EconDefense
ACQ-07 / Research, innovation and experimentation

Include bridge prototype or initial production units in a research contract

A competitively selected general-solicitation research contract may contain line items/options for development, demonstration, initial production or initial/additional items arising from its work.

Action briefPDF dossier · original 168Download record
Authority / instrument · ACQ-07

Transition & scaling

Research, innovation and experimentation

Statute & instrument
Authority holder

Secretary of Defense, Army, Navy or Air Force

What this does not authorize / hard limit

Line item/option term not more than 2 years; statutory value limit $100m in FY2017 constant dollars.

Recorded executor

Warranted contracting officer and program manager

Continue to actor →

Recorded executing role; this record-specific route is not an additional institutional office.

Legal basisSources linkedLegal sources and instrument limits are recorded.
RequirementsGates recordedRead the requirements for this instrument; applicability depends on the proposed action.
Public fundingRules recordedAppropriate research or procurement funds according to work; value ceiling is not funding. Office budget figures are separate institutional context, not an allocation to this instrument.
Assigned rolesRoles recordedPublic sources describe institutional authority. The instrument identifies approval and execution roles; a specific signature remains transaction-dependent.
EngagementProcess sourcedThe current ONR BAA expressly permits the section 4004 bridge; this is stronger evidence than a generic prototype-program link. Program check: 2026-10-04; see each route for intake status.

Public evidence describes the institution and instrument; it is not approval of an individual transaction.

At a glance

Possible toolACQ-07 · Contracts & purchases
Legal basis10 U.S.C. §4004

Authority holder: Secretary of Defense, Army, Navy or Air Force

Contracts & purchases

Mechanism tags describe the source text; they do not expand the authority.

Availability and verification

Express statutory pathway; award-specific appropriations, available balances, delegations, implementation and approvals not independently verified.

Program process and intake

Checked 2026-10-04 · process documented. Program evidence is separate from legal authority, available funds and transaction approval.

The current ONR BAA expressly permits the section 4004 bridge; this is stronger evidence than a generic prototype-program link.

ONR BAA contract line-item/option bridge

Who this route serves
Performers with a qualifying competed BAA contract
Administering office / routing lead
ONR contracting officer and the sponsoring research program
Direct implementation

Appendix II(8) expressly identifies 10 U.S.C. 4004 and permits the initial contract or a later modification to include a line item for development, demonstration or initial production.

What this evidence label means
Mechanism documented in current notice

Amendment 0008 includes the explicit bridge clause; no particular exercised option was verified.

Status reference date: 2026-10-04 · research checked 2026-10-04

ONR N0001425SB001 Amendment 0008 · B.6–7; C.1; D.4–6; Appendix II paragraph (8) (printed p.69, PDF p.72)official solicitation · Evidence record

Program eligibility

Steps and preparation

  • Contracting officer scopes a bridge line item/option with minimum bridge quantity, schedule and funding; competitive follow-on planning remains necessary.

    DFARS234.005-1 Competition · Paragraphs1–4; DFARS page effective May 7, 2026official acquisition regulation · Evidence record
Funding, limits and authority relationship

Funding and financial terms

  • contract line item or option · contract-specific

    DFARS permits funds beyond the BAAs original science/technology funding categories, subject to lawful availability.

    DFARS234.005-1 Competition · Paragraphs1–4; DFARS page effective May 7, 2026official acquisition regulation · Evidence record

Exclusions and limits

  • Two-year maximum and$100 million in FY2017 constant dollars; only minimal units needed to bridge to competitive follow-on.

    DFARS234.005-1 Competition · Paragraphs1–4; DFARS page effective May 7, 2026official acquisition regulation · Evidence record

Authority relationship source

ONR N0001425SB001 Amendment 0008 · B.6–7; C.1; D.4–6; Appendix II paragraph (8) (printed p.69, PDF p.72)official solicitation · Evidence record

Read ONR BAA AppendixII(8) →

published guidance: Existing-contract planning through its contracting officer; not a freestanding company application.

Source access and verification notes
  • ONR N0001425SB001 Amendment 0008 · B.6–7; C.1; D.4–6; Appendix II paragraph (8) (printed p.69, PDF p.72)official solicitation · Evidence record

    Automated direct retrieval did not complete on October 4, 2026. This access check does not establish current legal effect or invalidate independently reviewed indexed evidence; see the cited location and this dossier’s access qualifications.

Research scope and sources checked

Searched4004 and predecessor2302e; located the express clause in current ONR solicitation and corroborating DFARS. Excluded materials using obsolete/mistaken4004-to2373 numbering.

What remains unverified

  • No specific exercised bridge option or obligation was independently verified; distinguish4022 prototype-OT follow-ons.

A dated source check is not continuing monitoring. Recheck the linked official notice before preparing a submission. Browse program research →

Requirements and limits

Eligibility & prerequisites

  • Initial contract comes from competitive general-solicitation proposal selection.
  • Additional units must be minimum needed pending timely competitive follow-on.

Limits & exclusions

  • Line item/option term not more than 2 years; statutory value limit $100m in FY2017 constant dollars.
  • Does not authorize indefinitely bypassing follow-on competition.

Funding conditions

  • Appropriate research or procurement funds according to work; value ceiling is not funding.

Read the funding and execution guide

Who contributes what

Need & planning

  • Operational requirement owner; Service/component portfolio acquisition executive and program manager

Resources

  • Sponsoring Service/component appropriations manager and comptroller

Approval

  • Service/component acquisition executive and authorized contracting authority, at applicable threshold

Execution

Partners & review

  • User command
  • Counsel, fiscal, engineering, testing, logistics and security staff as applicable

Office links are editorial matches to the original role text, not verified delegations. Composite labels and unmatched actors are preserved.

Coordination pathway

Program manager designs bridge line item → contracting officer competes research → validates minimum bridge quantity → follow-on competition.

Actor and execution-role sources

Legal basis

What this research establishes

Legal basisSources linkedLegal sources and instrument limits are recorded.
RequirementsGates recordedRead the requirements for this instrument; applicability depends on the proposed action.
Public fundingRules recordedAppropriate research or procurement funds according to work; value ceiling is not funding. Office budget figures are separate institutional context, not an allocation to this instrument.
Assigned rolesRoles recordedPublic sources describe institutional authority. The instrument identifies approval and execution roles; a specific signature remains transaction-dependent.
EngagementProcess sourcedThe current ONR BAA expressly permits the section 4004 bridge; this is stronger evidence than a generic prototype-program link. Program check: 2026-10-04; see each route for intake status.

Confidence: High on express authority and cited conditions; execution assignment is illustrative unless statute expressly names it.

Currentness: GovInfo 2024 Code (includes FY2025 NDAA, P.L. 118-159) read in full for cited provision; targeted FY2026 NDAA P.L. 119-60 amendment/repeal sweep. No claim of complete legislative currency through 2026-10-02; remaining 2026 delta needs counsel validation.

Review scope: Original research target October 2, 2026; no record-specific last-review date supplied. Publication is not legal-currentness certification.

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