Aviation and Missile R&D BAA

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (AMD 0002) to the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911W626RA002 makes the following key changes:

• Future Funding Opportunities: Future funding opportunities will no longer be published as amendments to Attachment 5. Instead, they will be issued with a new Procurement Instrument Identifier Number (PIIN) and will reference the Master BAA PIIN.
• Administrative Updates: Updates have been made to include agency names and FAR/DFARS citations to reflect changes from the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) process.
• Attachment 2 (Two-Step Process): Clarifies that new research and development funding opportunities will be published as a Special Notice on SAM.gov with a unique PIIN.
• Attachment 26-ATTACH5-C (CATO):
  • The Program Schedule is revised to note that the initial round of Summary Offer evaluations for Autonomy Technologies for Complex Advanced Teaming Operations (CATO) will begin on June 4, 2026. Future cut-off dates will be published via BAA amendment.
  • A Contracting Office point of contact has been added.
• Section C (Description/Specifications/Statement of Work): The text has been modified to state that this Announcement is a BAA issued under RFO 35.102, DFARS 235.016, and 2 CFR 200.204.

• General BAA process for future funding opportunities.

• Attachment 2 (Two-Step Process).

• Attachment 26-ATTACH5-C (CATO) - Program Schedule and Contracting Office POC.

• Section C - Description/Specifications/Statement of Work.

• The amendment clarifies how future funding opportunities will be announced.

• It provides a specific start date for the initial round of Summary Offer evaluations for CATO (June 4, 2026).

• It updates the list of attachments and references.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment issues Attachment 5, Sequence #26-ATTACH5-C, titled "Autonomy Technologies for Complex Advanced Teaming Operations (CATO)".

• This funding opportunity deviates from the standard Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) published processes and includes a three-step process.

• Attachment 5 (Autonomy Technologies for Complex Advanced Teaming Operations (CATO)) has been added.

• The previous "ATTACHMENT 5 - Project Descriptions and Topics of Interest" has been deleted.

• The document page count for "BAA Attachment 5 Autonomy Technologies published 20 Apr 26" has been updated from 'none' to reflect its addition.

• The "Provided Under Separate Cover" status for "BAA Attachment 5 Autonomy Technologies published 20 Apr 26" has changed from 'No' to 'Yes'.

• The solicitation is amended to reflect the addition of a new attachment and the modification of existing attachments. Bidders should refer to the new Attachment 5 for details regarding the CATO initiative and the revised process.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) / Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Aviation and Missile Research and Development (AMRD). It is a combined BAA/NOFO issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 35.016 and Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS) 235.016. The purpose is to solicit research concept papers and proposals for funding consideration, aimed at advancing state-of-the-art technologies and increasing knowledge to overcome current technology barriers. The BAA is effective for five years from its publication date.

• The BAA identifies areas of interest for exploratory development and provides information for preparing responses and evaluation factors.

• The Government may issue Calls (One-Step process) or amend the BAA to add Attachment 5 (Two-Step process) for specific project details.

• Submissions related to the development of a specific system or to satisfy specific hardware/software requirements are not appropriate.

• Key Technical Topic Areas (TTAs) include Design & Assessment, Intelligent Teaming & Autonomy, Avionics & Networks, Open Architecture, Launched Effects, Power Generation & Management, Drives, Structures & Rotors, Human Systems Interface, Survivability & Vulnerability, Vehicle Management & Control, Experimental/Computational Aeromechanics, Acoustics, Missile Seekers, Guidance, Navigation & Control, Missile Materials & Structures, Missile Propulsion, Warhead Integration & Fuzing, and Air Defense Sensors (Seekers & Radar) & Fire Control.

• The BAA is open to all responsible sources, including single entities or teams from industry and academia.

• Award instruments may include FAR-based instruments (procurement contracts), assistance instruments (grants, cooperative agreements, Technology Investment Agreements), and Other Transactions (OT) Agreements.

• Funding details will be published in Attachment 5 or Calls, specifying total funding, number of awards, and expected award amounts. This BAA is an expression of interest only.

• The BAA outlines a two-step process: Concept Papers (Step One) and Full Proposals (Step Two).

• Concept papers will be evaluated based on technical merit, transition path, and schedule/cost feasibility.

