STAR-FISH CALL 017 - Secure By Design

FA9453-21-S-0001 Air Force Research Laboratory/Space Vehicle Directorate ANNOUNCEMENT OVERVIEW CALL 017, Topic Area 1. Space Technology Advanced Research - Fast-tracking Innovative Software and Hardware (STAR-FISH) DATE: 26 August 2026 NAICS Code: The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees. Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, Phillips Research Site ARA Title: Secure by Design Space Vehicle (STAR-FISH), Announcement, procurement for experimentation of spaceflight and space-related signal, energy, and transportation technologies. ARA Number: FA9453-21-S-0001 CALL Type: Two-Step Process, initial announcement CALL Title: Secure by Design Space Vehicle CALL Number: 017 White Papers and/or Proposal Due Date and Time: The Government is requesting White Papers at this time for the Topic Area identified above. White Papers addressing any other technology area identified in the basic Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) will not be accepted at this time unless a CALL for that specific area is posted. White Papers or proposals received after the due dates and times 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 white papers or proposals received after the stated date and time in the CALL as a result of security delays will be considered late. Furthermore, if offerors utilize commercial carriers in the delivery of white papers or proposals, they may not honor time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations. Early submission is encouraged. Brief CALL Summary: See Attachment 3, Statement of Objective (SOO) Submission: Two-Step Process First Step: The due date and time for White Papers submitted in response to this CALL is no later than (NLT) 12 Oct 2026, 1600 (Mountain Standard Time (MST). Question & Answer Session Online 0900 AM, 17 September 2026 White Papers must be prepared using the provided Template, saved as a PDF and submitted via DoD Safe, (https://safe.apps.mil/) NLT 12 October 2026, 1600 (Mountain Standard Time (MST). In order to submit the White Papers, please contact the Contracting Officer, Mr. Gabriel Salazar, email: gabriel.salazar.3@spaceforce.mil, Ms. Heather Miller, email: heather.miller.16@spaceforce.mil, or Ms. Erika Trujillo; email: erika.trujillo.2@spaceforce.mil ; no later than three (3) workdays prior to the submission deadline to receive a DoD Safe drop-off request. A drop-off request is valid for 14 days. Offerors will receive an automated email containing the instructions for uploading the file(s). If you do not receive an automated e-mail message for your drop-off request within 3 business days, please contact the Contracting Officer. See Attachment 2 (STAR-FISH White Paper Template) for White Paper Template. No classified white paper submission will be accepted. The Template can be accessed and downloaded from the following link: https://valideval.com/star_documents/ (please download a new copy of the template prior to submitting your white paper to ensure that you have the most current version). Each White Paper submitted needs to include the company s Unique Entity ID (UEI) per System for Award Management (SAM) with the DUNS Number. No classified white paper submissions will be accepted. Second Step: Proposal Due Date and Time To be provided in Requests for Proposals (RFP) sent to offerors whose white papers are selected. Announcement Request: Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate Phillips Research Site is soliciting white papers on the research effort described in Attachment 2 Statement of Objectives pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C 4023, Procurement for Experimental Purposes. Announcement Modifications: Reference ARA with CALLS, FA9453-21-S-0001, Announcement Overview and Full Text. Type of Contract/Instrument: The Space Force anticipates awarding Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts that will have a base period and two options Government has the right not to exercise the option as a result of this CALL, but also reserves the right to award the instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. Please note, the offeror shall have an approved Accounting System in accordance with FAR 16.301-3, Limitations, and other approved Business Systems. Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates awarding multiple contracts. However, the Air Force does reserve the right to make one award, more than one award, or no awards pursuant to this CALL. System for Award Management (SAM) Registration: Reference ARA with CALLS, FA9453- 21-S-0001, Announcement Overview. Points of Contact: Technical Manager (Primary): Mr. Joseph Dan Trujillo, AFRL/RJSW, joseph.trujillo.4@spaceforce.mil Program Manager (Alternate): Mr. Manual Gonzales, AFRL/RVFC, manuel.gonzales.9@spaceforce.mil Contracting Officer (Primary): Mr. Gabriel Salazar, gabriel.salazar.3@spaceforce.mil Contracting Officer / Specialist: Heather Miller, heather.miller.16@spaceforce.mil Contracting Specialist: Ms. Erika Trujillo; email: erika.trujillo.2@spaceforce.mil ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCMENT WITH CALLS FA9453-21-S-0001 Air Force Research Laboratory/Space Vehicle Directorate FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT CALL 017 as of 29 June 2026 NAICS Code: The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees. Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, Phillips Research Site ARA Title: Space Technology Advanced Research - Fast-tracking Innovative Software and Hardware (STAR-FISH), Announcement, procurement for experimentation of space-flight and space-related signal, energy, and transportation technologies ARA Number: FA9453-21-S-0001 CALL Type: Two-Step Process, initial announcement CALL Title: Secure by Design Space Vehicle CALL Number: 017 White Paper and/or Proposal Due Date and Time: The Government is requesting White Papers at this time for the Topic Area identified above. White Papers addressing any other technology area identified in the basic Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) will not be accepted at this time unless a CALL for that specific area is posted. White Papers or proposals received after the due dates and times 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 white papers or proposals received after the stated date and time in the CALL as a result of security delays will be considered late. Furthermore, if offerors utilize commercial carriers in the delivery of white papers or proposals, they may not honor time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations. Early submission is encouraged. Submission: Two-Step Process First Step: The due date and time for White Papers submitted in response to this CALL is no later than (NLT) 12 Oct 2026, 1600 (Mountain Standard Time (MST). Question and Answer Session Online - 09:00 AM on 17 September 2026 White Papers must be prepared using the provided Template, saved as a PDF and submitted via DoD Safe, (https://safe.apps.mil/) NLT 12 Oct 2026, 1600 (Mountain Standard Time (MST). In order to submit the White Papers, please contact the Contracting Officer, Mr. Gabriel Salazar, email: gabriel.salazar.3@spaceforce.mil, Ms. Heather Miller, email: heather.miller.16@spaceforce.mil, or Ms. Erika Trujillo; email: erika.trujillo.2@spaceforce.mil no later than three (3) workdays prior to the submission deadline to receive a DoD Safe drop-off request. A drop-off request is valid for 14 days. Offerors will receive an automated email containing the instructions for uploading the file(s). If you do not receive an automated e-mail message for your drop-off request within 3 business days, please contact the Contracting Officer. See Attachment 2 (STAR-FISH White Paper Template) for White Paper Template. The Template can be accessed and downloaded from the following link: https://valideval.com/star_documents/ (please download a new copy of the template prior to submitting your white paper to ensure that you have the most current version). No classified white paper submission will be accepted. Second Step: Proposal Due Date and Time To be provided in Requests for Proposals (RFP) sent to offerors whose white papers are selected. Program Description: Statement of Objectives (SOO)/Description of Technical Areas: Scope: The scope of this effort is to address cyber…