Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT)

About this funding opportunity

NAICS CODE: 541715

FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514

BAA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial announcement

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

TITLE: Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT)

BAA NUMBER: FA8750-25-S-7004

PART I, OVERVIEW INFORMATION

This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step BAA which is open and effective until 4 AUG 2030. Only white papers will be accepted as initial submissions; formal proposals will be accepted by invitation only. While white papers will be considered if received prior to 3pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 4 AUG 2030, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding:

FY26 by 05 SEP 2025

FY27 by 31 AUG 2026

FY28 by 31 AUG 2027

FY29 by 31 AUG 2028

FY30 by 31 AUG 2029

Offerors should monitor the Contract Opportunities on the SAM website at https://SAM.gov in the event this announcement is amended.

CONCISE SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT: Seeking innovative research to enhance Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) kill chain and point defense capabilities through advancements in Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyberspace Operations (CO), Command and Control (C2) Automation and Autonomy, Low-Collateral Defeat (LCD), Low-Collateral Effect Interceptors (LCEI)/Blue Force Interceptors (BFI), and communications.

One goal is to blur the line between EW and CO by developing cyberspace countermeasures that disrupt sUAS operations, particularly command and control links. This includes improving system resiliency in contested environments and prioritizing low-collateral damage solutions. C2 advancements aim to automate and optimize responses to sUAS threats, especially swarm attacks, through AI/ML, sensor fusion, and automated decision-making. Research into LCD/LCEI/BFI could lead to the development of low-cost, autonomous interceptors with integrated EW/CO capabilities and other C-sUAS payloads.

Further research will focus on improving sensor technologies for enhanced detection, identification, and tracking, as well as developing a library for storing and indexing cyberspace effects. In parallel, efforts will be made to advance UAS Traffic Management (UTM) systems, integrating them with existing air traffic control, enabling safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the airspace.

Finally, communication systems will be enhanced through advanced modeling and simulation, development of resilient waveforms and networking protocols for swarm operations, and integration of AI for network optimization and spectrum management.

BAA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this BAA is approximately $499M. Individual awards will not normally exceed sixty ( 60) months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $500K to $20M. There is also the potential to make awards up to $99M.

ANTICIPATED INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: Multiple Awards are anticipated. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Procurement Contracts or Other Transactions and assistance instruments, for all, some, or none of the solicited effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work and funding fluctuations. There is no limit on the number of OTs that may be awarded to an individual offeror.

TYPE OF INSTRUMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED: FAR based Procurement contracts, CFR based grants and cooperative agreements or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 (previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b) depending upon the nature of the work proposed. 10 USC 4023 also allows for FAR based contracts, OTs for research, OTs for Prototype, and assistance instruments.

In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive BAA, and the prototype project is successfully completed, there is the potential for a prototype project to…

Topic areas: General and Cross-cutting R&D, Security and Defense.

Funding amount

This contract provides Varies in funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no single fixed deadline.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• SME
• MidCaps
• Large Company
• Startups
• University
• Research Organization
• NGOs
• Public Authorities

Eligibility

The program did not publish a separate eligibility statement. See the official opportunity page for the full eligibility criteria.

Agency

Multi-Domain Force Applications and Traffic Management for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-FAT) is administered by Department Of Defense (DOD), listed via SAM.gov.