SCREAM Solicitation QA_19 FEB 2026.pdf

FA945326RX010 SCREAM Solicitation Q&A

Q: Do we have to address all technical areas in the call. There are three “labs” called out with 2-4 “tasks” each. Do we have to cover all labs and all associated tasks listed, or can the proposal offer a partial solution?

A: No, you do not have to address all technical areas in the call, but you must demonstrate that the proposed effort provides valuable contribution to meeting one or more topic area needs. Partial solutions are allowed.

Q: Can we have government labs as subcontractors, such as NASA?

A: No.

Q: Does the proposed experimental work have to occur on-site at AFRL facilities at Kirtland AFB? Can experimental work be performed at a contractor’s facility with the analysis of data and modeling occurring at AFRL Kirtland?

A: The announcement strongly indicates that the work is expected to be performed on-site at AFRL facilities. While it does not explicitly forbid off-site experimental work, several passages suggest a highly integrated, on-site collaboration:

• Objective: The BAA states the effort requires "...experts able to work in a dynamic laboratory environment as fully integrated team members in a continuous collaboration..."

• Base Support and Access: The announcement specifies, "The Government will provide workspace for the contractor providing onsite technical support" and access to government facilities, files, and databases.

• Government Furnished Property: This section notes "in-house lab support," further implying that the work will be conducted within government labs.

Therefore, while data analysis and modeling might be proposed for off-site work, the core experimental efforts are intended to take place at the AFRL facilities to facilitate direct collaboration.

Q: The current call states that proposals are sought for Tasks 1 and 3 listed in the SoW.

Does this correspond to Tasks 1 and 3 for all CLINs listed, Plasma Chemistry Laboratory, LaSR Chemistry Laboratory, and the Space Chemistry Laboratory?

A: The individual tasks listed under each laboratory (Space Chemistry, LaSR, Plasma) are examples of the research directions that fall under those broader topics.

Proposals should address the overall goals of Topics 1 and 3, using the listed tasks as a guide for the type of work requested, rather than focusing only on "Task 1" and "Task 3" within each laboratory section.

Q: Are there plans to seek proposals for the other Tasks listed in the SoW?

A: The structure of the announcement—as "CALL 003" issued under a broader BAA— implies that the government may issue future calls for other tasks or topics. This specific call is focused only on Topics 1 and 3. The current announcement does not state any definitive plans or timelines for soliciting proposals for the other tasks mentioned in the Statement of Work.

Q: To help guide the scope/scale of a proposed effort can you provide an estimated average value for contracts awarded as part of the program?

A: The announcement provides the following key details to help scope the effort:

• Total Anticipated Funding: The total funding for this call is $7,624,546.60.

• Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force plans to award a minimum of one contract but reserves the right to award multiple.

This means a single awarded contract could be valued up to the full $7.6M, or if multiple awards are made, each would receive a portion of that total.

Q: Are you accepting proposals for multi-year efforts?

A: Yes, the BAA is explicitly for a multi-year effort.

• Period of Performance: The anticipated contract duration is 63 months (5 years for technical work and 3 months for final reporting).

• Funding Profile: The anticipated funding is broken down across five fiscal years, from FY26 to FY30.

Q: Do current personnel clearances at the SECRET level meet the solicitation requirements?

A: Yes

Q: Will the Government consider a proposal from an offeror that does not currently possess an FCL, and if selected for award, will the Government provide sponsorship for the required FCL?

A: A contractor does not need an active FCL to submit a proposal for this call.

However, they do need to be eligible to receive an FCL and may obtain one when the contract is awarded. The Government would be able to provide sponsorship

Q: We would like to request access to the on-site lab space where the research will take place so we can more accurately estimate the equipment gaps for the project?

We would like permission to take video and/or photos of the lab setup for discussions with our team, and the opportunity to speak with some of the staff currently working in the lab?

A: Access to the on-site lab space is not permitted prior to the contract award. Any equipment necessary to accomplish work will be provided in the labs. A comprehensive list of all government-furnished equipment that will be provided is being developed and will be posted on SAM.gov.

Q: Can you point us to opportunities where we might learn more about the overall goals of SETS, the interests of the program managers, development of topics, etc? For instance, does the Air Force or Space Force sometimes host Industry Days to discuss current challenges, or are there workshops we might attend?

A: Opportunities for engagement with the Air Force and Space Force occur throughout the year. We are open to discussing topics of mutual interest that fall outside the scope of this specific announcement.

Q: Would you consider a proposal that will focus on our hardware and materials without requiring access to protected information?

A: We will consider all proposals received and they will be judged based on the criteria outlined in the Call.

Q: Is anyone on your team available to chat with us on the Space Chemistry of Reactions through Experiments and Modeling (SCREAM) opportunity?

A: All questions will be addressed on SAM.gov in this Q&A format.

Q: Are proposals required to address all technical areas outlined in the call?

Specifically, there are three “labs” mentioned, each with 2–4 associated “tasks.”

Should proposals cover all labs and tasks, or is it acceptable to submit a partial solution?

A: No, you do not have to address all technical areas in the call, but you must

Q: Do we have to address all technical areas in the call. There are three “labs” called out with 2-4 “tasks” each. Do we have to cover all labs and all associated tasks listed, or can the proposal offer a partial solution?

A: No, you do not have to address all technical areas in the call, but you must