Solicitation
AFRL/RX Functional Materials Open BAA
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. FA8650-22-S-5002
Due in 747 days
Track this notice by email. We'll email you if it's amended or awarded, and a week and two days before responses are due.
AI summary Beta
Some details weren't available to this summary, so it may miss requirements. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH) runs an open, ongoing call for research on functional materials, mostly photonic (light-handling) materials for sensing, communications, laser and sensor protection. Companies first send a short white paper, and only those the Air Force likes are asked for a full proposal. White papers are accepted until 26 October 2028, awards can run 12 to 72 months, and individual awards are capped at $75 million.
Watch out for
- Research and development, not routine services. This is scientific materials research (photonics, lasers, optics); you need real R&D capability and credible technical staff, and the Air Force may award none or few of the white papers.
- White papers only for now. No contract comes from a white paper alone; you only write a full proposal if the Air Force invites you, so the effort is split across two steps.
Only White Papers are due at this time.
- Security review can end a proposal. Amendment 03 adds an AFRL science and technology protection review, and a plan judged inadequate or high risk can get your proposal rejected.
provide adequate protection of S&T information, the Government may reject
- Strict page limits and format rules. Page limits are strictly enforced and the exact limits are in a section of the BAA that was not provided, so you must read the full BAA before writing.
White Paper and Proposal page limits are strictly enforced.
- Heavy cost paperwork on larger awards. Awards over $2 million may need certified cost or pricing data and the DFARS Proposal Adequacy Checklist, which is a lot for a small team.
of certified cost or pricing data may be required from offerors for awards in excess
- Dates differ across amendments. Amendment 04 and the notice say 26 October 2028, but Amendments 02 and 03 say 28 October (2028 and 2026) so confirm the final date with the contracting office.
White Papers are still being accepted against this BAA until 26 October 2028 3:00 PM
- Possible classified work. The attached sample DD Form 254 shows Secret-level facility clearance and safeguarding, which a small company may not have.
Read from the notice and 12 attachments. 7 not read in full.
- Amendment_04_dtd_19_Feb_26_FA865022S5002.pdf
- FA8650-22-S-5002 RXA Open BAA Final.pdf
- Amendment_01_dtd_25Oct22_FA865022S5002.pdf
- Amendment_02_dtd_8_ Dec_23_FA865022S5002.pdf
- Amendment_03_dtd_11_Apr_25_FA865022S5002.pdf
- Attachment 6 - Model Contract (Amendment 3).pdf
- Attachment 1 - Supplemental Instructions for Assistance Instrument Proposals.pdf
- Attachment 2 - Quad Chart Guidance.pdf
- Attachment 3 - Proposal Adequacy Checklist.pdf
- Attachment 4 - DD 254.pdf
- Attachment 5 - CDRL Ancillary Docs.pdf
- Attachment 7 - Security Program Questionnaire.pdf
- Attachment 8 - Air Force Research Laboratory Security Risk Review AFRLI 61-113.pdf: over the file limit for one brief
- Attachment 8 Appendix 1 - SF 424 Research Related Senior Key Person Profile.pdf: over the file limit for one brief
- Attachment 8 Appendix 2 - Security Program Questionnaire.pdf: over the file limit for one brief
- Attachment 8 Appendix 3 - Research and Related Senior and Key Person Profile Worksheet.pdf: over the file limit for one brief
- Attachment 8 Appendix 4 - Privacy Act Statement.pdf: over the file limit for one brief
- Attachment 9 - Representations Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors.pdf: over the file limit for one brief
- Attachment 10 - AFRL Wright Research Site Security Requirements H-Clause.pdf: over the file limit for one brief
Full brief
What they want
- Research and prototypes in optical materials and processes that produce, convert and move light (photons) for imaging, sensing, communication and electronic warfare
- Hardened materials and processing, such as electro-optic and nonlinear optical materials, thin-film optical coatings and laser-resistant materials
- Photonic materials advanced development for sensor, structure and aircrew protection (EO/IR sensor protection, high energy laser interaction with materials)
- Studies, experiments, characterization, proof-of-concepts and prototype hardware, software, models and tools
- Materials that improve reliability, life cycle cost and size, weight and power (SWaP) of Air Force systems
- Contract type
- Varies by award: usually cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF), but the Air Force may use any FAR contract type, Other Transaction agreements, grants or cooperative agreements
- Period of performance
- Each award expected to run 12 to 72 months (9 to 69 months of technical work plus 3 months of final reporting); options may be authorized per award
- Place of performance
- USA (as listed in the notice); work is set award by award
- Estimated value
- Up to $75 million per individual award; about $500 million total for the BAA (Amendment 02)
- How they'll choose
- Two steps. Step 1 white papers are screened for fit and potential. Step 2 proposals get a scientific peer review (technical first, cost/price second), are labeled Selectable or Not Selectable, and are then chosen based on importance to Air Force programs and funding.