• Proposals will be evaluated based on technical criteria (innovativeness, merit of approach, offeror capability) and cost/price criteria (reasonableness, affordability, realism).

• Technical Evaluation Criteria are more important than Cost/Price Criteria.

• Submission dates and times will be provided in the Call and/or Attachment 5.

• Submissions must be electronic, in PDF format, and not exceed 10 MB.

• This BAA does not restrict competition and is open to all responsible sources.

• Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and for-profit organizations.

• Participation is limited to U.S. Firms as Prime Contractors; foreign-owned entities can participate as subcontractors.

• Principal Investigators (PIs) must be U.S. Persons for other than basic research.

• Risk review is applicable to all instruments, assessing applicant integrity, business ethics, and performance record.

• Attachments include: One-Step Process, Two-Step Process, Proposal Instructions, Army Research Risk Assessment Program (ARRP), and Project Description/NOFO.

• SAM registration and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) are required.

• Pre-award costs are generally not allowable.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment (AMD 0005) announces the migration of the BAA/solicitation W911W625R0006 from the Procurement Desktop Defense (PD2) system to the Army Contract Writing System (ACWS).

• The Procurement Instrument Identifier (PII) for the BAA has changed from W911W625R0006 to W911W626RA002.

• For uploading responses to the solicitation module of PIEE, continue to use W911W625R0006.

• SAM.gov amendments will continue to be posted under W911W625R0006.

• Future amendments to the BAA will be made to W911W626RA002, with numbering beginning at 0001 for that instrument.

• Section A - Solicitation/Contract Form: The response date/time has been added as 03-Jul-2027 02:30 PM.

• Section J - List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments: A Table of Contents for Exhibits/Attachments has been added, listing "Attachment 1 BAA Solicitation W911W626RA002" dated 05-NOV-2025.

• The response date/time has been added.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (AMD 0004) modifies the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911W625R0006.

Key changes include:

• Attachment 2, Two-Step Process – Concept Papers: Paragraph B, Research Project Description, has been revised to remove the "12-point font" requirement.

• Attachment 5, Topics/Areas of Interest: Sequence #25-ATTACH5-A has been modified to:

  • Include "Engines: Objectives" in the Description paragraph.
  • Add specific concept paper submission guidance for Drives and Engines in the Schedule paragraph.
  • Segregate topic descriptions for Drives and Engines.
  • Add new topics under "Engines Topic Descriptions":
    • Lightweight and High Strength Compressor Materials
    • Optimized Compressor Aerodynamics
    • Advanced Combustion Systems
    • High Temperature Tolerant Turbine Materials and Durability Improvements
    • Advanced Manufacturing to Improve Turbine Performance

• Attachment 2 (Concept Papers)

• Attachment 5 (Topics/Areas of Interest), specifically Sequence #25-ATTACH5-A

• The deadline for submitting concept papers for Engines topics has been updated to 1 December 2025.

• The removal of the "12-point font" requirement in Attachment 2 may affect formatting for concept papers.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (AMD 0003) to the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911W6-25-R-0006 makes the following changes:

• Paragraph 1H, Executive Summary: Clarifies the timing for the publication of a Call or revision to Attachment 5.
• Attachment 2, "Two-Step Process – Concept Papers": Updates actions for the Contracting Officer/Agreements Officer at the conclusion of Step One, adding the phrase "The Concept Paper is 'Of Interest, Currently Not Affordable'."
• Attachment 5, Topics/Areas of Interest Sequence #25-ATTACH5-A: Includes language for Topic 4 (Non-Press fit or Splined Inner/Outer Race Fully Ceramic Bearings in Gearboxes) stating that a report entitled "Future Advanced Rotorcraft Drive System II" is available upon request, provided evidence of a Joint Certification Number and/or a copy of the requestor's approved DD Form 2345 Military Critical Technical Data Agreement is submitted.
• Section L - Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Bidders: Notes that due to a system generation issue, the sequence of Sections may be out of order compared to the original BAA, and that BAA language revisions are provided within this amendment following Attachments 2 and 5.

