Featured tenders from
United States of America 🇺🇸

The Space Acquisition and Integration Office (SAIO) of the United States Space Force is issuing a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) entitled “Advanced SDA Tools for Research and Analytics (ASTRA)” to solicit innovative commercial solutions that strengthen Space Domain Awareness (SDA). The solicitation focuses on the development of advanced software engineering, data analytics, and prototype technologies that can detect, characterize, and predict activities in the space domain, thereby improving the accuracy and timeliness of SDA data and supporting emerging mission requirements. Applicants are encouraged to present research and development efforts that produce proof‑of‑concept demonstrations, prototypes, and experimental frameworks rather than fully production‑ready systems, with particular emphasis on research and prototyping in the fields of data management, sensor analytics, and agile software development.

Efforts requested under this CSO span three technical focus areas: (1) scalable and adaptable data management tools for storing, translating, and indexing diverse sensor observations; (2) modeling and analytics techniques that enhance the accuracy of LEO sensor performance predictions and support phased array radar assessments; and (3) agile software prototyping methods that enable rapid development and smooth transition from experimental concepts to operational systems. The project is strictly a 100 % small‑business set‑aside and is eligible for a total Phase‑III award pool of $1.5 million, with a 12‑month period of performance and a formal, multi‑phase submission process that begins with a white‑paper and PowerPoint briefing in Phase I, followed optionally by a pitch session and a full proposal in Phase III.

Submissions must follow the CSO’s defined phases, with Phase I documents required to be unclassified and all further phases subject to the appropriate classification levels as specified in the AOI. Offerors must adhere to the specified formats for the PowerPoint briefing (including a quad chart) and the white‑paper, and they must comply with cybersecurity standards, including NIST SP 800‑171 and CMMC 2.0.

The Army’s Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is conducting a commercial solutions opening that invites innovative commercial items, technologies and services designed to close capability gaps and accelerate the delivery of mission‑critical functions for a wide range of Air Force installations and programs. The procurement covers a portfolio of areas of interest that includes modernizing housing management and infrastructure data, streamlining the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process through advanced analytics and AI, capturing as‑built Building Information Modeling (BIM) data for multi‑base use, creating a unified enterprise‑wide contracting data repository and dashboard, modernizing legacy civil engineering IT systems, developing rapid design kits for field engineers, automating remote UAV operations, and establishing a data science framework for predictive insight across the installation network. Each area of interest is treated as a stand‑alone solicitation under a unified “SPEED” framework that allows the government to award commercial contracts using an accelerated, single‑phase Spiral 1 video or written brief, with subsequent Fly‑by presentations (Spiral 2) and, if required, commercial solution proposals (Spiral 3).

The solutions requested must demonstrate the ability to integrate seamlessly with existing Air Force data systems and cloud platforms, automate data workflows, and deliver real‑time dashboards or actionable AI recommendations to support decision‑making by installed and support operations. For housing and infrastructure work, vendors must be able to import and validate data from legacy drawings, laser‑scanned surveys, and existing asset management databases, then expose that information through approved analytic suites such as Power BI, Tableau or native Azure services. BRAC and data science solicitations call for AI‑driven extraction of structured and unstructured data, predictive modeling of environmental remediation or resource allocation, and continuous monitoring tools that reduce manual effort and support rapid physics‑based forecasts. Design‑kit and UAV autonomic framework solicitations require offline usability, rapid generation times, a non‑proprietary protocol stack (e.g., MAVLink), and sensor agnostic interoperability with command and control applications such as Tactical Information Dissemination or the Common Operating Picture.

All solutions must meet DoD security and acquisition standards, be deployable in a single or multi‑cloud environment authorized for at least Impact Level 5, and utilize the Federal Risk Management Framework for access control, cryptographic protection, and continuous monitoring. They must also produce structured data models that support the Air Force’s data fabric, provide role‑based access via Common Access Card, and adhere to AFM‑issued guidance on data governance, AI ethics, and system interoperability. In short, solutions must be built for a DoD‑approved cloud, fully RMF‑compliant, integrated with existing Air Force data platforms, and compliant with AFI 38‑401 and DAF security policy.

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is renewing its Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) for the period 1 October 2024 through 30 September 2029 with an optional extension to 30 September 2034. The agreement serves as a contingency framework that obligates participating shipping companies to provide worldwide port‑to‑port ocean transportation and related intermodal movements, infrastructure, and management services for Department of Defense operations. Under the renewal, carriers that remain enrolled must affirm their capacity commitments and review any vessel changes; new entrants must enroll through the Maritime Administration’s VISA portal and agree to the same contractual terms.

The procurement specifically requires the charter of vessels capable of carrying cargo by ocean freight, as well as the provision of ancillary intermodal equipment such as containers, chassis, and terminal services. Participants are expected to maintain guaranteed capacity commitments that become active upon a DoD contingency activation, with vessels ready for rapid deployment. The agreement emphasizes guaranteed readiness, continuity of service, and adherence to maritime safety obligations, and requires that all deployed vessels conform to applicable maritime standards (e.g., SOLAS, ISS, and vessel certification) as delineated in the VISA terms.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement to solicit strategic research on future challenges related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) over the next five to ten years. The solicitation, covering Fiscal Years 2025–2029, seeks analytical studies, policy analyses, and international dialogue facilitation that anticipate how nuclear, chemical, biological, and emerging technologies may be developed or employed by adversaries, and how such capabilities could impact U.S. deterrence, crisis prevention, and conflict‑resolution efforts. The research is intended to inform DTRA’s dual mission as a Defense Agency—supporting strategic policies to reduce global WMD threats—and a Combat Support Agency—identifying and fielding responsive solutions for Joint Staff and Combatant Commands.

Specifically, the initiative invites work that explores new or enhanced WMD materials, delivery mechanisms, or technologies that could increase the lethality or persistence of existing threats. Studies should assess the implications for U.S. allies and partners, providing timely, credible insights and actionable recommendations on deterrence, risk reduction, arms control, and escalation management. The solicitation encourages engagement in Track 1.5 and 2 international dialogues to broaden the analytical base and strengthen cross‑government collaboration.

Eligible work must conform to the NAICS codes listed in the announcement, including 54169 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), 54171 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), and related codes for nanotechnology, biotechnology, social sciences, and space research. All proposals must align with these classification requirements.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is issuing a Broad Agency Announcement to solicit strategic research addressing the future trajectory of weapons of mass destruction, specifically focusing on threats that may emerge or intensify within the next five to ten years. The solicitation invites research that examines nuclear, chemical, and biological weapon development, the materials, methodologies, and technologies that could enable new or amplified WMD capabilities, and the implications of such threats for deterrence, crisis prevention, risk reduction, arms control, and strategic competition. Work is expected to generate timely, credible, and actionable insights that inform the agency’s policy development and operational responses, and to contribute to the broader U.S. defense posture against CBRN‑armed adversaries.

The research portfolio encompasses analytical studies, international dialogues, and interdisciplinary investigations that may involve scientific, engineering, and social science perspectives. Eligible research activities may include laboratory and simulation work, field studies, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement initiatives, all conducted under the broader framework of Defense Threat Reduction Agency priorities. Studies are required to align with the Service’s mission of providing forward‑looking counter‑WMD solutions, reinforcing deterrence, and supporting Joint Staff and Combatant Command operational needs. Research must adhere to the specified NAICS codes and DoD R&D standards.