The "Foundations of Trusted Systems" Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), issued by the Department of the Air Force's Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), seeks innovative research to develop technologies and techniques to ensure trusted, secure, and resilient hardware and software foundations for information processing systems. This effort is critical to advancing secure Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber Technologies. The BAA is an open two-step process, where white papers are solicited as the initial submission, followed by formal proposals upon invitation.

The AFRL emphasizes innovative research in areas such as trusted computing environments, hardware and software assurance, cyber-physical systems, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for trusted systems. Key focus areas include developing techniques to mitigate malicious hardware inclusions, ensuring software supply chain integrity, and creating resilient software systems to counteract cyber-attacks, including zero-day vulnerabilities. Additional topics include verification and validation methodologies for cyber-physical systems, scalable software assurance tools, and the integration of AI for improving automation in software development and system resilience.

The funding ceiling for this BAA is approximately $99.9 million, with individual awards ranging between $100,000 and $5 million. Projects are expected to last no more than 36 months. While there is no set maximum number of awards, multiple awards are anticipated, and contracts can be issued in various forms, including procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions (OTs). The solicitation encourages participation from small businesses, academic institutions, and nonprofits, alongside traditional defense contractors.

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. organizations and individuals due to security and access considerations. Exceptions for foreign participation are limited to fundamental research projects, provided sufficient documentation and approvals are in place. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and Government entities must meet specific eligibility conditions.

Applications will be evaluated based on scientific merit, the proposer’s technical capabilities, the maturity and assurance of the proposed solution, and the reasonableness of proposed costs. White papers should not exceed five pages and must include objectives, technical summaries, and proposed deliverables. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis until December 4, 2028, with recommended submission dates aligning with fiscal years for optimal funding alignment.

The AFRL encourages communication between offerors and Government representatives before submission. However, only Contracting Officers are authorized to commit funds. Successful proposals will undergo a rigorous evaluation process, including a review for security risks. Further guidance and submission templates are available on the [SAM.gov](https://sam.gov) website.