MDA27BZ02-DV005 — Mobile Sea-Based Launch Platform

Develop and test a mobile, sea-based launch platform.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Directorate for Test and Targets (DT) Directorate designs, develops and provides missile targets to test US missile defenses. The Department of War is pushing towards the deployment of sea-based launch capabilities for a variety of applications to enhance range and survivability of hypersonic technologies [1]. A commercially-owned and operated mobile sea-based platform capable of launching a variety of commercially-procured target vehicles from any point on the ocean will enable MDA to more accurately and cost-effectively replicate adversary threats while increasing equatorial launch access and enabling more responsive launch coordination [2].

Phase I-like proposals will not be evaluated and will be rejected as nonresponsive. For this topic, the Government expects the small business would have accomplished the following in a Phase I-like effort via some other means, e.g., independent research and development (IRAD) or other source, a concept for a workable prototype or design to address, at a minimum, the basic capabilities of the stated objective above. Proposal must show, as appropriate, a demonstrated technical feasibility or nascent capability. The documentation provided must substantiate the proposer’s development of a preliminary understanding of the technology to be applied in their Phase II proposal in meeting topic objectives. Documentation should comprise all relevant information including, but not limited to, technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results. Feasibility = maturity and what have you already done/validated. Proposers interested in participating in Direct to Phase II must include in their responses to this topic Phase I feasibility documentation that substantiates the scientific and technical merit and Phase I feasibility described in Phase I above has been met. (i.e., the small business must have performed a proof of concept like “Phase I” component and/or other validation in a relevant environment, and/or at a much higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) level (5 or higher) and describe the potential commercialization applications. The documentation provided must validate that the proposer has completed development of technology in previous work or research completed.) IRAD work: Documentation should include the most relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and/or performance goals/results. Work submitted within the feasibility documentation must have been substantially performed by the proposer and/or the principal investigator (PI).

Under this Direct to Phase II effort, successful proposals should design, develop, fabricate, and field-test a sea-based target launch platform capable of leveraging a wide variety of commercially-procured launch vehicles. Proposers must demonstrate how their solutions are novel technology (not 'commercial off-the-shelf' procurement) and how they can support multiple, existing, proven target launch vehicles via physical hardware. MDA highly desires a field-test demonstration of the solution at sea. Proposers must be a small business with a demonstrated track record of conducting commercial launch vehicle operations at sea, and must also demonstrate commercial interest in their proposed solution. Proposers should not propose a solution that is exclusive to MDA nor one that requires ongoing MDA outlays for maintenance and overhead costs. MDA prefers proposals that demonstrate their solution meets the needs of other Department of War (DoW) stakeholders. MDA prefers modularized, containerized, and easily-transportable solutions that could be used at a variety of launch sites, both on land and at sea. MDA encourages teaming arrangements that include commercial launch service providers.

Scale-up the capability from the Phase II platform design utilizing the new technologies developed in Phase II into a full-scale test platform. The solution could be utilized in future MDA target launch campaigns leveraging commercial sea-based launch platforms. The solution may be used to meet the intent of the FY 2024 NDAA directive instructing DoW to begin planning for a sea-based launch capability.