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NSF X-Labs Initiative - Scientific Instrumentation For Sensing and Imaging

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NSF-Topic2-FY26-XLabsSensingandImagingFederal

Submission Closed07/13/2026, 09:00:00 PM UTC

Contract Overview

Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.

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AI Contract Overview

The National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships is soliciting proposals for NSF X-Labs teams focused on scientific instrumentation for sensing and imaging, operating under an Other Transaction (OT) agreement authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 19116. This initiative seeks high-autonomy, full-time R&D teams capable of developing revolutionary platform technologies—such as quantum sensing, AI-driven computational imaging, or entirely new modalities—that traditional academic or industrial frameworks cannot adequately pursue. Proposals must articulate a bold vision for reshaping an entire scientific field or technology sector and demonstrate operational independence in decision-making, funding allocation, hiring, intellectual property management, and governance. The solicitation requires a comprehensive proposal package including an 8-page written proposal using a mandated template, a separately submitted Conflict of Interest statement, and additional documents such as a Phase 0 Milestone Plan, senior personnel disclosures via SciENcv, a Phase 0 budget justification, letters of collaboration, data and privacy management plans, intellectual property and research security management plans, and a governance structure plan. All performance must occur within the United States, and participation is subject to strict research security requirements under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which prohibit individuals from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran from serving as senior or key personnel. Teams must be fully autonomous from parent institutions, with direct control over all aspects of their work, and must pass a rigorous autonomy assessment before advancing to Phase 1. Funding is milestone-driven with a maximum Phase 0 award of $1.5 million and potential Phase 1 awards of up to $50 million annually, with no guaranteed follow-on funding. There are no traditional FAR clauses, no cost-based evaluation, and no set-asides; awards will be made through a best-value trade-off based solely on the team’s ability to meet the demanding criteria of autonomy, mission clarity, and technical ambition. All submitted materials become government property and may be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. The solicitation, amended on June 23, 2026, with only minor updates to Section 6.1.1, closes on July 13, 2026, and requires proposers to be registered in SAM.gov with a valid Unique Entity Identifier.

General Info

NSF X-Labs seeks full-time R&D teams for novel sensing and imaging platform technology proposals.

Agency

National Science Foundation → Directorate For Technology, Innovation, & PartnershipsView Agency

NAICS

541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)View NAICS

Place of Performance

Alexandria, VA, USA

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

(4)

NSF OTASO FY26 X-Labs Initiative Amended June 23 2026

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NSF-Topic2-FY26-XLabsSensingandImaging.pdf

PDF

NSF OTASO FY26 X-Labs Initiative Solicitation

PDF•rfp

NSF OTASO FY26 X-Labs Initiative Attachment A Proposal Template

PDF•sow

AI Contract Breakdown

Uniform Contract Format

Timeline

1 update

PhaseClosed

PostedMay 14

Solicitation

Amendment 1Jun 23

Contract was updated

Response DeadlineJul 13

Deadline has passed

Submission Closed

07/13/2026, 09:00:00 PM UTC

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Organization & Contact Information

AgencyNational Science Foundation → Directorate For Technology, Innovation, & Partnerships

Contacts1 person available

OfficeAlexandria, VA, 22314, USA

Organization / Agency

National Science Foundation → Directorate For Technology, Innovation, & Partnerships

View Agency Profile

Office AddressAlexandria, VA, 22314, USA

Contacts

X-Labs

contact@example.gov

Full Description

NSF amended this solicitation on June 23, 2026. Section 6.1.1 has been updated. No other changes were made.

**********************************************

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) announces its intent to solicit Written Proposals for NSF X-Labs teams in the technical domain of scientific instrumentation for sensing and imaging. This NSF X-Labs announcement is issued under the Other Transactions Agreement Solutions Offering (OTASO), NSF-OTASO-FY26-XLabsInitative.

NSF X-Labs is a flexible, outcomes-driven initiative designed 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 effort, NSF seeks ambitious, full-time R&D teams with the operational autonomy, technical expertise, and organizational flexibility necessary to pursue foundational platform technologies that traditional university and industry labs may not be positioned to address alone.

This Topic Announcement focuses on target specific platform technologies in sensing, imaging and supporting technologies that will form the basis for revolutionary new capabilities in scientific discovery and technology sectors. Teams might, for example, draw on quantum sensing, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven computational imaging, adaptive AI-based sensing algorithms, and/or entirely new modalities to redefine what we consider knowable.

NSF X-Labs teams selected under this Topic should have a clear vision of how their Mission will result in an end-state that creates or reshapes an entire field of scientific research or sector of technology, and how their Mission is currently unmet by existing organizational structures and funding mechanisms.

NSF anticipates issuing one or more Other Transaction (OT) contract awards.

Proposers should review the OTASO, NSF-OTASO-FY26-XLabsInitative, and this Topic Announcement carefully before submitting a Written Proposal. NSF will evaluate submissions in accordance with the procedures and criteria set forth in the OTASO and this 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.