ONHS Report: FA875023S7002

AERIAL LAYER NETWORKING & TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES

Solicitation ID: FA875023S7002

Agency: AFRL/Information Directorate

Type: Presolicitation

Deadline: 2027-09-30T17:00:00 ET

Eligibility: Maybe (Dual Approval Required)

Funding: Total funding of approximately $99.5M. Individual awards normally range from $1M to $10M, with the potential for awards up to $49.5M.

Doc Type: BAA

Clearance: Top Secret

Program Manager: Timothy Weaver

Last Updated: 2025-11-24 13:15

Analyzed File: BAA 23-02 Amend 6 second repub.docx

Eligibility Reasoning

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)... are subject to applicable direct competition limitations and cannot propose to this BAA in any capacity unless they meet the following conditions: FFRDCs must clearly demonstrate that the proposed work is not otherwise available from the private sector; and FFRDCs must provide a letter on official letterhead from their sponsoring organization citing the specific authority establishing their eligibility... FFRDC and Government entity eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Note: This is an AI-generated summary...

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is soliciting white papers for the 'Aerial Layer Networking & Transmission Technologies' Broad Agency Announcement (BAA FA8750-23-S-7002). The objective is to advance aerial network architectures from their current state of requiring significant pre-planning with limited interoperability to a more on-demand, self-forming, and self-healing network. Key research areas include: 1) Airborne Network Management and Monitoring, utilizing techniques like SDN and NFV; 2) Robust Airborne Networking, focusing on resilient apertures, waveforms, and next-generation mesh networking for contested environments; and 3) Demonstrable Technologies, such as advanced radios, waveforms, and AESA-based ground-to-air tracking systems. The BAA has an estimated total funding of $99.5M and is open until September 30, 2027. It follows a two-step process where interested parties first submit a white paper, and formal proposals are by invitation only. Individual awards are expected to range from $1M to $10M over 36 months, with the potential for larger awards. Award instruments may include procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or Other Transactions (OTs).

Overall Technical Areas

Aerial Layer NetworkingAutonomic Network ManagementSoftware Defined Networking (SDN)Network Function Virtualization (NFV)Resilient Network ArchitecturesTactical Mesh NetworkingAd-Hoc Network TechnologiesAdvanced Waveform DevelopmentRadio Frequency (RF) HardwareSoftware-Defined Radio (SDR) SystemsActive-Electronically Steered Arrays (AESA)Electronic Tracking AlgorithmsEmbedded Control SoftwareModel-Based System SimulationTactical Data Link (TDL) Management

Probable LBNL Areas

CSAEESAESAETALDPSA

Focus Areas

Example Priorities:

Develop network technologies to improve network monitoring and management of existing AF multi-tactical data link (TDL) networks and examining emerging network technologies for further utilization.
Develop self-managing, self-healing autonomic wireless network capabilities, which may include software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) techniques.
autonomous ‘human on the loop’ network management and recovery mechanisms are warranted to improve the necessary level of network reliability and survivability at the battlefield.
Develop monitoring & management capabilities for heterogeneous aerial layer networks.

Specific Technical Skills:

Network MonitoringNetwork ManagementTactical Data Links (TDL)Autonomic NetworkingSelf-healing NetworksSoftware Defined Networking (SDN)Network Function Virtualization (NFV)Human-on-the-loop SystemsHeterogeneous Networks

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Vinay Sawal	0.70	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department
Ronal Kumar	0.69	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department
John Wu	0.69	CSA \| Scientific Networking (ESNET) \| Tech Adv and Engagement
Sean Peisert	0.68	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Applications
Inder Monga	0.68	CSA \| Computing \| Scientific Networking (ESNET)
Georgios Michelogiannakis	0.68	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Alexander Sim	0.67	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research
Angelos Ioannou	0.67	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Adam Slagell	0.66	CSA \| Scientific Networking (ESNET) \| Security
Jean Luca Bez	0.66	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research

Example Priorities:

Develop technologies to improve the security and reliability of aerial layer networks.
Develop next generation mesh networking technologies capable of seamless operation across the uncontested, contested and highly contested airborne environments.
Develop ad-hoc tactical edge mesh networking technology in key areas such as: system level operation, radio frequency (RF) front ends, radios and modems, link and topology control, and networking/system control.
Develop innovative capabilities to enhance network robustness, resilience and availability.

