Amendment #4: Common Very Low Frequency Receiver (VLF) Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization
Key Dates
Due Date
-
Posted Date
-
Agency & Value
Agency
FA8735 AFNWC HCK NC3
Contract Value
Not provided
Codes & Classification
Solicitation Number
FA8735-26-R-B001
NAICS
541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Classification Code
5821
Additional Details
The Department of the Air Force, through the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) NC3’s Very Low Frequency (VLF) Enterprise Program Office (EPO), has issued Solicitation FA8735-26-R-B001 for the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver Increment 2 (CVRi2) Modernization. This procurement seeks to advance the modernization of the Nation’s Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) infrastructure by developing a “common” advanced VLF receiver system. The primary objective is to replace legacy airborne and ground-based VLF systems and equip future NC3 platforms with a unified, state-of-the-art receiver that is Crypto Modernization-2 (CM2) compliant, supports new waveforms, is NSA certified, and is compatible with Open Mission Systems (OMS) standards.
The scope of this effort encompasses the rapid design and development of a production-ready, fully functional VLF receiver, along with all necessary ancillary support equipment. The envisioned solution must enable secure, beyond line-of-sight communications for the transmission of Emergency Action Messages across all levels of conflict, ensuring robust and resilient command and control capabilities for critical national defense missions.
This solicitation is being conducted as a Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) under the AFLCMC/XA Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, specifically limited to Category 2 awardees. Only contractors who have previously been awarded under Category 2 of the AFLCMC/XA IDIQ are eligible to participate. The Government anticipates awarding one or two Delivery Orders (DOs), contingent upon a best-value determination and the availability of funding. It is important to note that, as this is an order under an IDIQ contract, Department of Defense source selection procedures do not apply; all ordering will be conducted in accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 16.507 and the established AFLCMC/XA IDIQ ordering procedures.
Key requirements and deliverables include:
- Design and development of a common VLF receiver system that is CM2 compliant, supports new waveforms, is NSA certified, and OMS capable.
- Provision of all required ancillary support equipment to ensure full operational capability.
- Compliance with updated Statement of Work (SOW) requirements, including recent corrections and the incorporation of new contract clauses as specified in the amendments.
- Adherence to all security and information handling protocols, including the requirement for offerors to provide their CAGE Code and identify all locations where classified information will be accessed, handled, or processed prior to receiving classified documentation. This information must be submitted to the Contracting Officer by 20 April 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
- Access to the solicitation package, which contains Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), is restricted to offerors certified by the Joint Certification Program (JCP).
The place of performance for this contract is Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) and Product Service Code 5821. There are no set-aside restrictions for this opportunity.
The Government reserves the right to cancel the solicitation at any time, with no obligation to reimburse offerors for proposal costs. No award will be made until funds are available.
Interested and eligible contractors should note the following points of contact for this solicitation:
- Primary: Timothy Coit ([email protected])
- Secondary: Sarah Dumoulin-Minguet ([email protected])
The most recent amendment (Amendment #4, dated 8 June 2026) has updated the proposal submission deadline to 5 August 2026 at Noon Eastern. Additional amendments have addressed updates to the Bidder’s Library, SOW corrections, new contract clauses, and responses to industry questions. All relevant unclassified documents are available for download to eligible offerors.
For further details and to access the official solicitation, please refer to the SAM.gov opportunity at: https://sam.gov/opp/34ec7961785a48ca870e1757748a0a6a/view
This opportunity represents a significant modernization effort for the Air Force’s NC3 VLF communications infrastructure and is best suited for contractors with proven experience in secure communications systems, cryptographic compliance, and rapid system development within the defense sector.