FA9453-21-S-0001-Call016 - Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI) - Space Cyber-Cognitive Overmatch (SCCO)
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The U.S. Space Force, through the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is seeking university-led teams to establish a Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI) focused on Space Cyber-Cognitive Overmatch (SCCO). This funding opportunity supports transformational research intended to produce disruptive technologies that improve the cyber resilience, autonomy, and operational effectiveness of future U.S. space capabilities.
White Papers are due no later than (NLT) 13 August 2026, 1100 Mountain Daylight Saving Time (MDT). Only offerors whose white papers are selected will be invited to submit a full proposal. The proposal deadline has not yet been specified and will be provided in Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued to selected teams.
Unlike many traditional research programs that emphasize incremental advances, this solicitation specifically seeks technologies capable of fundamentally changing how military space systems detect threats, defend themselves, collaborate with human operators, and operate in contested environments. The Government is particularly interested in research that progresses beyond theoretical concepts toward testbeds, demonstrations, prototypes, high-fidelity modeling, and technologies capable of transitioning into government programs or industry applications.
The lead applicant must be a university that manages a consortium consisting of at least three universities, including itself. The lead institution will receive the award and distribute funding to collaborating institutions through subawards. The solicitation requires that at least 50% of awarded funds be allocated to supporting institutions. Additional collaborations with industry, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and other eligible organizations are encouraged.
The Government anticipates providing up to $25 million in total Federal funding under this CALL. Individual awards may vary in value but are expected not to exceed $25 million and may last for up to 60 months, subject to available funding and successful Go/No-Go performance reviews throughout the project.
Projects should address one or more aspects of cyber resilience, artificial intelligence, distributed computing, quantum technologies, cognitive electronic warfare, human-machine teaming, digital engineering, or related capabilities that improve U.S. military space operations. The technical areas listed in the solicitation are intended as guidance rather than limitations, and applicants may propose additional technologies that support Department of Defense needs while increasing technology maturity and commercialization readiness.
Because this is a two-step competitive process, organizations interested in participating should begin assembling university partnerships, defining research objectives, identifying transition pathways, and preparing their white papers well before the 13 August 2026, 1100 Mountain Daylight Saving Time (MDT) submission deadline.
How much funding would I receive?
The solicitation states:
The Government anticipates $25,000,000 in total Federal funding under this CALL.
Individual awards may vary depending on the proposed effort.
Estimated individual award values are not to exceed $25,000,000, although the Government reserves the right to modify, reduce, or exceed this amount if necessary.
The Government reserves the right to fund all, some, or none of the proposals received.
Funding remains subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Awards are expected to support projects lasting up to 60 months, consisting of multiple budget periods.
Continuation funding is contingent upon:
satisfactory technical performance,
schedule adherence,
milestone completion,
reporting compliance,
Go/No-Go decision reviews, and
continued availability of Federal funding.
What could I use the funding for?
The solicitation supports research intended to create transformative capabilities for future military space operations rather than incremental improvements.
The Government states that successful projects should advance technologies capable of transitioning beyond laboratory research into operational government programs or commercial applications. Highly desired outcomes include:
Testbeds
High-fidelity modeling and simulation
Demonstrations
Prototypes
Increased technology readiness over the period of performance
The Statement of Objectives identifies numerous technical focus areas, including:
Threat sensing, detection, and adaptive response
Projects may include:
Advanced cyber sensing
Threat detection metrics
Trusted telemetry
Data authentication
Data provenance
Fraud and spoofing detection
Vulnerability mitigation
AI-driven autonomous response
Real-time cyber remediation across space, ground, and communications segments.
Cyber hardening and supply chain security
Examples include:
Zero-trust architectures
Secure satellite flight software
Cyber-hardened satellite architectures
Hardware and software supply chain security
Software isolation
Red teaming
Quantifiable cyber-hardening metrics.
Artificial intelligence, autonomy, and cognitive execution
Potential projects include:
Autonomous mission planning
Dynamic satellite operations
AI-enabled decision making
Edge data processing
Knowledge extraction
AI model resilience
Protection against adversarial AI attacks.
