U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) X-Labs Initiative
National Science Foundation · DIRECTORATE FOR TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, & PARTNERSHIPS
Account requiredWhy it scored this way
Every reason behind the verdict rather than the headline one — which of your certifications match, how much runway is left, whether the work is your size, and what we would need to know to sharpen it.
Written against this notice and what you have told us about your company. Anything we do not know is marked [NEEDS INPUT] in the draft rather than guessed at — read it before you send it.
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Compliance matrix
Every stated and implied requirement, its source section, whether it is mandatory, and where your response will address it.
Proposal outline
A submission skeleton where every required element is a heading with its source requirement quoted beneath it. You write the substance; nothing gets forgotten.
Questions to submit
Genuine ambiguities and requirements that disadvantage a smaller bidder, drafted as questions you can submit before the Q&A deadline.
Past performance write-ups
Which of your prior awards best match this requirement, and draft write-ups in the format the agency asked for.
Solicitation details
Solicitation number
NSF-OTASO-FY26-XLabsInitative
Notice type
Solicitation
NAICS
541715
Product service code
AJ12
Set-aside
No Set aside used
Posted
2026-07-01
Response deadline
May 14, 2028, 7:00 PM UTC
Place of performance
Alexandria, VA
Contracting contact
XLabs@nsf.gov
Market intelligence
Account requiredWho wins this work, and what it pays
Comparable awards under NAICS 541715 at this agency — the incumbent, what they were paid, when their period of performance ends, and the real pricing distribution rather than the headline number. From public federal award records.
NSF amended this solicitation on June 23, 2026. Section?6.1.1 has been updated. No other changes were made. ********************************************** 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.
Contact
Point of contact
X-Labs
Role
not stated on this notice — SAM publishes a role for only about 5% of them, so this may be a contract specialist rather than the contracting officer
Email
XLabs@nsf.gov
Submit questions
Ambiguities and requirements worth clarifying, written as questions you can send before the deadline.
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