The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has announced the selection of 1,014 companies in the first round of a significant contracting vehicle aimed at bolstering the Pentagon’s future Golden Dome air and missile defense initiative. This initial group of “qualifying offerors” will now compete for future task orders under the Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program, which operates as an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a substantial ceiling of up to $151 billion.
In total, the MDA received 2,463 proposals during the initial phase. It’s noteworthy that no funds are connected to the base awards, meaning costs will be incurred at each order level instead. The operational timeline for the contracted work extends through December 2035, contingent upon the exercise of all options outlined in the initiative’s terms.
According to the MDA, the SHIELD program is designed to provide the U.S. Department of Defense with an adaptable mechanism for quickly deploying new technologies across the country. The program encompasses a broad array of mission areas, including prototyping, weapons development, cybersecurity, systems engineering, data analysis, and addressing other emerging defense needs.
In emphasizing the program’s capabilities, the agency stated, “This contract encompasses a broad range of work areas that allows for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter with increased speed and agility.” Furthermore, MDA has highlighted the program’s focus on integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital engineering, open systems standards, and agile development methodologies.
The Golden Dome initiative is rooted in an executive order issued during the second term of former President Donald Trump, which called for a layered homeland air defense architecture, including the development of space-based interceptors. Leading the initiative is U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, who presented a proposed architecture to senior leaders at the Pentagon in September.
Earlier this year, MDA began preparing industry partners for this initiative by releasing a presolicitation notice in July and hosting an industry day in Huntsville, Alabama, in August. Details regarding the SHIELD program portray it as a “versatile vehicle” poised to operate for a decade, as reported by Breaking Defense.
These developments come on the heels of the U.S. Space Force’s solicitation in late November for space-based mid-course interceptors, with the service withholding the identities of the awardees due to enhanced security measures, as reported by Bloomberg.
