ONHS Report: HQ0860-25-S-C001

Missile Defense Agency - Advanced Capability Concepts

Solicitation ID: HQ0860-25-S-C001

Agency: MDA

Type: Special Notice

Deadline: 2030-05-08T17:00:00 ET

Eligibility: Maybe (Dual Approval Required)

Funding: N/A

Doc Type: BAA

Clearance: Top Secret

Program Manager: MDA-ACC-WP@mail.mil

Last Updated: 2025-11-24 13:12

Analyzed File: MDA_ACC_HQ086025SC001.pdf

Eligibility Reasoning

Federally Funded Research Development Centers (FFRDCs) are not prohibited from responding to this solicitation. However, white paper submissions from FFRDCs must include: 1) Determination by the FFRDC’s sponsoring agency that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, and general scope or special competency of the FFRDC; 2) Determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry; and 3) A plan to transition the proposed effort to industry.

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

Summary

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Advanced Capability Concepts solicitation (HQ0860-25-S-C001) is a five-year open opportunity (May 9, 2025 – May 8, 2030) for industry, academia, and non-profits to submit white papers on innovative technologies to enhance the Missile Defense System. The process is two-step: submission and evaluation of a white paper, followed by a request for more information for selected proposals to negotiate an award, which can be a FAR-based contract or an Other Transaction (OT) agreement. Key technical areas of interest include Kinetic and Hypersonic Defense; Command and Control Battle Management; Integrated Non-Kinetic and Electronic Warfare; Disruptive Technologies like AI, directed energy, and cybersecurity; Space-based Sensors and Interceptors; Digital Revolution/AI/ML applications; and Radiation Effects on electronics. White papers will be evaluated on Technical Achievement, Research Capabilities, and Program Management, with Technical Achievement being weighted most heavily.

Overall Technical Areas

Kinetic & Hypersonic DefenseInterceptor Systems DevelopmentCommand & Control Battle ManagementArtificial Intelligence / Machine LearningNon-Kinetic & Electronic WarfareDirected Energy SystemsCybersecurity & Resilient NetworkingSpace-Based Sensors & TrackingSatellite Constellation TechnologyOnboard Processing AlgorithmsAdvanced Data AnalyticsRadiation Effects AnalysisSpace Propulsion TechnologySensor Algorithm DevelopmentQuantum Computing Applications

Probable LBNL Areas

BSACSAEESAETALDPSA

Focus Areas

Example Priorities:

Rapid development, demonstration and transition of cost efficient kinetic defense solutions against ballistic and hypersonic missile threats.
This considers potential Missile Defense System concepts and technologies with a spectrum of capabilities and seeks technologies applicable to current interceptor concepts or completely new interceptor concepts.
ability to intercept threats including ballistic, maneuvering, hypersonic, and cruise missiles; ability to intercept threats with ranges from short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBSs), and intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs)
ability to disrupt the threat by rapidly developing a low cost interceptor.

Specific Technical Skills:

Hypersonic AerodynamicsInterceptor DesignAdvanced PropulsionGuidance and ControlKinetic Kill VehiclesMaterials ScienceRapid PrototypingSystems EngineeringThreat ModelingEndo/Exo-atmospheric Intercept

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Shawn Tornga	0.70	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Peter Tennessen	0.70	PSA \| Engineering \| Mechanical Engineering
Thomas Schenkel	0.69	PSA \| ATAP \| FS&IBT
Jayson Vavrek	0.69	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Vi Rapp	0.69	ETA \| Building Technology & Urban Systems \| Bldg & Industrial App Dpt
Guoying Chen	0.69	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt
Andre Santos	0.69	EESA \| CESD \| Integrated Ecosystem Sciences
Emil Rofors	0.68	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Zhe Bai	0.68	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Blake Simmons	0.68	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Biodesign Dept

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 to counter evolving, large-scale threats in complex environments.

