AFRL Rocket Lab Hermes BAA
This Air Force open BAA funds study efforts and R&D contracts to mature novel concepts and specific technologies to appropriate TRLs for defense end uses.
⚑ Two-step open BAA with white papers and later government-issued calls · Maximum single award value under this BAA is less than $100M · Federal contract solicitation; eligibility determined by the BAA/each call rather than grant terms
This is a defense R&D BAA aimed at rocket lab, aerospace, materials, and computing technologies, which is far outside IPPRA’s social-behavioral risk/communication/policy research lines. The team might be adjacent only as evaluators of public acceptance or risk perception, but not as PI-level performers for the core technical work.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-07
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 45 partial | portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); social/behavioral work is none; funds applied research; capped at 45 (limited social-science role) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
Correct email on Secondary POC - 14 Apr 2023 Change to Secondary POC - 24 Jan 2023 Amendment of BAA - 9 Dec 2022 Annual Review and update to Capability Repository - 18 Aug 22 Amendment of BAA - 4 May 22 Amendment of BAA - 13 April 22 Amendment of BAA - 8 Mar 22 Amendment of BAA - 26 Jan 22 Annual Review and Amendment of BAA - 28 Dec 21 AFRL Rocket Lab Hermes BAA is a two-step open BAA with the ability of issuing future calls that enable study efforts on novel concepts, as well as research and development contracts to mature specific technologies to appropriate technology readiness levels (TRL) depending on end use. Specific award details are described below, but the Government anticipates awarding multiple contracts of varying duration and value. However, the maximum single award value issued against this BAA is less than $100M. This BAA allows consideration of white papers as well as calls issued by the Government when specific requirements are identified.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Solicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE / FA9300 AFTC PZR.
Apply
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.