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 threats to national critical space missions (e.g., Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), Missile Warning/Missile Tracking (MW/MT), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and Satellite Communications (SATCOM)) through the research, design, development, testing, and demonstration of a comprehensive Secure by-Design Space Vehicle (SDSV) system. Objective: The performance objectives of this effort are to: The Government's objective is to achieve the following capabilities and milestones across the period of performance. The contractor shall propose the specific methodology and detailed work breakdown to achieve these objectives: Phase Technical Objectives & Deliverables CLIN 0001 - Labor: Key Deliverable: esign & Integration Report Design & Build: Design and construct a space vehicle flat-sat and a corresponding space vehicle cyber range. Integration: Integrate the flat-sat with the cyber-range and verify the functionality of selected space vehicle subsystems. Software Hardening: Initiate cyber-hardening of the space vehicle flight software utilizing Cyber-Hardened Satellite Software (CHSS). Key Deliverable: Design & Integration Report. CLIN 0002: ODCs Integration: Integrate the cyber-hardened flight software into the established flat-sat/cyber range environment. Functional T&E: Assess the function and performance of the cyber-hardened solution against a non-hardened baseline. Cyber-Effectiveness T&E: Develop cyber-attack scenarios and evaluate the defensive effectiveness of the hardened solution against the baseline. Key Deliverable: T&E Reports (Functional, Performance, and Cyber-Effectiveness). CLIN 0003 - Reports: Operational Procedures and Ground Demonstration CONOPs & COAs: Develop and test Concepts of Operations (CONOPs) and Courses of Action (COAs) for cyber detection, protection, and recovery. User Interface: Develop a UI for interaction, visualization, and further development of the cyber-hardened solution. Demonstration: Conduct ground-based experimentation and system demonstrations. Key Deliverable: CONOPs and COAs Report, Ground Demonstration Completion. Live Experimentation: Conduct on-orbit experimentation and a live demonstration of the developed cyber-hardened space vehicle system. Key Deliverable: Successful On-Orbit Demonstration and Final Technical Report. CLIN 0004: Contractor Acquired Property - CAP Areas from the ARA with CALLS, FA9453-21-S-0001, Full Text: Space Battle Management, Command, and Control: Enable uninterrupted delivery of tactical, operational, and strategic space services within a contested environment by providing unprecedented domain awareness; accurate and timely battle management tools; and robust command and control options. Specific areas of technology being sought include data fusion, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related methods for rapid threat assessment and response; multi-domain (land, sea, air, and space) net-centric command and control concepts; autono