QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCES

Amendment / Modification

This amendment updates the solicitation FA8750-23-S-7001 regarding Science and Technology (S&T) Protection.

• Section III, Paragraph 5 (S&T Protection): Updates language related to the Security Risk Review process. This review is conducted prior to award to protect Department of the Air Force S&T by identifying potential foreign influence. Proposals will be subject to a review of Senior/Key personnel and "Covered Individuals" using a questionnaire, publicly available information, and internal government databases. Nationality is not a determining factor. AFRL uses a holistic decision-making process considering technical and security factors to determine a Risk Acceptance Level (RAL).

• Actions Required by Applicants/Recipients (Section III.I.a): Applicants must submit specific documentation with their proposals, including the "Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile (Expanded)" and "Security Program Questionnaire." For Grant or Cooperative Agreement proposals, the "Privacy Act Statement" consent form for each Covered Individual is also required. For Contract or Other Transaction Agreement proposals, a "Research and Related Senior Key Person Profile Worksheet" is required instead of the expanded profile.

• Section V, Paragraph 2.e (S&T Review): Updates language regarding the S&T review within the proposal review and selection process. In parallel with technical and cost evaluations, the government will review the submitted S&T protection forms. If a security risk is identified that exceeds the acceptable threshold, the Offeror will be notified of the declination of award.

• Section III, Paragraph 5

• Section V, Paragraph 2.e

• No changes to proposal deadlines are indicated. However, specific documentation related to S&T protection must be submitted with proposals, and failure to disclose fully may have legal consequences. The S&T review is now explicitly integrated into the parallel review process alongside technical and cost evaluations.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment republishes the original announcement (BAA FA8750-23-S-7001) to incorporate previous amendments and includes the following specific changes:

• Part I, Overview Information: Updated language regarding the "type of instruments that may be awarded."
• Part II, Full Text Announcement:
  • Updated the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number to Assistance Listing number.
  • Section IV: Added language regarding responsible sources.
  • Section IV.2: Updated the white paper format.
  • Section V.2.b.2.a: Added paragraph c regarding S&T review.
  • Section VI.1: Updated the Proposal Formatting language.
  • Section IV.3: Updated the debriefing language.
  • Section VII: Updated the provisions.
  • Section VII: Updated the OMBUDSMAN and changed AFFARS to DAFFARS.

Several sections across Part I, Part II, and Part VII have been updated, including Overview Information, Full Text Announcement sections (IV, V, VI, VII), and Agency Contacts.

While this amendment republishes the solicitation, it specifically updates the white paper format (Section IV.2) and proposal formatting language (Section VI.1). Offerors should ensure they adhere to the revised formatting guidelines. No changes to submission deadlines are indicated in this amendment.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8750-23-S-7001, issued by the Department of the Air Force, solicits white papers for research, design, development, concept testing, evaluation, and experimentation in Quantum Information Sciences. The effort aims to advance algorithm designs and technologies using quantum computing and investigate entanglement distribution across quantum networks to support the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I) mission. This is an open, two-step BAA effective until September 30, 2027.

The research focuses on five key areas:

• Quantum Algorithms and Computing: Development and testing of quantum algorithms on current hardware platforms.

• Quantum Information Processing: Entanglement distribution, quantum information processing, and photon-based qubits.

• Memory-Node-Based Quantum Networking: Quantum networking and communication emphasizing trapped-ion and superconducting qubits.

• Heterogeneous Quantum Platforms: Development of new quantum devices and exploration of fundamental physics for networking architectures.

• Quantum Information Science: Novel quantum bit technologies, protocols, and enabling technology development. White papers are the initial submission; formal proposals will be by invitation only. Deliverables will be specified in subsequent invitations.

• Estimated Funding: Approximately $499,999,999M total.

• Individual Awards: Typically 36 months, ranging from $0.5M to $27M, with potential for up to $99.9M.

• Anticipated Awards: Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Award Instruments: Procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or Other Transactions (OTs).

• Submission Type: White papers are the initial submission (Step One). Formal proposals will be invited (Step Two).

• Suggested Submission Dates: FY23 by April 28, 2023; FY24 by September 30, 2023; FY25 by September 30, 2024; FY26 by September 30, 2025; FY27 by September 30, 2026. The BAA closes September 30, 2027.

• White Paper Format: 2-4 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font. Must include specific sections (Title, Period of Performance, Cost, Company Info, POCs; Task Objective; Technical Summary & Deliverables).

• Evaluation Criteria: Scientific and Technical Merit, Related Experience, Openness/Maturity/Assurance of Solution, Reasonableness/Realism of Costs.

• Notification: Offerors will be notified of evaluation results within 45 days of white paper submission.

• General Eligibility: All qualified offerors.

• Foreign Participation: Closed to foreign participation (ownership and nationals), with exceptions for unclassified fundamental research. Specific requirements for foreign nationals and FOCI companies apply.

• FFRDCs/Government Entities: Subject to competition limitations; must demonstrate work is not available from the private sector and provide specific documentation.

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Specific requirements for facility clearance, export control, and S&T protection apply.

• Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) disclosures are required.

• Research involving human subjects must comply with federal regulations and DoD instructions.