CHEERS MAA Open Period 2 - All Technical Areas, 10 U.S.C. 4023 - Procurement for Experimental Purposes (ARA)
This Air Force solicitation funds procurement of experimental items, prototypes, or auxiliary services needed for testing, technical evaluation, operational-utility assessment, or residual operational capability under 10 U.S.C. 4023.
⚑ Federal contract solicitation, not a grant. · Authority is 10 U.S.C. 4023 procurement for experimental purposes; awards are limited to quantities necessary for testing/assessment and may include residual operational capability. · Related MAA notice contains required attachments (Industry Guide, SOOs, protection appendices). · Cybersecurity safeguarding requirements include NIST SP 800-171 SPRS verification and task-specific CMMC compliance.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
| IPPRA | 15 none | university cannot apply directly (ineligible) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 15 none | university cannot apply directly (ineligible) |
Description
**28 September 2026: Amendment 01 — Annual Update & 10 U.S.C. 4023 Scope Clarification** Solicitation: FA238424S2335, "Open Period 2 - All Technical Areas, 10 U.S.C. 4023 - Procurement for Experimental Purposes (ARA)" Solicitation Authority: 10 U.S.C. § 4023, Procurement for Experimental Purposes (formerly 10 U.S.C. § 2373) The purpose of this update is to incorporate the annual solicitation revisions, update applicable procurement clauses and provisions, and incorporate clarified statutory criteria regarding acquisitions conducted under 10 U.S.C. § 4023. SUMMARY OF REVISIONS: Clarified Statutory Authority Scope: In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4023, acquisitions under this announcement are strictly limited to the development, procurement, or integration of items, prototypes, or auxiliary services specifically necessary for experimentation, technical evaluation, assessment of operational utility, or maintaining a residual operational capability. Updated Statutory Submission Criteria: Proposals submitted under this ARA must explicitly address: Experimental Utility: Solutions must be utilized in an evaluative/experimental capacity directly supporting stated technical objectives. Quantity Limitations: Limited strictly to quantities necessary for testing and operational assessment. Residual Operational Capability: Provisions for the Government to retain residual operational capability if initial testing proves successful. Provisions and Clauses: Updated applicable RFO provisions and cybersecurity safeguarding requirements (including NIST SP 800-171 SPRS verification and task-specific CMMC compliance). Reference to Updated Overarching Industry Guide: Offerors must refer to the revised CHEERS Industry Guide (Revision September 2026) posted on the parent MAA announcement. List of Attachments: "Open Period Solicitation 2_ARA Amend 01.pdf" "Attachment 1 - List of Provisions and Clauses (ARA).pdf" Related Notice: Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) FA238424S2233, "Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)" Note: You MUST refer to the related notice identified above in order to obtain all additional attachments referenced herein (e.g. CHEERS Industry Guide, Statements of Objectives (SOO), and S&T Protection Appendices). PREVIOUS AMENDMENT HISTORY 20 Nov 2025: Amendment 01 - Annual Update Solicitation: FA238424S2335, "Open Period 2 - All Technical Areas" Solicitation Authority: 10 U.S.C 4023 - Procurement for Experimental Purposes List of Attachments: 1. "Open Period Solicitation 2_ARA Amend 01" 2. "Attachment 1 - List of Provisions and Clauses (ARA)" Related Notice: Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) FA238424S2233, "Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)" Note: You MUST refer to the related notice identified above in order to obtain all additional attachments referenced herein (e.g. CHEERS Industry Guide, Statements of Objectives (SOO), and S&T Protection Appendices)
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Solicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE / FA2384 USAF AFMC AFRL PZL AFRL RAKH.
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Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.