Department of Defense · Department of the Air Force · FA9300 AFTC PZR
Account requiredWhy it scored this way
Every reason behind the verdict rather than the headline one — which of your certifications match, how much runway is left, whether the work is your size, and what we would need to know to sharpen it.
The requirements that decide a bid — bonding, clearances, experience minimums, page limits — live in the attachments, not in the notice above. Start a free trial to upload them and have them read.
Draft the paperwork
Written against this notice and what you have told us about your company. Anything we do not know is marked [NEEDS INPUT] in the draft rather than guessed at — read it before you send it. Federal notices routinely put the real requirement in an attachment; adding the documents above makes every one of these materially better.
Start a free trial to draft these. Nothing is sent to an agency on your behalf, ever — you get a document to review, edit and submit yourself.
What would disqualify you
Read straight from the solicitation documents: the bonding, clearances, insurance minimums, experience thresholds and deadlines that decide whether you can bid at all — before you write a word.
Sources Sought response
A complete draft response — capability statement, relevant past performance, business size and socioeconomic status, and answers to the agency's specific questions.
Questions to submit
Genuine ambiguities and requirements that disadvantage a smaller bidder, drafted as questions you can submit before the Q&A deadline.
Past performance write-ups
Which of your prior awards best match this requirement, and draft write-ups in the format the agency asked for.
Solicitation details
Solicitation number
FA9300-20-S-0001-CALL-RDRE-CC
Notice type
Special Notice
NAICS
541715
Product service code
AC11
Set-aside
No Set aside used
Posted
2026-10-01
Response deadline
Nov 17, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC
Place of performance
Edwards, CA
Contracting contact
mathew.pierson@us.af.mil
Market intelligence
Account requiredWho wins this work, and what it pays
Comparable awards under NAICS 541715 at this agency — the incumbent, what they were paid, when their period of performance ends, and the real pricing distribution rather than the headline number. From public federal award records.
SPECIAL NOTICE – CALL FOR PROPOSALS Department of the Air Force / Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Rocket Propulsion Division – Edwards AFB, CA HERMES Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA9300-20-S-0001 CALL: Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine-Combined Cycle (RDRE-CC) Flight Demonstration Parent Solicitation Number: FA9300-20-S-0001 Call Identifier: FA9300-20-S-0001-CALL-RDRE-CC Prior Market Research Notice: RFIFA930026R0001 NAICS Code: 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) Product Service Code (PSC): AC11 – National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense; Basic Research Response Date (Step 1 - White Papers): [16 NOV 2026] at 1600 PST Set-Aside: Full and Open Competition (under RFO 35.102) 1. Program Description The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rocket Propulsion Division (AFRL/RJP), located at Edwards AFB, CA, is issuing a formal Two-Step Call for Proposals under the overarching HERMES Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA9300-20-S-0001. This Call follows the market research previously conducted and publicized under RFI Notice ID RFIFA930026R0001. AFRL/RJP seeks innovative research and development approaches to mature advanced Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine-Combined Cycle (RDRE-CC) propulsion systems from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TRL 6. This research effort is intended to culminate in a ground-launched, sounding-rocket-boosted flight demonstration to validate the system's operational viability for future High-Speed Affordable Mass Munitions (HAMM). The scope encompasses: Maturation and demonstration of RDRE-CC propulsion technology through RDRE development and test, integrated RDRE-CC direct-connect and freejet testing, vehicle development, and flight demonstration.The anticipated Period of Performance (PoP) for resultant award(s) is 36 to 48 months. 2. Acquisition Structure (Two-Step BAA Process) In accordance with RFO 35.102 and Section IV of the Hermes Master BAA, this Call utilizes a Two-Step solicitation process: Step 1: White Paper Submission Interested offerors are invited to submit a concise White Paper outlining their proposed technical architecture, compliance with the seven Specific Test Objectives (STOs), schedule milestones, and a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost. No contract awards will be made based solely upon Step 1 White Paper submissions. Step 2: Request for Proposals (RFP) The Government will evaluate White Papers using a Peer/Scientific Review process based on the criteria published in the Call. Only those offerors whose White Papers are evaluated as having high technical merit, relevance to HAMM objectives, and for which funding is available, will be formally invited to submit a full, high-fidelity Technical and Cost Proposal. The Government anticipates completing its Step 1 White Paper evaluations and issuing notifications within approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks following the submission closing date. 3. Submission Guidelines & Page Limits Format: Submissions must be in Adobe PDF format, standard business font (10-point minimum), double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Page Limitations: Core White Paper: Strictly limited to ten (10) pages (excluding the single, self-explanatory Title Page). Technical Appendix (Optional): Offerors may include an optional appendix of up to five (5) pages, strictly restricted to engineering drawings, CAD schematics, aerothermal performance curves, test data summaries, and modeling results. (Narrative marketing or promotional text is prohibited in the appendix). Enforcement: Pages exceeding the stated 10+5 limits will be removed prior to evaluation and will not be reviewed. 4. Security & Access to Controlled Call Document (Distribution Statement C) The detailed technical requirements, vehicle constraints, and Specific Test Objectives (STOs) for this Call are contained within the formal Call Document, which contains militarily critical technology and has been designated: DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT C: Distribution authorized to U.S. Government Agencies and their contractors; Critical Technology, Export Controlled; 14 September 2026. Other requests shall be referred to AFRL/RJP, 5 Pollux Drive, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-7048. To safeguard this Controlled Technical Information (CTI) in accordance with DoDI 5230.24 and DoDD 5230.25, the document is hosted on SAM.gov as a Controlled Attachment: Eligibility: Access is restricted to certified U.S. defense contractors possessing an active DD Form 2345 (Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement) registered under the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Joint Certification Program (JCP). Requesting Access via SAM.gov: Prospective offerors must click the "Request Access" button next to the controlled attachment on this notice. In the justification text box, the requester must input their active Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code and their JCP Certification Number. Verification & Approval: Upon validation of the contractor's JCP standing by the Contracting Officer, explicit access will be approved directly in SAM.gov, allowing the authorized Data Custodian to download the document. Facility Clearance Note: The performing entity must have and maintain safeguarding capability for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Secret-level data. A draft DD Form 254 will be issued to selected offerors in Step 2. 5. Submission Inquiries & Points of Contact All Step 1 White Papers must be submitted electronically to the AFRL/AFTC White Paper Workflow Inbox no later than the date and time specified in this notice: Official White Paper Submission Inbox: AFTC.PZRA.BAAs@us.af.mil (All submissions must state FA9300-20-S-0001-CALL-RDRE-CC White Paper Submission in the subject line). Primary Contracting Officer (PZR - Administrative/Contracting Inquiries): Alessandra Barzaghi-Martin, CIV, DAF Email: alessandra.barzaghi-martin@us.af.mil AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division (AFTC/PZR) Edwards AFB, CA Contracting Officer (PZR - Administrative/Contracting Inquiries): Mathew Pierson, CIV, DAF Email: mathew.pierson@us.af.mil AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division (AFTC/PZR) Edwards AFB, CA Contracting Officer (PZR - Administrative/Contracting Inquiries): Kameelah Purdom, CIV, DAF Email: kameelah.purdom@us.af.mil AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division (AFTC/PZR) Edwards AFB, CA
Contact
Point of contact
Mathew Pierson
Role
not stated on this notice — SAM publishes a role for only about 5% of them, so this may be a contract specialist rather than the contracting officer
Email
mathew.pierson@us.af.mil
Secondary
kameelah.purdom@us.af.mil
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