The Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland AFB, NM, is soliciting white papers through a two-step process for the Secure by Design Space Vehicle effort under STAR-FISH, targeting cyber protection for critical space missions such as PNT, MW/MT, ISR, and SATCOM. The effort requires research, design, development, testing, and demonstration of a comprehensive secure-by-design space vehicle system, including a flat-sat and cyber range, cyber-hardened flight software using CHSS, T&E, CONOPs/COAs, a user interface, ground experiments, and on-orbit demonstration. The government anticipates multiple Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts with a base period and two options, requiring an approved accounting system; security requires US citizens, work at CUI-to-Secret level, and foreign-owned offerors are not authorized as prime contractors. Anticipated funding is estimated at $14M total across FY2027–FY2030 ($5M, $2M, $2M, and $5M respectively), subject to availability. An online question-and-answer session is scheduled for 22 October 2026.

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate is seeking research, design, development, testing, and demonstration of a Secure by Design Space Vehicle system to counter cyber threats to critical space missions such as PNT, missile warning/tracking, ISR, and SATCOM. The effort includes building a space vehicle flat-sat and cyber range, integrating cyber-hardened flight software, conducting functional, performance, and cyber-effectiveness T&E, developing CONOPs/COAs and a user interface, and performing ground and on-orbit demonstrations. The government anticipates Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts with a base period and two options, multiple awards possible, with estimated funding of $14M total: $5M in FY2027, $2M in FY2028, $2M in FY2029, and $5M in FY2030. Work is anticipated to be unclassified/CUI to Secret, requires U.S. citizens with appropriate clearances, and does not authorize foreign-owned offerors as prime contractors; government contacts and the Phillips Research Site are in the Kirtland AFB, NM area. An online question-and-answer session is scheduled for 22 October 2026 at 0900 AM, and offerors must first submit white papers for evaluation before selected offerors are invited to submit full proposals.

The Air Force Research Laboratory is soliciting white papers for a two-step acquisition to develop and demonstrate a Secure by Design Space Vehicle system that addresses cyber threats to critical space missions. The effort involves designing and building a space vehicle flat-sat and cyber range, integrating cyber-hardened flight software, conducting functional and cyber-effectiveness testing, and performing ground and on-orbit demonstrations. Multiple Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts are anticipated, with total estimated funding of $14 million across fiscal years 2027 through 2030 ($5M in FY27, $2M in FY28, $2M in FY29, and $5M in FY30). The work is expected to be performed at the Secret level, requires US citizens with appropriate security clearances, and foreign-owned offerors are not authorized as primes.