AIS has been awarded AWARE, a $95 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract focused on researching novel and innovative anti-fragility concepts and integrating proven anti-fragility tools, techniques and processes into operational and emerging cyber platforms. AWARE will result in the delivery of systems characterized by greater cyber resiliency and fewer vulnerabilities throughout the development life cycle, thereby reducing risk to mission systems and ensuring mission demands are met under an array of conditions.
“AWARE is an effort that provides AIS the opportunity to integrate and transition proven anti-fragility tools that make systems more secure, reliable and robust when subjected to attacks, failures and faults,” said Salvatore Paladino, Director of Account Management at AIS. “This work will substantially improve software quality and reduce the resources required for incident response and recovery for the Air Force, its DoD partners and the commercial marketplace.”
AWARE is a SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) Phase III award. According to SBIR.gov, the SBIR program is highly competitive and encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research and Development aimed at commercializing solutions. A Phase III SBIR effort focuses on work that derives from, extends or completes capabilities developed under prior SBIR agreements and is funded by sources other than the SBIR program itself.
Work will be performed in Rome, New York, and is expected to be completed by September 30, 2026. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), also in Rome, is the contracting authority for the award.
“In an era of constant hacking and cyberattacks, AIS and Rome Lab have proven time and time again that its partnership can deliver superior solutions to protect our nation’s cyber-defense networks,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. “I will continue to work side-by-side with AIS and Rome Lab to bring more federal work – and more jobs – to the Mohawk Valley.”
