U. S. National Science Foundation (NSF) X-Labs Initiative
Open Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- NSF-OTASO-FY26-XLabsInitative
- Agency
-
National Science Foundation
- 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)
- PSC
- AJ12 General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Applied Research
- Place of performance
- Alexandria, Virginia, United States
- Points of contact
-
- X-Labs xlabs@nsf.gov
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, seeks proposals from domestic responsible entities to establish full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams pursuing novel platform technologies aligned with NSF X-Labs Topic Announcements, with proposals due May 14, 2028. The solicitation is not a FAR-based procurement and not a financial assistance opportunity; awards will be structured as Other Transaction (OT) agreements under 42 U.S.C. § 19116, with NSF anticipating one or more OT contract awards.
Place of performance must be within the United States. All lead organizations must register in SAM with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) prior to submission. The NAICS code is 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; the PSC code is AJ12, General Science And Technology R&D Services.
The program structure is phased: Phase 0 lasts 9–12 months with funding up to $1,500,000; Phase 1 lasts 24–36 months with funding up to $50,000,000 per year; Phase 2 is variable duration for high-performing teams. All funding is milestone-based with quarterly payments tied to documented deliverables. Teams must demonstrate substantial operational autonomy in hiring, compensation, procurement, and partnerships. Senior/Key Personnel must be dedicated full-time by Phase 1 and cannot include U.S. citizens of North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran, nor participants in malign foreign talent recruitment programs as defined in the CHIPS and Science Act. Senior/Key Personnel may propose to only one X-Lab per Topic Announcement; lead organizations may submit up to two proposals per topic.
Evaluation employs a two-step process: merit review of written proposals (maximum 8 single-sided pages) followed by down-selection to invitation-only oral presentations before a panel of subject matter experts. Selection criteria weight Team Qualifications and Structure and Mission Clarity and Outcomes equally. The solicitation was amended June 23, 2026 (Section 6.1.1 updated) and again September 16, 2026.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
NSF amended this solicitation on June 23, 2026. Section 6.1.1 has been updated. No other changes were made.
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The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), announces the NSF X-Labs Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering (OTASO).
The NSF X-Labs initiative is a flexible, outcomes-driven effort to build and accelerate novel platform technologies capable of unlocking new sectors, advancing use-inspired scientific breakthroughs, and supporting U.S. leadership in science and technology. Through this OTASO, NSF is soliciting proposals from domestic responsible entities capable of establishing full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams with the operational autonomy, technical expertise, and organizational flexibility necessary to pursue ambitious missions aligned with NSF X-Labs Topic Announcements.
NSF anticipates making one or more Other Transaction (OT) contract awards.
This OTASO is not a FAR-based procurement contract solicitation and is not a financial assistance opportunity. NSF will evaluate submissions in accordance with the procedures and criteria set forth in the OTASO and any applicable Topic Announcement.
This posting shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this notice. The Government will not pay for any information submitted or for any costs incurred in responding to this notice.
Any information received becomes the property of the Government and will not be returned to the submitter. Responses may also be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or as otherwise required by law.
Update #1 ·
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), announces the NSF X-Labs Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering (OTASO).
The NSF X-Labs initiative is a flexible, outcomes-driven effort to build and accelerate novel platform technologies capable of unlocking new sectors, advancing use-inspired scientific breakthroughs, and supporting U.S. leadership in science and technology. Through this OTASO, NSF is soliciting proposals from domestic responsible entities capable of establishing full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams with the operational autonomy, technical expertise, and organizational flexibility necessary to pursue ambitious missions aligned with NSF X-Labs Topic Announcements.
NSF anticipates making one or more Other Transaction (OT) contract awards.
This OTASO is not a FAR-based procurement contract solicitation and is not a financial assistance opportunity. NSF will evaluate submissions in accordance with the procedures and criteria set forth in the OTASO and any applicable Topic Announcement.
This posting shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this notice. The Government will not pay for any information submitted or for any costs incurred in responding to this notice.
Any information received becomes the property of the Government and will not be returned to the submitter. Responses may also be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or as otherwise required by law.
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