Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS)

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate is seeking interdisciplinary research proposals to support fundamental and advanced research in space environment technologies and their impacts on Department of Defense and national security systems. The procurement focuses specifically on Topics 1 (Solar, Solar Wind, and Ionospheric Effects) and 3 (Plasma Physics and Chemistry) from the Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Broad Agency Announcement, with work centered on understanding, predicting, and mitigating space environment effects on operational systems. Key contract requirements include possession of a valid U.S. security clearance at SECRET level or higher, performance of work on-site at AFRL facilities at Kirtland Air Force Base to facilitate integrated collaboration (though data analysis and modeling may occur off-site), and submission of proposals in one-step format with technical proposals limited to 30 pages plus a Statement of Work up to 10 pages, and cost/business proposals under 100 pages. Technical evaluation will prioritize overall scientific and technical merit, relevance to mission needs, and soundness of technical approach. The proposal submission deadline is March 13, 2026, with an anticipated award date of July 1, 2026; the solicitation was originally posted January 27, 2026, and updated February 19, 2026, with a Questions and Answers document and list of available laboratory equipment.

This solicitation includes no set-aside designation and no named incumbent contractors. The Air Force anticipates awarding a minimum of one Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contract, with total anticipated funding of $7,624,546.60 across five fiscal years (FY26-FY30), comprising annual allocations of $1,380,657.84, $1,493,083.50, $1,537,448.51, $1,583,144.46, and $1,630,211.29 respectively. The contract period of performance spans 63 months, consisting of 60 months of technical performance plus 3 months for final reporting, running through fiscal year 2030. Work will be performed at Albuquerque, New Mexico (Kirtland Air Force Base), utilizing three specialized laboratory facilities: the Space Chemistry Laboratory, LaSR Chemistry Laboratory, and Plasma Chemistry Laboratory, each equipped with extensive experimental and computational resources. Contractors are expected to maintain monthly status reports, produce scientific and technical reports in accordance with ANSI/NISO Standard Z39.18, and deliver quarterly status reports throughout the contract period.