit required forms (SF 424, Security Program Questionnaire, Privacy Act Statement) for "Covered Individuals." Failure to comply may lead to award declination.
- Registration: Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov.
- Contacts: Technical questions to Gennady Staskevich (gennady.staskevich@us.af.mil, 315-330-4889). Contractual/business questions to Amber Buckley (Amber.Buckley@us.af.mil, 315-330-3605).