- Offers due
- White papers accepted at any time until 26 October 2028, 3:00 PM Wright-Patterson AFB local time (notice lists 2028-10-26 3:00 PM Eastern). Full proposals are only requested later, with their own due date.
- How to submit
- Email white papers to the AFRL/RXE Open BAA mailbox, AFRL.RXE.OpenBAA@us.af.mil. Assistance-instrument (grant-type) applications may also go through Grants.gov, with notice to the Contracting POC.
- Page limits
- Not in the provided text (that section of the BAA was cut off); the BAA says page limits are strictly enforced
What they'll judge offers on
- Technical, in descending order: unique and innovative approach; potential for AFRL to transition the results (data and software restrictions are considered); understanding of the scope; soundness of approach, risks and staff qualifications; availability of qualified technical staff; availability of research, test and lab facilities
- Cost/price including realism: a substantial factor but second in priority
What to include when you submit
- Step 1 is a white paper with a quad chart (one-page summary; Arial 12-point or larger, title Arial 24) and an estimated cost per year in thousands of dollars, for projects of 1 to 5 years
- Address white papers to the Contracting POCs and submit by email to the Open BAA mailbox
- Amendment 04 lists the technical contact as Marc Martin (marc.martin@us.af.mil); contracting contact is the Open BAA mailbox (primary) or WP.AFRL.RQKMA_DL@us.af.mil (alternate)
- A Security Program Questionnaire and an AFRL science and technology (S&T) Security Risk Review (AFRLI 61-113) are part of the process; the Security Risk Review attachment was not provided
- For selected proposals: separate technical and cost volumes, a Proposal Adequacy Checklist if certified cost or pricing data is required, and a subcontracting plan if you are not a small business
- Submit a Certified DD Form 2345 with the proposal if the work is export controlled
You must have
- Unrestricted competition (no set-aside); small businesses are encouraged to propose. Small business size standards are 1,000 to 1,500 employees depending on the NAICS code (541713, 541714 or 541715).
Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation.
- For cost-reimbursement awards, an accounting system adequate for tracking costs
Cost Reimbursement contracts require successful offerors to have an accounting system considered
- Passing the AFRL science and technology protection (security risk) review; an offeror judged high risk can be rejected
provide adequate protection of S&T information, the Government may reject
- Certified DD Form 2345 (Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement) if the effort is export controlled
If effort is subject to export control, offerors must submit a Certified DD
- Staff needing access to Air Force bases, AFRL facilities or government IT networks must be U.S. citizens (green card does not count) unless waived; this comes from the sample contract (Attachment 6)
must be U.S. citizens. For the purpose of base and network access, possession of a permanent
- Active SAM registration to apply for assistance instruments (grants, cooperative agreements)
opportunities the applicant entity must be registered in the System for Award
- The sample DD Form 254 lists a Secret facility clearance and Secret safeguarding; classification would be set award by award
Not in the notice text
- White paper and proposal page limits, format and required sections (the middle of every BAA copy was left out)
- Full list of research areas beyond the photonic materials ones shown
- Data rights, export control and other terms in the missing middle of the BAA
- Contents of the S&T Security Risk Review (Attachment 8), Representations and Certifications (Attachment 9) and site security H-Clause (Attachment 10), which were not provided
- Which contract type, value and place of performance apply to any single award
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 26, 2028, 7:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Feb 23, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Solicitation
- FA8650-22-S-5002
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8650 USAF AFMC Afrl PZL Afrl/PZL
- NAICS
- 54171
- Product/service code
- AC12
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Contracting contact
- AFRL.RXE.OpenBAA@us.af.milAFRL.RXE.OpenBAA@us.af.mil
- Versions
- 8 (amended since first posted)
Before you respond
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate is soliciting white papers and potentially technical and cost proposals under this announcement that support the needs of the Functional Materials and Applications mission. Functional Materials technologies range from materials and scientific discovery through technology development and transition are of interest. Descriptors of Materials and Manufacturing Directorate technology interests are presented in the context of functional materials core technical competencies and applications. Please see Amendment 4 for most current solicitation submission requirements and updates.
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