Human-machine teaming
Research may address:
Advanced operator interfaces
Decision-support systems
Cognitive workload reduction
Human trust in autonomous systems
Consequence modeling for automated decision-making.
Distributed computing and quantum technologies
Examples include:
Space-based data centers
Cloud, fog, and edge computing
Distributed computing architectures
Quantum information systems
Quantum sensing
Post-quantum cryptography
Quantum-secure communications.
Cognitive electronic warfare
The solicitation also encourages research involving:
Adaptive electronic warfare
Electromagnetic spectrum operations
Combined cyber-electronic warfare resilience
Space-enabled cyber effects
Reconfigurable RF spectrum technologies.
Digital engineering and testing
Potential activities include:
Flexible cyber testbeds
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
System-of-systems integration
High-fidelity disruption modeling
Uncertainty quantification
Developmental and operational testing environments.
The Government also explicitly allows applicants to propose additional technologies beyond the listed examples if they strengthen DoD research and development, improve technology maturity, support technology transition, or increase commercialization readiness while meeting Department of Defense needs.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
In addition to potential funding, selected performers may receive several forms of Government support during the program.
Government technical support
DARPA anticipates support from:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
NIST's Precision Photonic Synthesis Group within the Time and Frequency Division
The Government expects to provide information, analysis, and support related to vibration-hardened optical reference cavities and photonic microwave generation techniques.
Government-furnished information
By Month 6, DARPA anticipates providing performers with:
A Government reference design for a vibration-hardened chip-scale optical reference cavity
Associated design details
Test data
Government-furnished testing
At the end of Phase 2:
Final noise-performance testing will occur at a Government test facility.
Testing will use a Government-furnished airborne platform.
The Government will coordinate and execute the testing.
The Government will collect and post-process test data.
Potential follow-on opportunities
The solicitation states that:
Follow-on production contracts or transactions may be awarded pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
During the transition between Phase 1 and Phase 2, DARPA intends to finalize technology application areas and notes there is potential for additional work based on architectural designs developed during Phase 1.
The solicitation does not guarantee any follow-on funding or production awards.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Beyond funding, the solicitation is designed to establish a long-term research ecosystem centered on transformational space technologies.
The Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI) model is intended to create enduring university partnerships focused on solving critical U.S. Space Force science and technology challenges. Rather than funding isolated research projects, the Government is investing in multidisciplinary research teams capable of developing technologies that transition into operational military capabilities.
Potential benefits identified in the solicitation include:
Participation in a university-led Space Strategic Technology Institute.
Opportunities to collaborate with multiple universities under a single research program.
Collaboration with industry partners.
Development of testbeds, demonstrations, prototypes, and high-fidelity modeling capabilities.
Advancement of technologies to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) throughout the period of performance.
Opportunities for future technology transition into U.S. Space Force and other U.S. Government programs.
The Statement of Objectives also notes that, in later phases, the research ecosystem may expand to include additional:
universities,
industry leaders,
international allies, and
U.S. Government organizations including AFRL, DARPA, and other DoD laboratories.
The solicitation explains that these organizations may provide operational context, transition pathways, and end-user requirements that help mature successful technologies.
The Government also notes that continuation funding will be based on performance reviews and successful progression toward technology transition rather than simply completing research activities.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
This is a two-step solicitation.
Step 1 – White Paper
White Papers are due no later than (NLT) 13 August 2026, 1100 Mountain Daylight Saving Time (MDT). White Papers received after this deadline will not be accepted.
Offerors must submit:
a White Paper,
a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate, and
all required supporting information using the prescribed template.
Organizations cannot submit a full proposal without first submitting a White Paper.
Step 2 – Full Proposal
Only offerors whose White Papers are selected will receive a Request for Proposal (RFP).
The solicitation states that the:
Proposal Due Date and Time – To be provided in "Requests for Proposals (RFP)" sent to offerors whose white papers are selected.
Questions
Written questions are due:
10 July 2026
The Government states that questions submitted after this date may not allow sufficient time for responses.
Webinar
A Questions and Answers webinar will be held on:
15 July 2026
0900 MDT
The Government encourages organizations interested in submitting White Papers to attend.
Award timing
The solicitation does not specify a fixed award date.
