Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA RQKM 2013 0004
Apply for BAA RQKM 2013 0004
- The Air Force Research Lab in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Next Generation Star Tracker Phase 0" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 9, 2013 and posted on Jan 9, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 25, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $475,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Solicitations shall be restricted to domestic sources as defined in the Defense Production Act of 1950 A business concern that performs in the United States or Canada substantially all of the research and development, engineering, manufacturing, and production activities required of such business concern under a contract with the United States relating to a critical component or a critical technology item and that procures from business concerns (described as above) substantially all of any components and assemblies required under a contract with the United States relating to a critical component or critical technology item.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Next Generation Star Tracker Phase 0 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BAA RQKM 2013 0004) is an Air Force Research Laboratory cooperative agreement aimed at funding an early, market-shaping feasibility study rather than hardware development. The core goal is to determine whether it is practical and commercially viable to produce a modular Next Generation Star Tracker System (NGSTS) that relies on domestically produced CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) detectors. In other words, the government is looking for a well-supported answer to whether the United States (and qualifying North American industrial base) can build a next-generation, modular star tracker product line using domestic CMOS detector technology, and what it would take to stand that up.
The study scope is intentionally broad and is split across technical, manufacturing, programmatic, business, and marketing analysis. On the technical side, the work is expected to assess today’s star tracker manufacturing capabilities and identify what new or improved capabilities will be needed to satisfy future customer requirements across multiple segments, including U.S. Government missions and commercial spacecraft, with attention to both domestic and international market demand. A key focus is evaluating NGSTS performance and design options using state-of-the-art detector technology, including detector advancements emerging from the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Advanced CMOS Capability Project. This ties the effort to industrial-base strengthening: the government wants to understand how emerging domestic detector capability could translate into a competitive star tracker system architecture.
A major deliverable is the exploration of architecture options for building a modular family or "system" of star trackers, not just a single unit. The solicitation anticipates analysis of design approaches that could support multiple missions or spacecraft classes through modularity (for example, different performance tiers, interfaces, or packaging options) while leveraging a common baseline design. Alongside these architecture trades, the performer is expected to produce a draft technical plan and schedule describing how production capabilities for a NGSTS could be established. The cost element is described as high-level and non-binding, meaning the government is looking for credible rough-order estimates and major cost drivers, not a formal priced production proposal.
On the business and market side, the effort requires identification and analysis of markets for a modular NGSTS and the business strategies most likely to succeed in those markets. This includes understanding who the customers are (government and commercial), what they value (performance, reliability, radiation tolerance, supply chain assurance, exportability, price point, lead time), who the competitors are, and what differentiators a modular domestic-CMOS-based star tracker could credibly offer. The study is therefore expected to connect technical feasibility to a realistic go-to-market and sustainment approach, including considerations like supply chain, qualification pathways, manufacturing scalability, and how to position the product for adoption across multiple programs.
The government signals that the technical output of Phase 0 will be used to create a draft systems requirements document for a future NGSTS. That implies Phase 0 is meant to reduce ambiguity and risk for follow-on efforts by translating market needs and technology realities into clear, actionable requirements and a plausible production strategy. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates more active government involvement during performance than a standard grant, and aligns with the intent to shape requirements and planning outputs collaboratively.
In terms of funding and logistics, the opportunity was posted January 9, 2013, with a closing date of February 25, 2013, and it was archived March 27, 2013. The estimated total funding was $475,000 with an expectation of two awards, and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement. It falls under CFDA 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program) and is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.
Eligibility is restricted to domestic sources as defined under the Defense Production Act of 1950. The solicitation language emphasizes that the applicant must be a business concern performing substantially all required R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and production activities in the United States or Canada, and that it must also procure substantially all components and assemblies from similarly qualified businesses. This is consistent with the industrial-base objective of strengthening domestic supply chains for critical components and technologies, specifically domestic CMOS detectors and related star tracker subsystems.
The announcement lists a point of contact for access issues: Laura Ortiz, Grants Negotiator, at 937-656-9883.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Next Generation Star Tracker Phase 0 (BAA RQKM 2013 0004)
What is the Next Generation Star Tracker Phase 0 opportunity?
