Solicitation
U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) X-Labs Initative
National Science Foundation · Sol. NSF-OTASO-FY26-XLabsInitative
Due in 587 days
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The National Science Foundation's Technology, Innovation and Partnerships directorate (Alexandria, VA) is soliciting proposals for its X-Labs initiative under an Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering. It wants domestic organizations that can set up full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams to build novel platform technologies. It expects to make one or more Other Transaction awards, which are not standard FAR contracts or grants.
Watch out for
- Not a standard FAR contract. Other Transaction agreements use different rules than regular federal contracts, which can be unfamiliar to first-time bidders.
This OTASO is not a FAR-based procurement contract solicitation and is not a financial assistance opportunity.
- Ambitious, team-building R&D mission. Applicants must be able to set up full-time interdisciplinary R&D teams, which needs significant technical capacity.
full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams with the operational autonomy, technical expertise, and organizational flexibility
- No obligation to award, and unpaid response costs. The Government may make no award and will not pay for the cost of responding.
The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this notice.
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Proposals to build and accelerate novel platform technologies that could unlock new sectors
- Full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams with operational autonomy and technical expertise
- Work aligned with NSF X-Labs Topic Announcements
- Contract type
- Other Transaction (OT) agreement; not a FAR-based procurement and not financial assistance
- Place of performance
- Alexandria, VA, USA
- How they'll choose
- Per the procedures and criteria in the OTASO and any applicable Topic Announcement (not detailed in the notice text)
- Offers due
- 2028-05-14T15:00:00-04:00 (SAM.gov response deadline)
You must have
- Domestic responsible entity able to establish a full-time, interdisciplinary R&D team
soliciting proposals from domestic responsible entities capable of establishing full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams
Not in the notice text
- How and where to submit proposals
- Evaluation criteria and factors
- Funding amounts and number of awards
- Period of performance
- Details of the Topic Announcements
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Key facts
- Response due
- May 14, 2028, 7:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- May 14, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Solicitation
- NSF-OTASO-FY26-XLabsInitative
- Agency
- National Science Foundation
- Office
- Directorate for Technology, Innovation, & Partnerships
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 541715
- Product/service code
- AJ12
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Place of performance
- Alexandria, VA
- Contracting contact
- X-LabsXLabs@nsf.gov
Full notice text from SAM.gov
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), announces the NSF X-Labs Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering (OTASO). The NSF X-Labs initiative is a flexible, outcomes-driven effort to build and accelerate novel platform technologies capable of unlocking new sectors, advancing use-inspired scientific breakthroughs, and supporting U.S. leadership in science and technology. Through this OTASO, NSF is soliciting proposals from domestic responsible entities capable of establishing full-time, interdisciplinary R&D teams with the operational autonomy, technical expertise, and organizational flexibility necessary to pursue ambitious missions aligned with NSF X-Labs Topic Announcements. NSF anticipates making one or more Other Transaction (OT) contract awards. This OTASO is not a FAR-based procurement contract solicitation and is not a financial assistance opportunity. NSF will evaluate submissions in accordance with the procedures and criteria set forth in the OTASO and any applicable Topic Announcement. This posting shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this notice. The Government will not pay for any information submitted or for any costs incurred in responding to this notice. Any information received becomes the property of the Government and will not be returned to the submitter. Responses may also be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or as otherwise required by law.
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