Missile Defense Agency - Low Cost Interceptor

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has issued Solicitation No. HQ0860-25-S-C003 for a Low-Cost Interceptor (LCI). This two-step solicitation seeks innovative, modular interceptor designs costing less than $750K per missile to counter ballistic and hypersonic threats. White paper responses are due by September 29, 2025. The effort, under MDA's NOBLE Announcement, focuses on rapid concept demonstration using readily available components within a compressed schedule (6 months for design, 12 for prototyping/testing). Offerors should propose open-architecture designs utilizing COTS/GOTS components, aiming for reduced cost and schedule over maximal performance. Key requirements include Mach 5+ flyout, >200km range, endo-atmospheric engagement, onboard terminal seeker, blast/frag warhead, and compatibility with legacy systems. Submissions can be Unclassified, CUI, or Secret, requiring a Secret Facility Clearance for awards. Multiple selections are anticipated, with evaluation based on warfighter utility, execution potential, and technical interest. Inquiries are accepted until September 10, 2025, with a virtual information session planned for mid-September.

This document, Attachment 1 to Solicitation No. HQ0860-25-S-C003 for the MDA Low-Cost Interceptor, outlines key requirements for FAR-based procurement contracts. It specifies that the solicitation operates under FAR 6.102(d)(2) for competitive white paper selection, ensuring full and open competition per the Competition in Contracting Act. Prime offerors must lead and perform 50% of the effort by cost. While all contract types are considered, cost-reimbursement contracts necessitate an adequate accounting system and a cost realism determination. All contracts require a price reasonableness assessment. Offerors must comply with various FAR and DFARS clauses concerning safeguarding covered defense information, including cyber incident reporting and NIST SP 800-171 assessment requirements. Step-Two selected offerors will face additional requirements such as granting Government Purpose Rights for technical data and software, completing Organizational Conflict of Interest forms, submitting Small Business Subcontracting Plans (if applicable), and providing certified cost and/or pricing data for proposals exceeding the TINA threshold.

The OCI Disclosure Form is a critical document for companies bidding on or performing work related to Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) contracts. It requires offerors (prime contractors, subcontractors, or affiliates) to disclose potential organizational conflicts of interest (OCI). The form collects company information, details about current or past MDA-related contracts, the magnitude of that work, and any significant business relationships with MDA development contractors. It specifically asks about access to non-public government information, the scope of work performed (e.g., systems engineering, preparing specifications, technical evaluations), and whether the work creates an actual or potential OCI. The form also inquires about existing OCI mitigation plans and the involvement of former DoD employees with access to solicitation information, ensuring transparency and compliance with federal acquisition regulations.

The document outlines requirements for Other Transaction (OT) Agreements under the MDA Low-Cost Interceptor solicitation, HQ0860-25-S-C003. These agreements, governed by 10 U.S.C. §§ 4021 and 4022, aim to engage non-traditional defense contractors and facilitate innovative solutions by accommodating commercial practices. Traditional contractors are also encouraged to participate. The solicitation allows for follow-on production awards from prototype OTs. Eligible offerors seeking commercial-like arrangements are encouraged to propose OTs and must self-certify as non-traditional if applicable. While most FAR and DFARS regulations do not apply, certain statutes (e.g., False Claims Act, Clean Air Act) are mandatory. OTs exceeding $5,000,000 are subject to Comptroller General record access. Step-Two offerors must grant the Government rights to intellectual property (excluding commercial products/services) developed with government or mixed funding, identify any restrictions, disclose organizational conflicts of interest, and potentially submit cost data for price reasonableness.

The MDA Low-Cost Interceptor (LCI) solicitation (HQ0860-25-S-C003) outlines comprehensive white paper submission requirements for prospective offerors. Submissions, which can be unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or Secret, must adhere to specific formatting and content guidelines to be considered eligible. Unclassified papers are emailed, CUI requires a DoD SAFE link, and Secret papers necessitate special instructions, with hard copies preferred for courier/mail. All submissions must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF and avoid compression or password protection. Content-wise, white papers must detail the technical approach, design capabilities, test plans, schedule, and rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost for both LCI development phases. Key sections include a Title Page, Executive Summary (limited to 10 pages with Program Description), Program Description, Program Plan and Milestone Chart, Description of Relevant Prior Work, and ROM (Attachment 3b). The Executive Summary and Program Description have specific content requirements, while other sections like the Title Page and Program Plan are excluded from the page count. The document emphasizes addressing the entire proposed period of performance and outlines specific details for each required section, including government support requests and risk mitigation strategies.

The document outlines procedures for designating and marking Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) within the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and its industry partners. It details steps for identifying CUI categories, applying distribution statements or Limited Dissemination Controls (LDC) based on the intended audience and information type (technical vs. non-technical), and implementing proper banner, portion, and cover/first-page markings. The file lists numerous CUI categories such as Budget, Contract Use, Export Controlled, Privacy, and Proprietary Business Information, each with a specific marking abbreviation. It also explains various distribution statements (A-F) and LDCs like FED ONLY and REL TO, along with conditions for their use. The document stresses compliance with DoDI 5200.48 and other relevant directives, serving as a critical guide for safeguarding sensitive unclassified information within government and contractor operations.

The provided government file outlines cost estimation tables for federal, state, and local RFPs, grants, and contracts, structuring costs by element, task, and subcontractor. Table 1 details the 'White Paper Cost by Element,' breaking down total estimated prices into direct labor, materials, subcontract, other direct, and indirect costs, with a separate entry for fee or profit, across Phase I (6 months) and Phase II (12 months). Table 2, 'White Paper Cost by Task,' allocates costs to specific tasks for both Phase I and Phase II, with additional sections for limited and full-rate production. Table 3, 'Subcontractor Price Summary,' lists subcontractors, their task descriptions, and estimated prices for both Phase I and Phase II. This document serves as a template for submitting detailed cost breakdowns in government procurement processes.