It is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) cooperative agreement opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BAA RQKM 2013 0004) to fund an early feasibility study. The work is intended to shape the market and reduce uncertainty by determining whether a modular Next Generation Star Tracker System (NGSTS) based on domestically produced CMOS detectors is practical and commercially viable.
Is this funding for building star tracker hardware?
No. The opportunity is focused on an early feasibility study rather than hardware development. The expected outputs are analysis, architecture exploration, planning, and market/business assessments rather than a delivered prototype star tracker.
What is the main goal of Phase 0?
The core goal is to produce a well-supported determination of whether the United States (and qualifying North American industrial base) can produce a next-generation, modular star tracker product line using domestic CMOS detector technology, and what it would take to establish that capability.
What does NGSTS stand for?
NGSTS stands for Next Generation Star Tracker System.
Why is the opportunity emphasizing domestically produced CMOS detectors?
The solicitation is tied to strengthening the domestic industrial base and supply chains for critical technologies. A key focus is whether emerging domestic CMOS detector capability can translate into a competitive star tracker system architecture, including detector advancements associated with the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Advanced CMOS Capability Project.
What types of analysis are expected in the study?
The scope is intentionally broad and includes technical, manufacturing, programmatic, business, and marketing analysis. The intent is to connect technical feasibility to a realistic production and go-to-market approach.
What is included in the technical scope?
The technical work is expected to assess current star tracker manufacturing capabilities, identify new or improved capabilities needed to meet future customer requirements, and evaluate NGSTS performance and design options using state-of-the-art detector technology (including advancements emerging from the DPA Title III Advanced CMOS Capability Project).
Does the opportunity consider both government and commercial markets?
Yes. The study is expected to consider requirements and demand across multiple segments, including U.S. Government missions and commercial spacecraft, and to pay attention to both domestic and international market demand.
What does “modular” mean in the context of this NGSTS effort?
Modular refers to exploring architecture options for building a family or system of star trackers rather than a single unit. The solicitation anticipates design approaches that could support multiple missions or spacecraft classes through modularity, such as different performance tiers, interfaces, or packaging options, while leveraging a common baseline design.
What is a key deliverable related to modular architecture?
A major deliverable is the exploration of architecture options for building a modular family of star trackers, including architecture trades that show how a common baseline design could be adapted for different missions or customers.
What planning deliverables are expected?
The performer is expected to produce a draft technical plan and schedule describing how production capabilities for an NGSTS could be established.
Is a detailed, binding production cost proposal required?
No. The cost element is described as high-level and non-binding. The government is looking for credible rough-order estimates and identification of major cost drivers, not a formal priced production proposal.
What business and market work is expected?
The effort requires identification and analysis of markets for a modular NGSTS and the business strategies most likely to succeed. This includes analyzing likely customers (government and commercial), what they value (for example performance, reliability, radiation tolerance, supply chain assurance, exportability, price point, and lead time), competitor landscape, and differentiators a modular domestic-CMOS-based star tracker could offer.
Does Phase 0 feed into future requirements for NGSTS?
Yes. The government indicates that the technical output of Phase 0 will be used to create a draft systems requirements document for a future NGSTS, with the goal of reducing ambiguity and risk for follow-on efforts.
What type of award instrument is used?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates more active government involvement during performance than a standard grant and aligns with the intent to collaboratively shape requirements and planning outputs.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding is $475,000.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity stated an expectation of two awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
It falls under CFDA 12.800, the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to domestic sources as defined under the Defense Production Act of 1950. The applicant must be a business concern performing substantially all required R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and production activities in the United States or Canada, and must procure substantially all components and assemblies from similarly qualified businesses.
What does “domestic sources” mean here?
Within this solicitation, it means a business concern that performs substantially all required R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and production activities in the United States or Canada, and that sources substantially all components and assemblies from similarly qualified businesses, consistent with the Defense Production Act of 1950 definition used in the announcement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on January 9, 2013, and had a closing date of February 25, 2013.
What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?
The listing indicates it was archived on March 27, 2013, meaning it is shown as a past/closed opportunity in the provided information.
Who is the point of contact for access issues?
Laura Ortiz, Grants Negotiator, is listed as the point of contact for access issues at 937-656-9883.
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