SHIELD
The SHIELD (Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense) RFP represents a significant contracting milestone issued by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
With a contract ceiling of $151 billion over ten years, this multiple-award, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) opportunity seeks to develop and deploy advanced defense capabilities across a wide spectrum of domains, including air, space, land, sea, cyber, and hybrid threats.
SHIELD directly supports national security initiatives and the strategic modernization goals outlined in the Golden Dome initiative.
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SHIELD Update - October 03, 2025
As of the first week of October, updates have been released following the completion of the initial Q&A period. The most relevant changes are as follows –
Proposal Deadline Extended: Due to overwhelming industry interest, the submission period has been extended. Proposals are now due October 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CDT, giving teams more time to nail compliance and partner strategies.
Amendment 0002 Released: Amendment 0002 clarified file size limits for submissions, required small business plans to use the full $151B as a sample value, and fixed minor errors in documentation.
SHIELD IDIQ Officially Released: What Offerors Need to Know
SHIELD is officially a go. The final RFP was released on September 10th, introducing significant clarifications and adjustments compared to the draft, which tighten compliance requirements while maintaining the inclusive award model. Below, we break down what’s changed and what offerors must prioritize in the coming weeks.
SHIELD IDIQ Officially Released: What Offerors Need to Know
Key Changes from Draft to Final
- Award Model
The inclusive “all technically acceptable offerors receive an award” approach remains in place. However, the final version raises the bar on compliance, with stricter proposal formatting and content rules. - Domains and Scope
The draft included about 15 broad domains. The final RFP expands to 19 detailed technical domains, adding granularity around disruptive technologies, prototype demonstrations, facilities engineering, and advanced cybersecurity. - Proposal Instructions
Offerors now face a mandatory, detailed proposal format—including strict content requirements and explicit instructions for past performance submissions. This is a step up from the draft’s more flexible guidance. - Period of Performance
The 10-year structure remains, but is now explicitly divided into a base ordering period plus option periods, with a $151B ceiling intact. - Guidance for Offerors
A new guidance document has been added to address FAQs and common compliance pitfalls, something absent in the draft. - Deadlines & Timeline
The draft provided only tentative windows. The final RFP establishes firm dates:
- Questions due: September 15, 2025
- Proposals due: October 10, 2025
At-a-Glance: SHIELD Final RFP
Change Area | Draft RFP | Final RFP |
Award Model | All technically acceptable awarded | Model retained, but stricter compliance and formatting standards enforced |
Domains Listed | ~15 general domains | Expanded to 19+ detailed domains |
Proposal Instructions | Basic guidance | Detailed, mandatory formatting and content rules |
Deadlines | Tentative/uncertain | Firm: Questions by 9/15, Proposals by 10/10 |
Period of Performance | 10 years (proposed) | 10 years (formalized base + option periods) |
Guidance | Not included | New guidance/FAQ document provided |
For offerors, SHIELD represents both a massive opportunity and a high compliance bar. The vehicle’s inclusive award model ensures broad participation, but only for those who navigate the tightened requirements and deadlines successfully. With questions due by September 15 and proposals due by October 10, teams must act quickly to finalize strategies, assemble partners, and ensure proposals are fully compliant.
How Can VisibleThread Help?
Want an easy-to-assess look at what has changed from the draft solicitation? Click on the right hand side of this page to see a one-to-one compare of the documents. Generated with VT, we make it easy for you to highlight material changes and begin to drive action. Time is of the essence as the Q&A window closes in just a few days.
