STFP Team

The STFP Team serves as the primary contracting unit within the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), managing the acquisition of foundational scientific research services to advance next-generation aerospace and defense capabilities. Responsible for executing competitive procurements under the FA9550 contract vehicle, the team facilitates high-risk, high-reward basic research initiatives across domains including autonomous systems, advanced sensing, computational science, and human-machine collaboration. Their acquisitions are strategically aligned with AFOSR’s mission to bridge academic innovation with national security needs, primarily sourcing expertise from universities, nonprofit research institutes, and private R&D firms engaged in pure and applied scientific inquiry. The STFP Team maintains a broad, open-access contracting model with no exclusive contractor relationships, fostering a competitive environment that encourages participation from diverse research entities across academia and industry. They routinely engage with leading U.S. research institutions, national laboratories, and specialized technical service providers, prioritizing scientific merit and technical innovation over vendor loyalty. Their procurement approach emphasizes peer-reviewed proposals and technical evaluation panels, ensuring alignment with AFOSR’s scientific rigor and mission-driven objectives. The team’s contracting profile reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued under non-set-aside categories. There is no systematic use of socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, indicating a focus on technical capability and research excellence rather than socioeconomic criteria in award decisions. Primary procurements fall under NAICS 541990, encompassing all other professional, scientific, and technical services, with a distinct emphasis on basic research, experimental development, and advanced analytical services. The team procures expertise in quantum sensing, machine learning for autonomous systems, materials science, and computational modeling, supporting AFOSR’s mandate to fund transformative science that underpins future Air Force and Space Force technologies.