• Paragraph 1H (Executive Summary)

• Attachment 2 (Two-Step Process – Concept Papers)

• Attachment 5 (Topics/Areas of Interest Sequence #25-ATTACH5-A)

• Section L (Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Bidders)

• No explicit changes to proposal deadlines or submission rules are mentioned, but offerors should review the updated attachments and sections for any implications on their submissions.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (AMD 0002) clarifies that Amendment 0001 was not published and that this amendment is the first applicable to the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911W6-25-R-0006. It also issues Attachment 5, which provides descriptions for two topics:

• Sequence #25-ATTACH5-A (Supplemental Power, Efficient Engines, and Drives (SPEED)): This topic focuses on rotorcraft engine and drive system technologies, including:
  • Topological Optimization for Additively Manufactured Corrosion Resistant Gearbox Housings
  • Lightweight Emergency Loss of Lubrication Systems
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Drive System Prognostics
  • Non-Press Fit or Splined Inner/Outer Race Fully Ceramic Bearings in Gearboxes
  • Topological Optimization of Dynamic Drive System Components
• Sequence #25-ATTACH5-B (Hybrid VTOL to Enable Operational Capabilities): This topic seeks data and insights on hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft concepts to inform Army decision-making.

This amendment also confirms that the documents published on July 3, 2025, in SAM.gov titled “Aviation and Missile R&D BAA" and “ATTACHMENT 5 Notice of Funding Opportunity to BAA W911W6-25-R-0006" are the same document (BAA W911W6-25-R-0006) and that neither published document contained Attachment 5.

• Attachment 5 (Topics/Areas of Interest) has been added.
• The original BAA and Attachment 5 Notice of Funding Opportunity documents are clarified.

For topics under Sequence #25-ATTACH5-A and #25-ATTACH5-B, offerors are requested to provide concept papers for one or more topics of interest before October 1st. Concept papers will be reviewed in accordance with Attachment 2, Two Step Process. The original solicitation deadline is not explicitly extended by this amendment, but the request for concept papers implies a need for submission by the specified date.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) / Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Aviation and Missile Research and Development (AMRD). It solicits research concept papers and proposals for scientific study and experimentation aimed at advancing state-of-the-art technologies and increasing knowledge to overcome current technology barriers. The BAA is issued by the Army Contracting Command (ACC) - Redstone Arsenal, Modernization Directorate, on behalf of the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), Technology Development Directorate (TDD).

• The BAA is a combined BAA/NOFO under FAR 35.016, DFARS 235.016, and 2 CFR § 200.204.

• Calls or amendments to this BAA will be published to add specific project details and solicit proposals or concept papers.

• The BAA covers research and development in areas such as Intelligent Teaming & Autonomy, Design & Assessment, Avionics & Networks, Open Architecture, Launched Effects, Power Generation & Management, Drives, Structures & Rotors, Human Systems Interface, Survivability & Vulnerability, Vehicle Management & Control, Experimental/Computational Aeromechanics, Acoustics, Missile Seekers, Guidance, Navigation & Control, Missile Materials & Structures, Missile Propulsion, Warhead Integration & Fuzing, and Air Defense Sensors (Seekers & Radar) & Fire Control.

• Submissions related to the development of a specific system or to satisfy specific hardware/software requirements are not appropriate.

• The BAA is effective for five years from the date published in SAM.gov.

• Funding opportunities will be published via Calls or Attachment 5.

• Award instruments may include FAR-based instruments (procurement contracts), assistance instruments (grants, cooperative agreements, Technology Investment Agreements), or Other Transactions (OTs).

• The BAA utilizes a One-Step Process (full proposals) and a Two-Step Process (concept papers).

• Specific submission instructions, dates, and times will be provided in individual BAA Calls and/or Attachment 5.

• Submissions must be electronic, in PDF format, and not exceed 10 MB.

• Evaluation will be based on scientific peer review using criteria such as technical merit, proposed approach, and offeror capability. Technical evaluation is more important than cost/price.

• Risk assessments will be conducted for proposals involving fundamental research.

• This BAA is open to all responsible sources, including single entities and teams from industry and academia.

• Eligible entity types include institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and for-profit organizations (large and small businesses).

• Participation is limited to U.S. Firms as Prime Contractors; foreign-owned entities may participate as subcontractors.

• Principal Investigators (PIs) for other than basic research must be U.S. Persons.

• SAM Registration and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) are required.

• This BAA consists of the BAA/NOFO General Terms and several attachments, including One-Step Process, Two-Step Process, Proposal Instructions, Army Research Risk Assessment Program, and Project Descriptions/NOFO.