SPACE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED RESEARCH-FAST-TRACKING INNOVATIVE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE (STAR-FISH) ARA - CALL 014 Topic Area 2. Space Data Networking Experimentation
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA9453-21-S-0001-CALL-014
- Agency
- Air Force Research Laboratory Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Place of performance
- Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117, United States
- Points of contact
-
- DeAnna R. Salazar deanna.salazar@us.af.mil
- Nathan McMillen nathan.mcmillen.1@spaceforce.mil
- Winter Silva winter.silva.1@spaceforce.mil
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Air Force Research Laboratory is soliciting proposals for the Space Data Networking Experimentation (SDNX) project under the STAR-FISH (Space Technology Advanced Research - Fast-tracking Innovative Software and Hardware) program Call 014. The procurement seeks research and development services to experiment with a hybrid space architecture that integrates Department of Defense, allied, and commercial satellite communication networks to create resilient data routing capabilities through space and terrestrial infrastructure. Offerors must be U.S.-based entities with personnel capable of obtaining SECRET security clearance, and foreign-owned firms are not authorized to propose as prime contractors. Companies must have an approved accounting system to be eligible for the anticipated Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contract structure, while those without adequate systems must submit Firm Fixed Price proposals. The proposal submission deadline is June 23, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time via DoD Safe, with all questions due by May 23, 2025. Technical proposals are limited to 15 pages and must include a nonproprietary Contractor Statement of Work, fully disclosed cost proposal, and various supporting documentation.
This solicitation does not utilize any set-aside designations and is unrestricted competition. The government anticipates awarding one or two contracts with total funding of $36 million across fiscal years 2025-2027, with the period of performance spanning 31 months including a 4-month base effort, up to 24 months of optional work, and a 3-month final report period. No current incumbents or contractors are specifically identified in the solicitation materials. The anticipated award date is around September 2025, with work beginning thereafter. The place of performance is listed as Albuquerque, New Mexico, which aligns with the Air Force Research Laboratory's location. The government reserves the right to make one award, multiple awards, or no awards based on proposal quality and funding availability, and encourages teaming arrangements to capture the complete project scope.
Notice text
6 versions
Update #6 · Latest ·
Amendment 6: The Government uploaded a corrected version of Request for Proposal Letter with an updated submittal date and a corrected version of STARFISH Call 014 Announcement Overview with an updated submittal date. Additionally, the Goverment uploaded a Questions and Answers document for all remaining questions received in response to this call. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 5: The Government uploaded Exhibit A - CDRLs and a revised version of Attachment 5 - Statement of Objectives to FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Additionally, the Government uploaded a Questions and Answers document for all question received in response to this call. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 4: The Government uploaded an additional attachment, entitled "(CUI) Attachment C - RAPID SDN NSO Specification.pdf" to FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 3: The Government is re-opening this opportunity as a one-step call as outlined in the base FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opprotunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 2: The Government has decided to inactivate this opportunity while it assesses the program's direction. As a result, whitepapers are not being requested and questions will not be answered. The Government reserves the right to reactivate this post in the future, should it be determined in the Government's best interest. Should the Government reactivate this post in the future, response dates will be revised accordingly.
Amendment 1: The Government has revised the Call and SOO attachments to be unrestricted.
Technical Description
Space Data Networking Experimentation
RAPID is experimenting with a hybrid space architecture built from an ensemble of Department of Defense (DoD), allied and commercial satellite communication networks. The premise is that this approach introduces resilience by design and offers the ability to efficiently route data through space and terrestrial infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity, but it requires managing network complexity dynamically in time and space. Several critical challenges impose risk to the development of a future space data network (SDN), and these must be explored through experimentation. This exploration will provide options to current and future programs of record as systems evolve to meet future needs.
Questions shall be submitted to the outlined Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than close of business 23 May 2025. Questions submitted via email shall include "STAR-FISH Call 014" in the subject line. Questions submitted after will not be answered.
Update #5 ·
Amendment 5: The Government uploaded Exhibit A - CDRLs and a revised version of Attachment 5 - Statement of Objectives to FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Additionally, the Government uploaded a Questions and Answers document for all question received in response to this call. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 4: The Government uploaded an additional attachment, entitled "(CUI) Attachment C - RAPID SDN NSO Specification.pdf" to FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 3: The Government is re-opening this opportunity as a one-step call as outlined in the base FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opprotunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 2: The Government has decided to inactivate this opportunity while it assesses the program's direction. As a result, whitepapers are not being requested and questions will not be answered. The Government reserves the right to reactivate this post in the future, should it be determined in the Government's best interest. Should the Government reactivate this post in the future, response dates will be revised accordingly.
Amendment 1: The Government has revised the Call and SOO attachments to be unrestricted.
