Trusted and Elastic Military Platforms and Electronic Warfare (EW) System Technologies (TEMPEST)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) with Calls, FA8650-20-S-1958, issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RY) seeks to solicit white papers and proposals for the Trusted and Elastic Military Platforms and Electronic Warfare (EW) System Technologies (TEMPEST) program. The basic ARA remains open for calls until March 31, 2026. The program aims to investigate and develop methodologies, tools, and capabilities to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in avionics systems, protect against cyber-attacks, provide simulation capabilities, develop agile platform architectures, and expand open system architecture standards for Air Force and DoD weapon systems in multi-domain environments.

Calls issued under this ARA will focus on:

• Prototyping, integrating, and demonstrating cyber security and cognitive avionics technologies.
• Developing and experimenting with new cognitive, cyber-hardened, and high-speed flexible system architectures.
• Integrating advanced cyber security, cognitive sensor technologies, and C4ISR capabilities into weapon systems.
• Developing experimental programs implementing Open System Architecture (OSA) based reference architectures.

Technical Areas of Interest include:

• Technologies for Assessing Platform Cyber Security
• Technologies for Cyber-Hardened Platforms
• Technologies for Cyber-Resilient Platforms
• Agile System Architecture Development and Integration
• Open System Architectures for Trusted and Agile Platforms
• Technologies for Modeling & Simulation
• Technologies to Advance RF Simulation
• Techniques, methods and technologies for measuring sensor system performance
• Radio Frequency Synthetic Battlespace Simulation and Generation
• Design, develop and evaluate High Fidelity Models

Work may involve technology development, test-bed development, test & integration, research networks, and operational technology demonstrations.

• The total estimated program value is $808,505,000.00.

• Awards may be made as FAR-based Cost-Reimbursement, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Multiple Award Fair Opportunity, or Other Transaction (OT) awards.

• Award type will be identified under each call.

• Period of Performance and Deliverables (Data Items, Software, Hardware) are TBD per individual call.

• The process can be one-step (direct proposal) or two-step (white paper followed by proposal).

• White papers and proposals must be submitted by the due date specified in each call.

• White papers will be reviewed for their potential to meet Air Force needs based on technical approach and Government interest.

• Proposals will be reviewed based on Technical Merit and Cost/Price.

• Offerors are encouraged to monitor SAM.gov for amendments and issued calls.

• This is an unrestricted solicitation. Businesses/Educational Institutions of all sizes are encouraged to propose.

• Cost sharing is not required.

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may be eligible under specific conditions.

• Contact information for Technical and Contracting Points of Contact is provided.

• Security requirements, including Program Protection Plan (PPP) and OPSEC, are detailed.

• Export control regulations may apply.

• Data Rights will be determined per individual call.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Security Risk Review process (AFRLI 61-113) for federally funded research. The review aims to identify potential vectors of undue foreign influence and protect Department of the Air Force Science and Technology (S&T). The process involves assessing risk factors related to foreign talent programs, funding, foreign institutions, denied entities, and U.S. Government systems.

Offerors/Contractors must submit the following with their proposals for Contract or Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) proposals:

• Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile Worksheet (Appendix 2)

• Security Program Questionnaire (Appendix 1)

• "Privacy Act Statement" consent form for each Covered Individual, signed by the Offeror/Contractor as Sponsor (Appendix 3)

• The document does not specify contract type, period of performance, or estimated value.

• By submitting the required documentation, Offerors/Contractors agree to certify that covered individuals are aware of disclosure requirements (42 U.S.C. § 6605) and potential liabilities for false representations.

• Offerors must establish internal processes to address foreign talent programs, conflicts of interest, and research integrity.

• Due diligence is required to identify foreign components or participation in foreign government talent recruitment programs.

• If a security risk is identified that exceeds the acceptable threshold, the offeror may be notified of the decline of award.

• Not specified in this document.

• "Covered Individuals" are defined as those contributing substantively to the scientific development or execution of a research and development project, and for ARA solicitations, this includes all Senior/Key Personnel.

• Federal law requires disclosure of all current and pending research support for covered individuals at the time of proposal submission.

• During the period of performance, Offerors/Contractors must re-submit profiles annually and whenever new covered individuals are added. They must also notify the Contracting Officer within 5 business days of awareness if Senior/Key Research Personnel are involved in Foreign Government Talent Programs or have foreign components with strategic competitors.

• This requirement must be flowed down to all sub-awardees/contractors with designated Senior/Key Research Personnel.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Privacy Act Statement for the Air Force Research Laboratory. It informs individuals about the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information in relation to Federal Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Contracts, Other Transaction Agreements, and other research-related agreements awarded by the Department of the Air Force.

• Authority: Lists the legal statutes and executive orders governing the collection of information.
• Purpose: Explains why the information is collected and how it will be used.
• Routine Uses: Details the circumstances under which the information may be shared with other entities.
• Effect of not providing information: Outlines the consequences of not providing the requested information, including potential rejection of applications.
• Acknowledgment of consent: A section for individuals and their authorized representatives to sign, indicating consent and agreement.
• Proposal Title: A field to specify the title of the proposal.

Bidders must review and understand this statement to ensure compliance with privacy regulations and to be aware of the implications of providing personal information as part of their application or proposal. The acknowledgment of consent section will likely need to be completed and submitted as part of the application process.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Security Program Questionnaire used to review the security program and practices of institutions receiving research funding. It is intended for collaborators to complete and for the S&T Protection Lead to review.

• Applicant Name
• CAGE Code/SCL and level (if applicable)
• Name and Title of the person completing the form
• Questions covering physical security plans, information security processes, data storage, transmission/transportation, disposal/destruction, reproduction, personnel access safeguards, safeguarding of Government Furnished Equipment/Information (GFE/GFI), cybersecurity/network protection, operations security, insider threat mitigation, and procedures for handling compromised information.
• A question regarding willingness to provide AFRL S&T Protection training.
• A section for additional comments.

Bidders responding to opportunities that require this questionnaire must complete it accurately. The responses will be used to assess the security posture and practices related to the research effort. This document is critical for understanding the security requirements and compliance obligations associated with the opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the "Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile Worksheet." It is designed to collect detailed information about key personnel proposed for a project, particularly for "Research and Related" opportunities and those under FAR-Based Contracts.

• The worksheet requires information for a Project Director / Principal Investigator and up to five Senior / Key Persons.
• For each individual, the following required fields must be completed: First Name, Last Name, Position/Title, Organization Name, and Email Address.
• Optional fields include Middle Name, Suffix, Department, Division, Phone Number, and LinkedIn Profile.
• A "Project Role" field is included, with "PD / PI" pre-filled for the Project Director/Principal Investigator and Senior/Key Persons, and an "Other Project Role" field for customization.
• A footnote indicates that fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required items.

Bidders must use this form to provide the required biographical and professional details for all proposed senior and key personnel. Accurate and complete submission of this worksheet is crucial for proposal evaluation, as these individuals are often critical to the successful performance of the contract.