Specific Technical Skills:

Artificial IntelligenceMachine LearningAutonomous SystemsQuantum ComputingData FusionCommand and Control (C2)Battle ManagementResilient NetworkingCybersecurityComputational Intelligence

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
John Wu	0.71	CSA \| Scientific Networking (ESNET) \| Tech Adv and Engagement
Neel Rajeshbhai Vora	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Edward Bethel	0.71	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research
Yilun Xu	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Alexander Sim	0.70	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research
Zhe Bai	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Corneel Casert	0.70	CSA \| NERSC \| Sci Eng & Workflows Department
Gazi Mahmud	0.69	BSA \| Environmental Genomics & Systems Biology \| Molecular Ecosystems Bio
Shawn Tornga	0.69	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Wahid Bhimji	0.69	CSA \| NERSC \| Sci Eng & Workflows Department

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.
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, seeker technologies, sensor technologies that can handle high-closing speeds, on-board processing algorithms and hardware.
novel concepts in the areas of satellite ground Telemetry, Tracking and Commanding (TT&C) capabilities

Specific Technical Skills:

Satellite Constellation DesignSpace Domain AwarenessOn-Orbit Servicing & ManufacturingCounter-Space CapabilitiesAdvanced Space PropulsionSmall Satellite TechnologySeeker TechnologySpace-based SensorsTT&C SystemsAI for Space Applications

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Shawn Tornga	0.70	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Rohan Adwankar	0.68	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Process Engr & Analytics
Nicholas Wenner	0.67	PSA \| Engineering \| Mechanical Engineering
Alexander Sim	0.67	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research
Louis-Benoit Desroches	0.67	ETA \| Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts \| Energy Efficiency Studies
Andre Santos	0.67	EESA \| CESD \| Integrated Ecosystem Sciences
Emil Rofors	0.67	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Blake Simmons	0.67	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Biodesign Dept
Zhe Bai	0.67	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Alex Newkirk	0.67	ETA \| Building Technology & Urban Systems \| Bldg & Industrial App Dpt

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.
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.
These technologies shall enhance the defense system's effectiveness against rapidly evolving threats through enhanced situational awareness, rapid decision-making, and effective response options.

Specific Technical Skills:

Electronic Warfare (EW)Directed Energy WeaponsHigh-Power Microwaves (HPM)Cyber WarfareRF EngineeringLaser SystemsMulti-Domain OperationsEffects ModelingSignal ProcessingPlasma Physics

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Qiang Du	0.71	PSA \| Engineering \| Electronic Engineering
Shawn Tornga	0.70	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Eric Esarey	0.70	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center
Cameron Geddes	0.70	PSA \| Physical Sciences \| Accel Tech & AppPhysics
Zhe Bai	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Jayson Vavrek	0.70	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Aodhan McIlvenny	0.70	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center
Siyun Chen	0.70	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center
Samuel Barber	0.70	PSA \| ATAP \| BELLA Center
Edoardo Zoni	0.69	PSA \| ATAP \| Advanced Modeling Prog

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) TestingElectronics TestingNuclear SurvivabilityMicroelectronics DesignPulsed Laser TestingHeavy Ion/Proton EffectsAutomated Test SoftwareSystem HardeningDevice Modeling

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Nicolas Abgrall	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Reynold Cooper	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Hannah Parrilla	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Marco Salathe	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Jayson Vavrek	0.71	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Shawn Tornga	0.71	LD \| LD \| ONHS
Emil Rofors	0.70	PSA \| NSD \| ANP
Mauricio Ayllon Unzueta	0.70	PSA \| ATAP \| FS&IBT
Azriel Goldschmidt	0.70	PSA \| Engineering \| Electronic Engineering
Alexey Drobizhev	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 Applications
Talita Perciano Costa Leite	0.75	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research · Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
Amy Kronenberg	0.75	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Biodesign Dept · Radiation Effects Analysis
Cameron Geddes	0.74	PSA \| Physical Sciences \| Accel Tech & AppPhysics · Directed Energy Systems
Alexander Sim	0.74	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Research · Advanced Data Analytics
Xianglei Mao	0.74	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Kinetic & Hypersonic Defense
Emil Rofors	0.74	PSA \| NSD \| ANP · Sensor Algorithm Development
Tiffany Connors	0.73	CSA \| NERSC \| Data Center Department · Cybersecurity & Resilient Networking
Mario Cromaz	0.73	PSA \| NSD \| Low Energy Nuclear Science · Space-Based Sensors & Tracking
Mauricio Ayllon Unzueta	0.73	PSA \| ATAP \| FS&IBT · Interceptor Systems Development

Fundamental Research Exemption (FRE)

The technical areas in this 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).