HERMES BAA CALL: Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine-Combined Cycle (RDRE-CC) Flight Demonstration
Updated
Special Notice from the Department of the Air Force, for work in Edwards, California. Due Nov 16, 2026, 4:00 PM (UTC-8), 24 days left.
| Solicitation number | FA9300-20-S-0001-CALL-RDRE-CC |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of the Air Force |
| Office | FA9300 Aftc Pzr |
| Notice type | Special Notice |
| Set-aside | None |
| Trade (NAICS) | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715) |
| Product or service code | AC11 |
| Place of performance | Edwards, California |
| Posted | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Nov 16, 2026, 4:00 PM (UTC-8) (24 days left) |
| Add the deadline to | Google Calendar · Apple / Outlook (.ics) |
Official notice and attachments
Description
AMENDMENT 0002 - NOTICE OF THE USE OF NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & RELEASE OF REVISED ATTACHMENT 2 (v2) The purpose of this update is to notify interested parties of two critical administrative and technical updates to the subject 2-Step Call: 1. Release of revised technical questions & answers (v2): The Government has released v2 of the Controlled Technical Q&As (Distribution C) to provide additional clarification.
Specifically, a new clarification has been added as Question 2.3, "Air-Launched Flight Demonstration." As a result of this insertion, the former Questions 2.3 and 2.4 have shifted to Questions 2.4 and 2.5, respectively. All vetted contractors must request access to the updated attachment: "Attachment 2 - Call Q&A v2 (Distribution C)" via the SAM.gov "Attachments" portal.
You MUST enter your company's CAGE Code in the "Reason for Request" text box to facilitate rapid cross-referencing against our registration log. 2. All prospective offerors are hereby notified that the Government intends to utilize a non-government advisor to provide technical advisory support during the evaluation of Phase I White Papers and subsequent Phase II Proposals resulting from this Call. a. ADVISOR ENTITY: Technical advisory support will be provided by an authorized subcontractor under Sierra Lobo, Inc. (SLI) (Contract FA930023F6001). b. ADVISORY CAPACITY ONLY: The advisor's role will be strictly advisory and non-governmental.
The advisor will provide technical subject matter expertise to assist the Government evaluators but will not assign ratings, make selections, or perform any inherently governmental decision-making functions. c. DATA PROTECTION: In accordance with RFO Part 15.108 and 15.201, the advisor is bound by strict, legally binding Government Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and statutory Procurement Integrity Act requirements to safeguard all contractor proprietary and source selection sensitive information. d. OBJECTION PROCESS: Prospective offerors who have a specific, documented objection to the disclosure of their proprietary white paper/proposal data to Sierra Lobo, Inc. personnel must submit their objection, including a detailed technical/business justification, to the Contracting Officer ([email protected]) within three (3) business days of this posting.
Failure to submit a written objection within this timeframe shall be deemed as concurrence with the use of the specified non-government advisor. END of AMENDMENT 0002 AMENDMENT 0001 - NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF TECHNICAL Q&AS (DISTRIBUTION C) The purpose of this update is to notify interested parties that official Government Responses to Industry Questions has been finalized. Because these Q&As address technical details of the Call, they have been marked as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) under Distribution Statement C (Distribution authorized to U.S. Government agencies and their contractors).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESS:
- Previously Vetted Contractors (Already Approved for Attachment 1): Please request access to "Attachment 2 - Call Q&A (Distribution C)" via the SAM.gov "Attachments" portal. CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: You MUST enter your company's CAGE Code in the "Reason for Request" text box on SAM.gov. Access will be cross-referenced against the Government's approved registration log and granted immediately upon validation. Requests submitted without a CAGE Code will be rejected.
- New Requestors: If you have not yet been vetted, you must request access to both Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 simultaneously.
You must submit your active Joint Certification Program (JCP) details, CAGE Code, and a valid US-citizen company email address in accordance with the original access protocols detailed below. END of AMENDMENT 0001 SPECIAL NOTICE – CALL FOR PROPOSALS Department of the Air Force / Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Rocket Propulsion Division – Edwards AFB, CA HERMES Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA9300-20-S-0001 CALL: Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine-Combined Cycle (RDRE-CC) Flight Demonstration Parent Solicitation Number: FA9300-20-S-0001 Call Identifier: FA9300-20-S-0001-CALL-RDRE-CC Prior Market Research Notice: RFIFA930026R0001 NAICS Code: 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) Product Service Code (PSC): AC11 – National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense; Basic Research Response Date (Step 1 - White Papers): [16 NOV 2026] at 1600 PST Set-Aside: Full and Open Competition (under RFO 35.102) 1.
Program Description The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rocket Propulsion Division (AFRL/RJP), located at Edwards AFB, CA, is issuing a formal Two-Step Call for Proposals under the overarching HERMES Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA9300-20-S-0001. This Call follows the market research previously conducted and publicized under RFI Notice ID RFIFA930026R0001. AFRL/RJP seeks innovative research and development approaches to mature advanced Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine-Combined Cycle (RDRE-CC) propulsion systems from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TRL 6.
This research effort is intended to culminate in a ground-launched, sounding-rocket-boosted flight demonstration to validate the system's operational viability for future High-Speed Affordable Mass Munitions (HAMM). The scope encompasses: Maturation and demonstration of RDRE-CC propulsion technology through RDRE development and test, integrated RDRE-CC direct-connect and freejet testing, vehicle development, and flight demonstration.The anticipated Period of Perform
The description continues in the official notice.
Contracting contact
- Mathew Pierson · [email protected]
- Kameelah Purdom · [email protected]
As published on the official notice. Ask questions in writing and before any questions deadline the notice sets.
Is your business small enough?
For NAICS 541715, a business counts as small if it has no more than 11 employees (SBA size standard, with exceptions in the notes). This notice is set aside, so only businesses under that size, or in the named program, can bid. SBA table, current as of Oct 15, 2026.
Notice history
- Oct 22, 2026: Special Notice Due Nov 16, 2026, 4:00 PM (UTC-8)
- Oct 19, 2026: Special Notice Due Nov 16, 2026, 4:00 PM (UTC-8)
- Oct 1, 2026: Sources Sought Due Nov 16, 2026, 4:00 PM (UTC-8)
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Federal contractors paid for research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences work, who also hold Air Force contracts (last 12 months): possible competitors, or partners to team with.
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About the buyer
The Department of the Air Force awarded $83.0 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were The Boeing Company, The Boeing Company and Raytheon Company. See what Air Force is buying now.
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