Science and Technology 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

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.

Explore the many paths to employment with AFRL: Career, student and faculty opportunities.

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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DAU is leading the effort to help the Department measure the innovation readiness of the Defense Acquisition Workforce and provide training and resources to develop and improve their readiness skills.

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.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Geospatial Research Laboratory announces a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) which aims to find technology that pioneers geospatial solutions for the Warfighter.  This CSO contains broadly defined areas of interest that align with the lab’s mission to expand innovative geospatial solutions.  While some of these areas of interest are geared toward meeting individual program requirements, the Government reserves the right to award contracts from this CSO to meet requirements of ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL) at other locations with similar mission focus areas. 
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The CSO Solicitation document provides additional details and instructions.

• 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.

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.

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. 

SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS WITH GAIN OPEN CALL 

CI² (Continuous Innovation and Improvement) believes that everyone holds the power to improve the Air Force and Space Force at any time. Click below to learn more about the CI² GAIN Open Call and how you can drive change with a focus on solving problems locally. Think BIG, and DRIVE INNOVATION!