Research Engineering Development and Analysis for Cyber Targeting (REDACT)

The Department of the Air Force's Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) FA8750-26-S-7003, titled "Research Engineering Development and Analysis for Cyber Targeting (REDACT)," seeks innovative research to develop adversary system-of-systems analysis. This open, two-step ARA, effective until December 8, 2030, invites white papers as initial submissions, with formal proposals by invitation only. The research aims to support Air Force, USCYBERCOM, and other mission partners by evaluating requirements, developing proof-of-concept technology, and deploying it into realistic environments to optimize Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) against evolving cyber threats. Key focus areas include Target Engineering and Analysis, Agile Cyber Mission Adaptation, and Rapid Non-Kinetic Cyber Capability Development. Total funding is approximately $999.9M, with individual awards ranging from $1M to $100M, potentially up to $499.9M, over a maximum of 60 months. Multiple awards are anticipated, utilizing FAR-based procurement contracts or Other Transactions (OTs). Foreign participation is generally closed, with exceptions for fundamental research or FOCI-mitigated companies. Submissions require specific formats, adherence to security guidelines, and compliance with various federal regulations, including those related to S&T protection, SAM registration, and accounting systems. White papers are reviewed based on scientific merit, related experience, solution maturity, and cost reasonableness.