Science and Technology Websites & Opportunities

The official proposal submission website for the Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD announces the opening of the following SBIR and STTR funding opportunities:

• Air Force X23.6 CSO

VT-ARC is a 501(c)3, nonprofit, research organization that delivers tailored analysis, research and engineering to address problems of national and global importance. Working with government and other academic and industry partners, we specialize in: Applied Research; Translational Research; Technical Services; and Commercialization. Our people possess backgrounds from academia, industry, intelligence, DOD, and other federal agencies. The majority possess PhD’s or Master’s degrees across multiple disciplines. Our portfolio of current and past performance for different federal government agencies and industry includes: Predictive Analytics and Tool Development; Technology Forecasting and Scouting; Wireless Communications & Spectrum Sharing Strategy and Development (3GPP, 5G & NextG); Assurance of Wireless Communications and Networking; Decision Science; Information Science, Secure Operations, and Intelligent Systems to Drive Decision-making; Mission and Systems Engineering; and Precision Agriculture.

The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is excited to announce the availability of funding for projects that can immediately and significantly benefit the technology and development of AFRL scientists & engineers (S&Es). This call seeks proposals from researchers who are members of the Midwest Regional Network, along with their AFRL and additional collaborators.

Project submission opens: Jan. 20, 2025
Pre-proposal (Phase I) due date: Feb. 7, 2025
Proposal (Phase II) due date: March 31, 2025

Before applying for funding, you MUST have an established relationship with an AFRL S&E. If you still need to connect with an AFRL S&E, please submit your ideas through Tech Connect. All information related to the call, including the list of subtopics desired by the AFRL Technical Directorates, will be available in the new community portal.

Air Force Accelerators and Incubators accelerate the matching of commercial products with Air Force needs. Across the US, these accelerators and incubators partner with startups to grow Air Force capabilities.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Regional Network – Midwest is a new science and technology ecosystem comprised of universities, large and small businesses, other government agencies, and venture capitalists. The Midwest Network supports the AFRL by cultivating strategic collaborations to drive innovative research, translation, and workforce development opportunities that bolster the critical technology needs of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). The Midwest Network encompasses 12 states and is headquartered at Purdue University.  

The AFRL Regional Network — Mid-Atlantic helps identify barrier-breaking innovations for the Air Force and Space Force and together advances them towards commercialization leveraging regional academic, government, corporate, startup, and venture members, programs and assets.

During the week of 5-9 May 2025, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will host its Autonomy Industry Day in Dayton, Ohio with industry partners invested in technologies related to autonomy software. This invitation is open to (US) domestic partners, including participants from large and small businesses, academia, and FFRDCs that are vetted to receive controlled unclassified information. Further details on agenda information and registration instructions will be posted in the coming weeks.

PURPOSE: The objective is to align the government-industry community by (a) gathering situational awareness on industry’s readiness to help AFRL develop, prototype, and transition autonomy technologies in the current or next epochs and (b) informing and guiding IR&D and other investments to align with DAF and DoD needs.

SCOPE: In support of the purpose, the industry day offers AFRL briefings by technical subject matter experts (SMEs) outlining forecasted autonomy needs and opportunities enabling the air, space, weapons, or C3BM (command control communications battle management) domains. Upon registration, industry participants may submit limited requests for private, one-on-one meetings with AFRL technical SMEs to brief and discuss industry participant’s current and prospective investments aligned enabling autonomy in the air, space, weapons, or C3BM domains.

BACKGROUND:  The “Autonomy Industry Day” is a first step toward an overarching goal to accelerate development and transition of autonomy software enabling autonomy systems. As related by the DAF’s “Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition (GPC)”, the nation is at a critical juncture. Autonomy plays a crucial role for scaling our warfighters’ ability to fight with speed, scope, and complexity in pursuit of the DAF’s operational imperatives (OIs).  Rising to the challenges posed by the GPC, consequently, necessitates a government and industry community that is able to readily and effectively partner and rapidly respond to meet the nation’s burgeoning strategic autonomy needs in the domains of Air, Space, Weapons, and C3BM (command control communications battle management).

DISCLAIMER:  This announcement does not constitute an invitation for bid or request for proposal. Any procurement action for this effort will be the subject of a separate, future announcement on SAM.gov. The Government is not under any obligation to award any related contract associated with this event. The Government will not reimburse any contractors for any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response to this notice or participating in the Industry Day, and participation is voluntary.

If you have any questions about Industry Day or related acquisition and programmatic questions, please send an email to afrl.rq.autonomyindustryday@us.af.mil.

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The Collaborative Environment is an Air Force technology transfer and transition partnership between the Cyber Innovation Center and Air Force Global Strike Command. We are the Command’s persistent technology transfer, technology transition, and innovation resource.

Independent Research & Development (IR&D) is a key source of innovation for the department. In 2010, under the Better Buying Power 1.0 initiative, DoD staff engaged with industry and government to learn about what we could to improve IR&D effectiveness. The key challenge identified was communication—industry wanted information about Department investment priorities to better help them plan their IR&D investment projects and DoD planning was hampered by limited insight into industry IR&D projects.

