Bid guide
How to bid on TACTICAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from DEPT of Defense
What the agency is buying and why it matters
The Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate (AFRL/RD) is seeking research proposals in directed-energy technology areas. This is a five-year Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) called TACTICAL, which serves as an overarching announcement. Specific research topics, requirements, funding, and due dates will be provided in individual "Calls" issued against this BAA.
This opportunity is significant for firms involved in research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences, particularly those with expertise in directed energy. The estimated total program value is $499 million across fiscal years 2024–2028, indicating a substantial investment in this technology area.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This overarching BAA was published on July 31, 2026, and has an initial announcement date of November 22, 2023. It does not have a proposal deadline itself. Instead, specific Calls issued under this BAA will provide their own proposal due dates and times.
Proposals received after the due date and time specified in a Call will be considered late. It is important to note that security procedures for entering the facility are not considered an interruption of normal Government processes, and delays due to security will result in late proposals. Early submission is encouraged, especially if using commercial carriers, as they may not honor time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations.
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is suitable for research and development firms, particularly those specializing in physical, engineering, and life sciences, with a focus on directed energy technologies. The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.
The acquisition is unrestricted, meaning both large and small businesses can compete. Firms must have an accounting system deemed adequate by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) for tracking costs if they intend to pursue cost-type contracts, as a cost-type contract cannot be awarded without one.
How to respond to this BAA
No proposals should be submitted directly against this overarching BAA. Instead, vendors must monitor the System for Award Management (SAM) for the issuance of specific Calls. Each Call will contain detailed descriptions of the research effort, anticipated period of performance, specific technical topic information, and estimated funding.
To access the opportunity and any subsequent Calls, click “View original source” to open the opportunity on the portal. If you land on the portal’s homepage, click the link again. A free account may be needed to view documents for some bids, but not all.
Tips for preparing a competitive response
Since this is a BAA with subsequent Calls, continuous monitoring of SAM is crucial for identifying relevant research topics and their specific deadlines. Set up alerts on SAM to be notified when new Calls are issued under BAA FA9451-24-S-0001.
Ensure your firm's Annual Representations and Certifications are current and submitted via SAM.gov, as required by FAR 52.204-7 and DFARS 252.204-7007 Alternate A. Also, if you plan to bid on cost-type contracts, confirm your accounting system is DCAA-approved. Prepare to submit proposals well in advance of the deadline specified in each Call, especially given potential delays with military installation security and commercial carriers.
See the live bid — deadline, agency details, and how to respond
Dates and requirements can change via addenda; always verify on the bid page and at the original source before responding.
View this bid on BiddingSimpleThis guide was prepared by BiddingSimple from the solicitation’s public posting. It is not official guidance from DEPT of Defense; the original posting controls.