SPACE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED RESEARCH-FAST-TRACKING INNOVATIVE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE (STAR-FISH) ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (ARA) WITH CALLS

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (Amendment 4) updates the Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) FA9453-21-S-0001.

Key changes include:

• Announcement Overview:

  • Updated the "Brief Program Summary" to reference 10 U.S.C. 4023 instead of 10 U.S.C. 2373.
  • Updated the "Announcement Request" to reference 10 U.S.C. 4023 instead of 10 U.S.C. 2373.
  • Updated the "Contracting Points of Contact" with new contact information and names for Contracting Officers (Primary and Alternative).
  • Added language regarding Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science.
  • Updated previous language referring to Federal Acquisition Regulation Clause (FAR) and DFARS to Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) and R-DFARS.

• Award Information:

  • Updated "Points of Contact" for Contracting.

• Other Information (Government Furnished Property - GFP):

  • Updated the "From" section to reference RFO 45.201(b) and listed applicable clauses/provisions.
  • Updated the "To" section to reference RFO 45.201(b) and listed applicable clauses/provisions.

• Announcement Overview (Program Summary, Announcement Request, Points of Contact)

• Full Text Announcement (Award Information - Points of Contact)

• Other Information (Government Furnished Property - Clauses/Provisions)

• The changes primarily update legal references, contact information, and clauses related to Government Furnished Property. Bidders should review the updated contact information and the revised clauses for Government Furnished Property.

Amendment / Modification

This document is an update to the Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) with Calls (FA9453-21-S-0001) for the Space Technology Advanced Research-Fast-tracking Innovative Software and Hardware (STAR-FISH) Announcement. The update was posted on May 18, 2026.

• The document indicates that "AMEND 4" has been applied to the announcement, suggesting previous modifications.

• Specific sections or pages are not detailed as being changed in this update, but the "Update" date signifies a revision.

• Offerors are strongly encouraged to continually monitor Contract Opportunities (https://beta.sam.gov/) for the latest guidance, updates, and revisions to this announcement, as it is subject to change due to the evolving nature of warfighter space needs.

Amendment / Modification

• The contracting points of contact have been updated.

• The primary contracting officer remains Mr. Daniel J. Alvarado.

• The alternative contracting officer has changed from Ms. Stephanie Harris to Mr. Adan Jaime.

• Contact information (phone and email) for the alternative contracting officer has been updated.

• ANNOUNCEMENT OVERVIEW section, specifically the "Contracting Points of Contact" subsection.

• FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT section, specifically PARAGRAPH II. AWARD INFORMATION, subsection "5. Points of Contact: Contracting."

• No changes to proposal deadlines, requirements, or evaluation factors are indicated.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies the contracting points of contact for the Advanced Research Announcement FA9453-21-S-0001.

• Announcement Overview: The "From" section's contracting points of contact have been updated to the "To" section's contracting points of contact.
• Full Text Announcement, Paragraph I. Award Information, Section 6. Points of Contact: The "From" section's contracting points of contact have been updated to the "To" section's contracting points of contact.

This amendment primarily updates contact information and does not appear to alter proposal deadlines, requirements, or evaluation factors.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment updates the contracting points of contact for the Advanced Research Announcement FA9453-21-S-0001.

• Announcement Overview: The "From" section for Contracting Points of Contact has been replaced with new contact information.
• Full Text Announcement, Paragraph I. Award Information, Section 6. Points of Contact: The "From" section detailing the previous points of contact has been replaced with new contact information.

This amendment does not appear to modify proposal deadlines, requirements, or evaluation factors. It solely updates contact information.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) with Calls (FA9453-21-S-0001) from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, seeks research and development (R&D) in space technology. The goal is to advance innovative software and hardware for space-flight and space-related signal, energy, and transportation technologies. The ARA is open indefinitely, and specific research efforts will be solicited through separate "CALLs".

The ARA covers a broad range of R&D, including modeling and simulation, fabrication, experimentation, characterization, testing, demonstration, prototyping, and analysis related to space-flight systems. Specific topic areas include:

• Space vehicle functionality and logistics (agility, resilience, affordability, performance, deployable structures, thermal control, materials, power, command and data handling, guidance, navigation, control, autonomy, logistics support, space access, manufacturing, assembly, repair, resupply, repurposing, debris mitigation, disaggregated bus/payload concepts, small satellite development).

• Mission effects and capabilities (space-based sensing, threat detection, battlespace awareness, ionospheric modification, space communication hardware/software, position, navigation, and timing (PNT) payloads, inertial navigation, quantum sensing, solar power transfer, controlled reentry, modeling, simulation, and analysis).

• Space system/services anomaly detection, attribution, and protection (analytic tools, sensors for threat detection, data exploitation, cyber threat warning, passive/active protection).

• Space Battle Management, Command, and Control (domain awareness, battle management tools, command and control options, data fusion, machine learning, AI, multi-domain concepts, autonomy). Deliverables will be specified at the CALL level and may include data (CDRLs), final reports, software, and hardware.

• Contract Type/Instrument: The Air Force reserves the right to award various contract types (FAR or Non-FAR instruments, including Other Transactions (OT) for experimental purposes, cooperative agreements, etc.).

• Estimated Program Cost: Unspecified, with multiple awards ranging from $50,000 to $100,000,000. The Government reserves the right to modify this range.

• Period of Performance: To be determined per CALL.

• Process: The CALL will specify either a One-Step or Two-Step process.

  • One-Step: Proposal due date and time to be specified in the CALL.
  • Two-Step: First Step is a white paper and ROM cost estimate; Second Step is a proposal, to be specified in the "Requests for Proposals (RFP)".

• White Papers: Required for the Two-Step process. Must use a specific Microsoft Word Template. Cost of preparing white papers is not an allowable direct charge.

• Evaluation Criteria: Peer or scientific review process based on Problem Definition, Relevance to AFRL Needs, Scientific and Engineering Viability, Project Plan, Value/Cost, and Proposal Quality.

• Due Dates: White paper and/or proposal due dates will be specified in each CALL.

• Eligible Offeror: Unrestricted solicitation; businesses of all sizes are encouraged.

• Cost Sharing: Not required, but may be considered.

• Foreign Participation: Subject to export control laws; U.S. citizenship required for contractor employees accessing USAF bases or IT networks, with specific exceptions.

• Communication: Dialogue between prospective Offerors and Government representatives is strongly encouraged. All communications should be in writing.

• Modifications: The announcement is subject to updates; Offerors must monitor Contract Opportunities (beta.sam.gov).

• System for Award Management (SAM): Registration is required before award.

• Points of Contact: Listed for Program Manager and Contracting Officers.