The Defense Innovation Marketplace website was created to be a consolidated resource for both DoD and industry to help enable this communication.

Updated Date Offers Due: Aug 10, 2027 05:00 pm MDT

This is an Open ARA announcement pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. §4023 (formerly 10 U.S.C. §2373).  AFRL/RD is interested in receiving white papers and proposals through a Two-Step Process to perform research and development (R&D), modeling and simulation (M&S), design, component/subsystem, prototype risk reduction, fabrication/purchase, assembly, integration, and testing of directed energy source components (to include spares and alternate component technologies), and/or systems and any required accessories, materials, and supplies for laboratory research and experimentation and field trials in a relevant environment to demonstrate system capabilities.  Dialogue between prospective Offerors and Government representatives is strongly encouraged. *Note: AFRL/RD reserves the right to collapse a white paper/Two-Step into a One-Step if the situation warrants the white paper contains sufficient technical detail to do full technical proposal evaluation instead of white paper evaluation.

• Updated Date Offers Due: Dec 21, 2026 12:00 am MST

This is a five (5) year Closed One-Step BAA with CALLs that will be utilized to solicit proposals for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Directed Energy Directorate (DE), High Power Electromagnetic Division (RDH), for research areas of interest for High Power Electromagnetics (HPEM) Modeling and Effects. This closed BAA approach allows for proposal submission at a specified date and time, which will be posted through the issuance of CALLs at various times against this BAA. As requirements within the technical topic areas are identified, CALLs will be issued in SAM.gov to request proposals for specific research efforts. Multiple subsequent CALLs are anticipated and may be announced sequentially or concurrently in SAM.gov. CALLs will be issued unrestricted. The Government reserves the right to re-issue previously announced CALL areas with a second, subsequent submittal period. The Government also reserves the right to issue no CALLs for any given technology area.

Innovare Advancement Center is a diverse, open, inclusive, and “loud and proud” culture that is built upon creative and collaborative international collisions and connections; top-tier talent attraction through outreach, exposure, and exchange; research agility; entrepreneurial grit; the promulgation of educational opportunities; and impactful community involvement.

Founded October 2019, NewSpace Nexus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit accelerating the pace of space innovation by uniting and igniting the industry. Through the NewSpace Launchpad, a first-of-its-kind co-innovation hub, stakeholders gain access to workspaces, equipment, programming, rapid prototyping and demonstration, and resources needed for innovation and rapid progress. Services include access to space ecosystem knowledge, public events, and networking; navigation services that provide tailored guidance and direct assistance to fast-track business growth; and collaborative innovation services that ignite product and solution development.  

Updated Date Offers Due: Dec 15, 2024 11:59 pm MST

PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND TIME: This BAA will remain open for a period of SEVEN (7) years from the date of publication. NO PROPOSALS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AGAINST THIS OVERARCHING BAA. Proposal due dates and times will be specified in CALLs published separately from the overarching announcement. Proposals received after the due date and time specified in the CALL shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215- 1(c)(3). It should be noted that this installation observes strict security procedures to enter the facility. These security procedures are NOT considered an interruption of normal Government processes, and proposals received after the above stated date and time as a result of security delays will be considered “late”. Note: If offerors use commercial carriers for delivery of proposals, carriers may not honor time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations. Early proposal submission is encouraged.

We are a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 research institute headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with offices in Cleveland, Ohio, and Arlington, Virginia. Our organization is focused on addressing critical national security and prosperity issues. Our approach combines resources, competencies, and perspectives from different sectors (academia, industry, and the government) to drive innovation and creative solutions to hard problems.   

RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Technology The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: The end state of this project is to establish a robust and sustainable framework for Space Sustainment and Maneuver, enabling companies to facilitate movement within the space domain across all orbital regimes, including travel to and from the moon. This initiative aims to overcome current limitations in maneuverability, thereby providing strategic advantages in space operations, such as maintaining initiative, achieving surprise, and outmaneuvering adversaries. By fostering innovation in areas such as on-orbit servicing, refueling, orbital transfer/maneuvers , and payload capabilities, the project seeks to ensure the survivability and effectiveness of space assets in NextGen Warfare scenarios. 

SSC solution to the space acquisition labyrinth challenge, and is the one-stop-shop for learning about and engaging with SSC.

Gain expert knowledge and sharpen your competitive edge with the AFRL Small Business Hub. Access curated resources, events, and networking opportunities to successfully partner with the AFRL.

A NETWORK OF IDEAS AND RESOURECES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE AGILE COMBAT SUPPORT AND MISSION GENERATION CAPABILITIESS OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

The Nebraska Defense Research Corporation (NDRC) provides a bridge of trust between government, industry and academia to support and promote technology discovery, facilitate knowledge transfer, and accelerates the transfer of command, control, and communications capabilities to customer operations. NDRC supports government stakeholders in shortening development timelines that deliver secure, mission-enhancing capabilities.