NSF X-Labs Initiative - Scientific Instrumentation For Sensing and Imaging
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships is seeking written proposals for its NSF X-Labs initiative focused on scientific instrumentation for sensing and imaging. This solicitation invites ambitious, full-time R&D teams with the necessary operational autonomy and technical expertise to develop foundational platform technologies that traditional university and industry labs may not be positioned to tackle. The goal is to create novel platform technologies capable of advancing scientific breakthroughs and fostering U.S. leadership in science and technology, particularly through innovations in sensing, imaging, and supporting technologies such as quantum sensing, AI-driven computational imaging, and adaptive AI-based sensing algorithms. Selected NSF X-Labs teams are expected to have a clear mission to create or reshape entire fields of scientific research or technology sectors that are currently unmet by existing organizational structures and funding mechanisms. The initiative will be funded through one or more Other Transaction (OT) contract awards issued under the OTASO framework. Proposals will be evaluated according to the criteria set forth in this solicitation, with an emphasis on outcome-driven, flexible, and novel technology development. The solicitation explicitly states that there is no guarantee of award and the government will not reimburse proposal costs. All submitted materials become government property and may be disclosed under applicable laws. The response deadline is July 13, 2026, and interested parties can contact the NSF X-Labs team for further information.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Alexandria, VA, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
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.