Technical Description
Space Data Networking Experimentation
RAPID is experimenting with a hybrid space architecture built from an ensemble of Department of Defense (DoD), allied and commercial satellite communication networks. The premise is that this approach introduces resilience by design and offers the ability to efficiently route data through space and terrestrial infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity, but it requires managing network complexity dynamically in time and space. Several critical challenges impose risk to the development of a future space data network (SDN), and these must be explored through experimentation. This exploration will provide options to current and future programs of record as systems evolve to meet future needs.
Questions shall be submitted to the outlined Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than close of business 10 September 2024. Questions submitted via email shall include "STAR-FISH Call 014" in the subject line. Questions submitted after will not be answered.
Update #4 ·
Amendment 4: The Government uploaded an additional attachment, entitled "(CUI) Attachment C - RAPID SDN NSO Specification.pdf" to FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 3: The Government is re-opening this opportunity as a one-step call as outlined in the base FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opprotunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 2: The Government has decided to inactivate this opportunity while it assesses the program's direction. As a result, whitepapers are not being requested and questions will not be answered. The Government reserves the right to reactivate this post in the future, should it be determined in the Government's best interest. Should the Government reactivate this post in the future, response dates will be revised accordingly.
Amendment 1: The Government has revised the Call and SOO attachments to be unrestricted.
Technical Description
Space Data Networking Experimentation
RAPID is experimenting with a hybrid space architecture built from an ensemble of Department of Defense (DoD), allied and commercial satellite communication networks. The premise is that this approach introduces resilience by design and offers the ability to efficiently route data through space and terrestrial infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity, but it requires managing network complexity dynamically in time and space. Several critical challenges impose risk to the development of a future space data network (SDN), and these must be explored through experimentation. This exploration will provide options to current and future programs of record as systems evolve to meet future needs.
Questions shall be submitted to the outlined Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than close of business 10 September 2024. Questions submitted via email shall include "STAR-FISH Call 014" in the subject line. Questions submitted after will not be answered.
Update #3 ·
Amendment 3: The Government is re-opening this opportunity as a one-step call as outlined in the base FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opprotunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.
Amendment 2: The Government has decided to inactivate this opportunity while it assesses the program's direction. As a result, whitepapers are not being requested and questions will not be answered. The Government reserves the right to reactivate this post in the future, should it be determined in the Government's best interest. Should the Government reactivate this post in the future, response dates will be revised accordingly.
Amendment 1: The Government has revised the Call and SOO attachments to be unrestricted.
Technical Description
Space Data Networking Experimentation
RAPID is experimenting with a hybrid space architecture built from an ensemble of Department of Defense (DoD), allied and commercial satellite communication networks. The premise is that this approach introduces resilience by design and offers the ability to efficiently route data through space and terrestrial infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity, but it requires managing network complexity dynamically in time and space. Several critical challenges impose risk to the development of a future space data network (SDN), and these must be explored through experimentation. This exploration will provide options to current and future programs of record as systems evolve to meet future needs.
Questions shall be submitted to the outlined Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than close of business 10 September 2024. Questions submitted via email shall include "STAR-FISH Call 014" in the subject line. Questions submitted after will not be answered.
Update #2 ·
Amendment 2: The Government has decided to inactivate this opportunity while it assesses the program's direction. As a result, whitepapers are not being requested and questions will not be answered. The Government reserves the right to reactivate this post in the future, should it be determined in the Government's best interest. Should the Government reactivate this post in the future, response dates will be revised accordingly.
Amendment 1: The Government has revised the Call and SOO attachments to be unrestricted.
Technical Description
Space Data Networking Experimentation
RAPID is experimenting with a hybrid space architecture built from an ensemble of Department of Defense (DoD), allied and commercial satellite communication networks. The premise is that this approach introduces resilience by design and offers the ability to efficiently route data through space and terrestrial infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity, but it requires managing network complexity dynamically in time and space. Several critical challenges impose risk to the development of a future space data network (SDN), and these must be explored through experimentation. This exploration will provide options to current and future programs of record as systems evolve to meet future needs.
Questions shall be submitted to the outlined Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than close of business 10 September 2024. Questions submitted via email shall include "STAR-FISH Call 014" in the subject line. Questions submitted after will not be answered.
Update #1 ·
Amendment 1: The Government has revised the Call and SOO attachments to be unrestricted.
Technical Description
Space Data Networking Experimentation
RAPID is experimenting with a hybrid space architecture built from an ensemble of Department of Defense (DoD), allied and commercial satellite communication networks. The premise is that this approach introduces resilience by design and offers the ability to efficiently route data through space and terrestrial infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity, but it requires managing network complexity dynamically in time and space. Several critical challenges impose risk to the development of a future space data network (SDN), and these must be explored through experimentation. This exploration will provide options to current and future programs of record as systems evolve to meet future needs.
Questions shall be submitted to the outlined Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than close of business 10 September 2024. Questions submitted via email shall include "STAR-FISH Call 014" in the subject line. Questions submitted after will not be answered.
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