Cyberspace Operations for Resilient Tactical Engagement and Execution (CORTEX)

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 ARA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial announcement ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (ARA) TITLE: Cyberspace Operations for Resilient Tactical Engagement and Execution (CORTEX) ARA NUMBER: FA8750-26-S-7002 PART I OVERVIEW INFORMATION This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step ARA which is open and effective until 31 December 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 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 31 December 2030, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding: FY26 by 8 APR 2026 FY27 by 30 SEP 2026 FY28 by 30 SEP 2027 FY29 by 30 SEP 2028 FY30 by 30 SEP 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 catalyze capability and technique development that stretches the boundaries of Cyberspace Operations and Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) as well as the synergizes the intersection between Cyberspace Operations and EMSO. Technologies sought include:

1. microelectronics (including photonic and quantum) for airborne/edge computing and Software-Defined Radio (SDR);
2. gateware, firmware and software that advances Electronic Warfare (EW) and EMSO-enabled (e.g., Radio Frequency (RF)) Cyberspace Operations;
3. techniques for maneuver within mediums, modalities and phenomenology that cross between Cyberspace and the EMS;
4. analog and/or biological technology for SDR and EMSO that disrupts the battlefield far beyond incremental improvements;
5. anti-tamper, bootstrapping, hardening and spatial/temporal fencing technology for the purposes of enabling transition of hardware and software (HW/SW) products to a wider range of foreign partners; and
6. the advancement of formal methods and correct by construction approaches to developing SDRs that results in superior Cybersecurity and reliability when faced with contested Cyberspace and Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS).

ARA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this ARA is approximately $460M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 60 months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $10M to $50M. There is the potential to award contracts up to $99M in ceiling value.

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 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 or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 and 10 USC 4023 (previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b and 4004, 2373) In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive ARA, and the prototype project is successfully completed, there is the potential for a prototype project to transition to award of a follow-on production contract or transaction. The Other Transaction for Prototype agreement itself will also contain a similar notice of a potential follow-on production contract or agreement.

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: All white paper submissions and any questions of a technical nature shall be directed to the cognizant Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) as specified below (unless otherwise specified in the technical area): ARA PROGRAM MANAGER: Jason Hallahan AFRL/RIGB 525 Brooks Rd Rome, NY 13441-4505 Telephone: (315) 330-3413 Email: [email on the source notice] Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below (email requests are preferred): Amber Buckley Email: [email on the source notice] Emails must reference the ARA solicitation number and title of the acquisition. Pre-Proposal Communication between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged. Technical and contracting questions can be resolved in writing or through open discussions.

Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. Offerors are cautioned that evaluation ratings may be lowered and/or proposal rejected if proposal preparation (Proposal format, content, etc.) and/or submittal instructions are not followed.

SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS