ONHS Report: HQ0860-25-S-0001

Missile Defense Agency - Nimble Options for Buying Layered Effects (NOBLE) Announcement

Solicitation ID: HQ0860-25-S-0001

Agency: MDA

Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Deadline: 2030-03-27T00:00:00 ET

Eligibility: Maybe (Topic Dependent)

Funding: N/A

Doc Type: BAA

Clearance: CUI

Program Manager: MDA-NOBLE@mail.mil

Last Updated: 2025-11-24 13:07

Analyzed File: MDA_NOBLE_HQ086025S0001_Amd2.pdf

Eligibility Reasoning

This is a Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA)... a versatile vehicle that allows MDA and Department of Defense (DoD) entities to quickly pursue different types of non-traditional acquisitions under one single announcement... Offerors should review individual solicitations for information regarding eligible offerors.

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

Summary

The Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Nimble Options for Buying Layered Effects (NOBLE) announcement (HQ0860-25-S-0001) is a five-year, overarching acquisition vehicle designed for the rapid prototyping and development of missile defense capabilities. It enables the MDA and other DoD entities to issue specific solicitations using flexible authorities such as Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs), and Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs). The goal is to acquire disruptive technologies from non-traditional sources to enhance the integrated, layered Missile Defense System. Key technical areas of interest include: kinetic and hypersonic defense (e.g., low-cost interceptors), advanced Command and Control Battle Management (C2BM), integrated non-kinetic and electronic warfare, space-based sensors and interceptors, digital technologies like AI/ML, radiation effects on electronics, and international cooperation. No proposals should be submitted to this master announcement; offerors must respond to individual solicitations posted on SAM.gov.

Overall Technical Areas

Kinetic & Hypersonic DefenseLow-Cost Interceptor ConceptsCommand & Control Battle ManagementArtificial Intelligence / Machine LearningQuantum ComputingIntegrated Non-Kinetic & Electronic WarfareDirected Energy SystemsSpace-Based Sensors & InterceptorsAdvanced Sensor AlgorithmsSatellite Communications & TT&CAdvanced Space PropulsionOn-Board Processing AlgorithmsRadiation Effects on Electronics (SEE)Cybersecurity for Defense SystemsDigital Engineering & Analytics

Probable LBNL Areas

BSACSAEESAESAETALDPSA

Focus Areas

Example Priorities:

Rapid development, demonstration and transition of cost efficient kinetic defense solutions against ballistic and hypersonic missile threats.
seeks technologies applicable to current interceptor concepts or completely new interceptor concepts.
Space-based interceptors (SBI) and effectors includes, but is not limited to, interceptor or effector concepts/capabilities, advanced light-weight space propulsion technology for high acceleration performance, small satellite and associated technologies...
ability to disrupt the threat by rapidly developing a low cost interceptor.

Specific Technical Skills:

Hypersonic SystemsInterceptor DesignKinetic Kill VehiclesAerodynamicsSpace Propulsion TechnologySystems EngineeringRapid PrototypingWeapon Systems IntegrationGuidance and Control

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Shawn Tornga	0.70	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Peter Tennessen	0.69	PSA \| Engineering \| Mechanical Engineering
Thomas Schenkel	0.69	PSA \| ATAP \| FS&IBT
Jayson Vavrek	0.68	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Blake Simmons	0.68	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Biodesign Dept
Emil Rofors	0.68	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Vi Rapp	0.68	ETA \| Building Technology & Urban Systems \| Bldg & Industrial App Dpt
Bin Wang	0.68	ETA \| Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts \| Sustainable Energy Dept
Hannah Parrilla	0.68	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Cameron Geddes	0.68	PSA \| Physical Sciences \| Accel Tech & AppPhysics

Example Priorities:

The Missile Defense System shall prioritize advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, autonomous systems, directed energy, hypersonic defense, resilient networking, and cybersecurity to enable a more proactive and adaptable defense posture.
Develop and integrate advanced analytics, including AI/ML, statistical methods, and computational intelligence, to enhance all aspects of missile defense, from threat characterization and target recognition to resource allocation and consequence management.
This could also include improved threat detection and tracking accuracy, accelerated decision-making, ensuring communication resilience, and enabling proactive defense through AI-informed insights and flexible response options...

Specific Technical Skills:

Artificial IntelligenceMachine LearningCommand and Control (C2)Battle ManagementQuantum ComputingAutonomous SystemsData AnalyticsResilient NetworkingCybersecurityInteroperable Architectures

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
John Wu	0.72	CSA \| Scientific Networking (ESNET) \| Tech Adv and Engagement
Neel Rajeshbhai Vora	0.72	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Edward Bethel	0.71	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research
Alexander Sim	0.71	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research
Corneel Casert	0.71	CSA \| NERSC \| Sci Eng & Workflows Department
Yilun Xu	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Wahid Bhimji	0.71	CSA \| NERSC \| Sci Eng & Workflows Department
Vinay Sawal	0.70	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department
Tiffany Connors	0.70	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department
Shawn Tornga	0.70	LD \| LD \| ONHS

Example Priorities:

Incorporate disruptive technologies to maintain space domain awareness superiority and enable effective operations in contested environments.
This includes, but is not limited to, developing and integrating resilient satellite constellations, advanced sensor modalities, on-orbit servicing and manufacturing, AI for space situational awareness, and counter-space capabilities.
This could include novel concepts in the areas of satellite ground Telemetry, Tracking and Commanding (TT&C) capabilities, effectors, high-performance sensor algorithms, space-based tracking phenomenologies and discrimination, space-based off-board sensing concepts for weapons guidance...
seeker technologies, sensor technologies that can handle high-closing speeds, on-board processing algorithms and hardware...

Specific Technical Skills:

Satellite Constellation DesignSpace Situational Awareness (SSA)Advanced Sensor ModalitiesOn-board ProcessingTarget DiscriminationTelemetry, Tracking & Commanding (TT&C)Sensor FusionOn-Orbit ServicingSpacecraft Engineering

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Shawn Tornga	0.69	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Andre Santos	0.67	EESA \| CESD \| Integrated Ecosystem Sciences
Emil Rofors	0.67	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Rohan Adwankar	0.66	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Process Engr & Analytics
Nicholas Wenner	0.66	PSA \| Engineering \| Mechanical Engineering
Louis-Benoit Desroches	0.66	ETA \| Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts \| Energy Efficiency Studies
Alexandre Moreira da Silva	0.66	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt
Hannah Parrilla	0.66	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Alexander Sim	0.66	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research
Gregory Lemieux	0.66	EESA \| CESD \| Earth System Sciences

Example Priorities:

Develop and integrate scalable, multi-domain non-kinetic and electronic warfare (INK&EW) capabilities to achieve decisive effects, enhance decision-making tempo, minimize collateral damage, and ensure operational advantage in contested environments.
The Missile Defense System shall prioritize advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, autonomous systems, directed energy, hypersonic defense, resilient networking, and cybersecurity...
This effort prioritizes innovations ready for immediate application or near-term transition, focusing on areas such as AI, directed energy, hypersonic defense, resilient networking, and cybersecurity.

Specific Technical Skills:

Directed EnergyElectronic Warfare (EW)Electronic Attack (EA)Electronic Protection (EP)High-Power Microwaves (HPM)Laser SystemsRF EngineeringSignal ProcessingMulti-Domain Operations

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Qiang Du	0.71	PSA \| Engineering \| Electronic Engineering
Siyun Chen	0.70	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center
Shawn Tornga	0.70	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Jayson Vavrek	0.70	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Wei Liu	0.69	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Eric Esarey	0.69	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center
Dan Wang	0.69	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Alexandre Moreira da Silva	0.69	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt
Samuel Barber	0.69	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center
Alp Sipahigil	0.69	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics

Example Priorities:

Radiation Effects, Heavy Ion, Proton and Pulsed Neutron Single Event Effects on Electronic Devices and Systems
New single event effects (SEE) test methodologies, techniques, technologies, or alternate particle sources such as using LASERs, modeling, X-ray, protons...
developing test boards with multiple Devices Under Test (DUTs), automated test software to improve testing speeds, etc.

Specific Technical Skills:

Radiation HardeningSingle Event Effects (SEE)Electronics TestingDevice PhysicsNuclear SurvivabilityAutomated Test SoftwareParticle Beam TestingModeling and SimulationMaterials Science

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Nicolas Abgrall	0.72	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Reynold Cooper	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Hannah Parrilla	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Marco Salathe	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Peter Hosemann	0.71	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics
Mauricio Ayllon Unzueta	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| FS&IBT
Shawn Tornga	0.70	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Emil Rofors	0.70	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Alexey Drobizhev	0.70	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Jayson Vavrek	0.70	PSA \| NSD \| ANP

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
Anthony Ciavarella	0.77	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Quantum Computing
Talita Perciano Costa Leite	0.75	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research · Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
Tiffany Connors	0.75	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department · Cybersecurity for Defense Systems
Victor Negut	0.74	PSA \| NSD \| ANP · Advanced Sensor Algorithms
Cameron Geddes	0.74	PSA \| Physical Sciences \| Accel Tech & AppPhysics · Directed Energy Systems
Hao Ding	0.74	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center · Advanced Space Propulsion
Emil Rofors	0.74	PSA \| NSD \| ANP · On-Board Processing Algorithms
Zachary Needell	0.74	ETA \| Energy Analysis \| Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Digital Engineering & Analytics
Xianglei Mao	0.74	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Kinetic & Hypersonic Defense
Alexandre Bayen	0.73	ETA \| Energy Analysis \| Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Integrated Non-Kinetic & Electronic Warfare

Fundamental Research Exemption (FRE)

The technical areas in this announcement and any individual solicitation may contain export controlled technologies that are subject to U.S. Export Control laws, including the Arms Export Control Act (22 USC Chapter 39), the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) 22 CFR § 120-130 and/or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR) 15 CFR § 730-774).