Instead, it states:
The anticipated award date will be determined through dialogue between prospective Offerors and Government representatives and specified in each individual award.
Period of Performance
Successful projects may run for:
up to 57 months of technical effort,
plus 3 months for the final report,
for a total period of performance of 60 months.
Where does this funding come from?
Funding is provided through the:
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate
in partnership with the United States Space Force (USSF)
under:
Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) FA9453-21-S-0001
Space Technology Advanced Research – Fast-tracking Innovative Software and Hardware (STAR-FISH)
CALL 016
Topic Area 5 – Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI): Space Cyber-Cognitive Overmatch (SCCO)
The solicitation states that the purpose of this CALL is to support experimentation and research involving:
spaceflight technologies,
space-related signal technologies,
energy technologies,
transportation technologies,
with this particular CALL focused on transformational cyber and cognitive capabilities for military space operations.
Who is eligible to apply?
This solicitation is structured around university-led teams.
The lead offeror is expected to be:
one university serving as the lead institution.
The lead university is expected to partner with:
at least two additional universities, resulting in a minimum team of three universities.
The lead university receives the award directly and is responsible for managing the consortium and issuing subawards.
The solicitation requires that:
At least 50% of awarded funds are required to go to the supporting institutions.
Additional collaborators may include:
universities,
for-profit entities,
nonprofit organizations,
state governments,
local governments,
tribal governments,
small businesses.
These organizations may participate as offerors or subrecipients, consistent with the consortium structure described in the solicitation.
Other eligibility requirements include:
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before award,
compliance with applicable Federal cost principles,
adherence to Gold Standard Science requirements,
compliance with applicable export control requirements,
submission of required White Papers before invitation to submit a proposal.
The solicitation also states:
Cost sharing is not required.
Who is not eligible to apply?
The solicitation specifically excludes several categories of organizations.
These include:
Large businesses as defined under NAICS 541715 (over 1,000 employees).
Federal Government agencies.
Foreign-owned organizations, which are not authorized to participate in this CALL in any capacity.
The solicitation also establishes restrictions regarding foreign nationals.
Unless an approved waiver is granted by the Contracting/Agreements Officer:
non-U.S. citizens may not work within AFRL facilities,
non-U.S. citizens may not access U.S. Government IT networks associated with the project.
The solicitation notes that permanent resident ("Green Card") status does not satisfy the U.S. citizenship requirement for these access purposes. Certain exceptions apply for approved international exchange personnel and dual U.S. citizens, as explicitly described in the solicitation.
Additionally:
organizations that do not first submit a White Paper are not eligible to receive an award under this CALL.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
The solicitation does not identify preferred companies or organizations. Instead, it describes the characteristics of proposals that are expected to be the most competitive.
Successful projects are likely to demonstrate a combination of technical innovation, transition potential, and practical applicability to U.S. Space Force missions.
According to the Statement of Objectives, competitive proposals should:
Deliver transformative rather than incremental advances.
Create technologies capable of fundamentally changing military space operations.
Improve cyber resilience while maintaining mission performance.
Optimize size, weight, and power (SWaP).
Enable entirely new operational concepts.
Demonstrate realistic pathways for transitioning technology beyond the laboratory into government programs or industry applications.
Include testbeds, demonstrations, prototypes, or high-fidelity modeling whenever appropriate.
Progress technologies to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) during the period of performance.
The Government also encourages applicants to:
Clearly define the current state of the art.
Explain why the proposed approach is superior.
Identify known limitations and risks.
Describe how those risks will be mitigated.
Incorporate horizon scanning and assessments of future adversarial threats.
Build multidisciplinary teams spanning multiple technical and non-technical disciplines.
The technical areas identified by the Government include projects involving:
Threat sensing and adaptive cyber response
AI-enabled autonomous operations
Cyber-hardening for space systems
Zero-trust architectures
Human-machine teaming
Distributed computing
Space-based data centers
Quantum information systems
Quantum-secure networking
Cognitive electronic warfare
Digital engineering
Flexible cyber testbeds
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
High-fidelity disruption modeling
The solicitation states that these areas are guidance rather than restrictions, and applicants may propose additional technologies that support Department of Defense needs while increasing technology maturity and commercialization readiness.