Specific Technical Skills:

Mesh NetworkingAd-hoc NetworkingContested EnvironmentsNetwork SecurityWaveform DesignRadio Frequency (RF) EngineeringModem DesignLink and Topology ControlResilient Communications

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Stijn (Stan) Wielandt	0.69	EESA \| EG \| Geophysics Dept
Sean Peisert	0.69	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Applications
John Wu	0.68	CSA \| Scientific Networking (ESNET) \| Tech Adv and Engagement
Anand Krishnan Prakash	0.68	ETA \| Building Technology & Urban Systems \| Bldg Technologies Dept
Vinay Sawal	0.67	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department
Boubacar Kante	0.67	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics
Georgios Michelogiannakis	0.67	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Alp Sipahigil	0.67	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics
Adam Slagell	0.67	CSA \| Scientific Networking (ESNET) \| Security
Dan Bonachea	0.67	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science

Example Priorities:

Develop proof of concept demonstrations at lower cost, leveraging AFRL Rome Research Site infrastructure to advance near-term networking technologies.
Demonstratable, modular, ground-to-air tracking systems for TDL networks using analog active-electronically steered array (AESA) technology.
Development of a software-based embedded control solution for modular AESA panels that utilize analog beamforming RF integrated circuits (RFICs).
Development and integration of AESA-based, electronic tracking algorithms.
Development of modular, small form-factor RF hardware to be used with existing software-defined radios (SDRs).

Specific Technical Skills:

Proof-of-Concept DemonstrationSystems IntegrationActive Electronically Steered Array (AESA)Software Defined Radio (SDR)Embedded SoftwareRF Integrated Circuits (RFIC)Analog BeamformingElectronic Tracking AlgorithmsModular Hardware DesignHardware Prototyping

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Qiang Du	0.69	PSA \| Engineering \| Electronic Engineering
Stijn (Stan) Wielandt	0.68	EESA \| EG \| Geophysics Dept
Yilun Xu	0.68	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Meriam Gay Bautista-Jurney	0.68	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Angelos Ioannou	0.68	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Nicolas Abgrall	0.68	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Hasita Veluri	0.67	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Shawn Tornga	0.67	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Boubacar Kante	0.67	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics
Andre Santos	0.67	EESA \| CESD \| Integrated Ecosystem Sciences

Potential LBNL PIs (Overall)

Note on PI Matching: These suggestions are generated through an AI-driven semantic analysis of LBNL staff profiles.

Name	Score	Organization
Dipak Ghosal	0.77	CSA \| ESNET \| Tech Adv and Engagement · Ad-Hoc Network Technologies
Hao Ding	0.75	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center · Advanced Waveform Development
Stijn (Stan) Wielandt	0.75	PSA \| Engineering \| Electronic Engineering · Radio Frequency (RF) Hardware
Prabal Dutta	0.74	ETA \| Building Tech. & Urban Sys. \| Bldg Technologies Dept · Resilient Network Architectures
Abhi Rajagopala	0.74	CSA \| NERSC \| HPC Technology Department · Embedded Control Software
Ronal Kumar	0.74	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department · Software Defined Networking (SDN)
Dale Carder	0.74	CSA \| ESNET \| Networking Services · Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
Bruce Mah	0.74	CSA \| ESNET \| Tech Adv and Engagement · Tactical Data Link (TDL) Management
Zachary Needell	0.73	ETA \| Energy Analysis \| Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Model-Based System Simulation
Arpit Gupta	0.73	CSA \| ESNET \| Tech Adv and Engagement · Autonomic Network Management

Fundamental Research Exemption (FRE)

Any employee who is not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident will be restricted from working on any resultant contract unless prior approval of the Department of State or the Department of Commerce is obtained via a technical assistance agreement or an export license. Violations of these regulations can result in criminal or civil penalties.