Advanced Cyber Effects for Strategic Operations

The Advanced Cyber Effects for Strategic Operations (ACESO) program is issued by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Air Force Materiel Command's AFRL Information Directorate. This opportunity seeks to advance applied research and prototype development in the domain of cyber operations, specifically aimed at achieving superiority in the cyber domain for strategic U.S. military operations. The opportunity is presented as an Advanced Research Announcement (ARA), reflecting a multi-year effort to transition high-impact cyber technologies into operational Department of Defense (DoD) platforms. The ACESO program aims to fund research that delivers functional prototypes suitable for operational deployment within DoD systems. The total funding allocated for this ARA is approximately $950 million. Individual awards are expected to range between $10 million and $50 million, with a maximum ceiling of $99.98 million per award. The performance period for awards will not typically exceed 60 months. Awards may be issued in the form of procurement contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or as Other Transactions (OTs) under various U.S. Code provisions (10 USC 4021, 4022, and 4023). If an OT prototype agreement is successfully completed, it may transition to a follow-on production agreement without further competition. The ACESO ARA follows a two-step submission process. Initially, offerors must submit white papers, which may lead to invitations for full proposals. Full proposals are accepted by invitation only. The announcement remains open through July 10, 2030, and submissions are reviewed in alignment with fiscal year funding schedules: FY26 proposals are encouraged by December 30, 2025; FY27 by September 30, 2026; and subsequent years follow a similar schedule through FY30. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities capable of performing high-level cyber research and prototype development. While not explicitly listed, typical eligibility for such DoD ARAs includes for-profit and nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and federally funded research and development centers. There are no geographic limitations specified, and the opportunity appears open to nationwide U.S. applicants. Submissions and technical inquiries should be directed to Program Manager Tanya Macrina at afrl.ri.aceso@us.af.mil. Contractual or business-related questions may be addressed to Contracting Officer Amber Buckley at amber.buckley@us.af.mil. Both contacts are based at the AFRL Rome Research Site in New York. While discussions with government representatives are encouraged, only Contracting Officers can commit the government. Offerors should monitor SAM.gov for any updates or amendments to the announcement. The evaluation process emphasizes adherence to submission guidelines and completeness of the proposed effort, including technical relevance and execution feasibility.

Follow white paper formatting and content instructions strictly; technical alignment with cyber operations objectives is critical; early submission per fiscal year enhances funding alignment.