During evaluation, White Papers and proposals must also satisfy the Government's Go/No-Go screening criteria.
Among other things, the Government states that successful submissions should:
Demonstrate implementation of Gold Standard Science.
Produce immediately demonstrable results.
Include meaningful milestones.
Establish clear benchmarks for measuring success.
Accelerate delivery of emerging technologies to the warfighter.
Demonstrably advance the President's policy priorities.
How competitive will this solicitation be?
The solicitation does not specify an expected number of White Paper submissions or an anticipated success rate.
However, several features indicate that this is expected to be a highly competitive opportunity.
First, the Government anticipates making one or more awards, while reserving the right to make one award, multiple awards, or no awards at all.
Second, participation requires a university-led consortium consisting of at least three universities, creating a higher organizational threshold than many standard research solicitations.
Third, the two-step process means that only White Papers selected by the Government will be invited to submit full proposals. Organizations that do not submit a White Paper are not eligible to receive an award.
The evaluation process also emphasizes:
transformational research,
technology transition,
measurable progress,
interdisciplinary collaboration,
operational relevance,
demonstration of immediate and longer-term impact,
compliance with Gold Standard Science requirements.
For university teams with strong space cybersecurity, AI, autonomy, quantum, or digital engineering capabilities—and a clear transition strategy—this CALL provides a significant opportunity. At the same time, applicants should expect substantial competition given the size of the anticipated funding and the strategic importance of the research area.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Yes. The solicitation includes several important restrictions and administrative requirements.
Consortium structure
The lead offeror must be a university leading a team of at least three universities.
The lead institution is responsible for managing subawards, and at least 50% of awarded funds must be distributed to supporting institutions.
Two-step submission process
Applicants must submit a White Paper before they can be invited to submit a full proposal.
Organizations that do not submit a White Paper are not eligible for award consideration.
Foreign participation
Foreign-owned organizations are not authorized to participate in this CALL in any capacity.
Export control
The solicitation states that technologies supported under this CALL are subject to:
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and/or
Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
Applicants proposing the use of foreign nationals must provide required disclosures, and additional Government review may be required.
Security
The effort is anticipated to be performed at the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level.
Classified work is not anticipated at the beginning of the award, although security requirements may evolve during performance if approved by the Government.
Gold Standard Science
Applicants must commit to complying with the Government's Gold Standard Science requirements, including:
reproducibility,
transparency,
communication of uncertainty,
interdisciplinary collaboration,
unbiased peer review,
benchmarks for measuring success,
adherence to applicable administration policies.
Cost sharing
Cost sharing or matching funds are not required.
Foreign travel
Foreign travel costs are not allowable unless approved by the Program Manager.
Construction
Major construction projects generally will not be funded without prior written authorization.
Funding availability
All awards remain contingent upon:
availability of appropriated funds,
successful performance,
Go/No-Go reviews,
continued Government priorities.How long will it take me to prepare an application?
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The solicitation does not specify how long applicants should expect to prepare either a White Paper or a full proposal.
However, prospective applicants should account for the time needed to:
assemble a university consortium,
identify collaborating institutions,
develop a multidisciplinary research strategy,
prepare a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate,
complete the required White Paper template,
request DoD SAFE upload access before the submission deadline,
coordinate any required export control or foreign national documentation,
ensure compliance with Gold Standard Science requirements.
Because White Papers are due no later than (NLT) 13 August 2026, 1100 Mountain Daylight Saving Time (MDT), interested teams should begin consortium formation and proposal development as early as possible.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can support university-led teams throughout the entire application process by helping organizations:
Evaluate alignment with the solicitation objectives.
Develop a competitive research strategy centered on technology transition.
Position technical innovations against the current state of the art.
Build compelling commercialization and transition narratives consistent with DoD expectations.
Coordinate multidisciplinary university and industry partnerships.
Prepare compliant White Papers and, if invited, full proposals.
Develop project plans, milestones, budgets, and supporting documentation.
Strengthen proposal messaging while ensuring alignment with the evaluation criteria and solicitation requirements.