AFWERX, SpaceWERX ventured divisions launch Notice of Opportunity for space applicable technology submissions

The AFVentures STRATFI/TACFI Execution Team had worked with the technical point of contact to track contract progress, milestones, and performance

AFWERX AFVentures, the commercial investment arm of the Department of the Air Force, had issued a Notice of Opportunity within the Strategic Funding Increase and Tactical Funding Increase programs for its U.S. Space Force division, SpaceWERX. The notice indicated the availability of application documents and guidance for the STRATFI/TACFI Notice of Opportunity for Space. There had been a brief window for submitting a capability package. The deadline for government champion lead capability package submission had been noon EDT on April 12, 2024. Successful completion and submission of a capability package required teamwork between the government champion and the SBC. An SBC had been a classification of business that had been U.S.-based, independently owned and operated, met certain size qualifications, and had not been the dominant business in their chosen industry.

The two programs had differed based on award sizes, matching fund requirements, and performance periods. STRATFI SBIR/STTR funding amounts had ranged from $3 million to $15 million over 48 months, while TACFI funding amounts had ranged between $375,000 and $1.9 million over 24 months. The PY24 STRATFI Notice of Opportunity had drawn 43 submissions, with 16 selection notifications announced at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on March 8, 2024. Air Force acquisition officials first introduced AFVentures and the STRATFI program in March 2020. The TACFI program was introduced the following year.