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NSTXL currently manages three contracting vehicles that cover the most sought-after emerging technologies on the DoD’s priority list including microelectronics, space domain, communication, hypersonics, and 5G.
A key differentiator with OTAs is their broad technology reach that cover many of the DoD's priority emerging technology needs. This flexibility to acquire technology under specific focus areas allows program offices to be agile when selecting the best contracting method for their domain.
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Other Transaction Authorities are a non-traditional contracting vehicle first used by NASA in the Space Race to pull in technology from different corners of the nation.
American innovators are already developing technology that can actively compete with U.S. adversaries. Without more agile methods to fund research and prototyping projects, the DoD is missing out on emerging technologies that are being developed commercially and across the sea.
OTAs give government a chance to fund an idea that can exceed the reliability and success of currently fielded technology.
The strength of our national security is dependent on getting the best technology to the end-user, before our enemies.
Customized acquisition strategies to fit program needs and reduce risk.
Engaged and interconnected innovator network to facilitate partnerships.
Transparent commercial term contracting to reduce timelines.
Modern-day market research and strategies to maximize competition.
Open-source technology prospecting to deliver more innovative solutions.
Here's How We Do It
Year in Review
Connecting the Department of Defense with the nation's leading technology innovators.
That can only happen when the government can rapidly acquire cutting-edge technology, quickly and with less wasted resources.
That's where we come in.
Our Mission
NSTXL transforms Government innovation efforts with commercial best practices, tools, and expertise that compress timelines, decrease costs, and improve outcomes.
By combining a modern acquisition approach with the flexibility of Other Transaction Authorities (OTA) the government can acquire technology faster and more efficiently than ever.
Thoughtful, goal-oriented events designed to foster and inform projects.
Opportunities Released Across Each Program
44
224
Total Performers Across Each Program
60
Opportunity Focused Events
29
Collaboration Driven Networking Events
900+
Member Organizations
The valley of death is an all too familiar concept to both commercial innovators and government program offices. Traditional contracting methods do nothing to lower the risk of prototypes and ideas sitting on a shelf.
That’s where OTAs come in.
NSTXL hosted Col. Eric J. Felt, Commander of the Phillips Research Site and director of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and Col. Joseph J. Roth, Director of Innovation and Prototyping for Space Systems Command, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., at the 37th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Col Felt and Roth spoke about the future of space advancement and current DoD needs for advancing space capabilities.
Making strides to evolve hypersonics like never before, the building of the new Purdue University center heralds innovation on current hypersonic technology and test capabilities.
Fiber Materials, Inc. and Purdue Applied Research Institute are overcoming critical hypersonic weapons manufacturing challenges by developing a prototype that refines advanced materials manufacturing proof-of-concept for hypersonic vehicle applications for vertical supply chain integration. This will include the utilization of digital engineering tools and advanced Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes that will be implemented by OSD ManTech.
Forge SSP was awarded to SciTec, Inc. and Northrop Grumman Space Systems for Mission Data Processing Application Provider (MDPAP) to deliver critical applications for the Space Force’s missile warning mission as part of the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program. The FORGE program supports the continued operations of legacy Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) capabilities while delivering modernized enterprise solutions extensible to the next generation of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) sensors.
“The prototyping effort under SpEC allowed us to develop and demonstrate key aspects of our modular, scalable, extensible, and cyber-resilient applications for FORGE Mission Data Processing (MDP) that we build upon through this follow-on contract to meet the no-fail mission.”
Refueling spacecraft already in orbit will become a more accessible reality with the Tetra-5 contract won by Orion Space Solutions. With a mission to extend the lifetime of satellites in orbit, the Tetra-5 project advances technology for in-space proximity operations. Designed for geostationary Earth orbit, the three satellites are part of a larger Space Force vision to champion the digital age by becoming a military digital leader.
Space Systems Command will develop an Immersive Digital Facility with a virtual environment to exchange and process digital information between and among Guardians and machines with greater speed, robustness and accuracy. This Immersive platform will enable industry and partners to build upon it and encourage the rapid insertion of new technologies.
During a two-day event, industry innovators came together to showcase their technology’s ability to support government projects in a one-of-a-kind collaboration event to support SOF capabilities. Nearly 100 industry members rotated through facilitated roundtable discussions where each participant shared capabilities with potential teaming partners.
“By showcasing its modernization roadmap to, and sharing prioritization insights with NSTXL members, PEO STRI continues to smooth the information bridge between Government and Industry,” stated Erin Kupcak, NSTXL’s Strategic Events Manager. “The result is an ecosystem of innovation and trust.”
Space Enterprise Consortium’s (SpEC) presence within the small satellite community was apparent during the 2022 SmallSat conference in Logan, Utah. With prominent SpEC member signs in view, about 30% of this year’s SmallSat exhibitors are members of SpEC. The impact SpEC has on the increasingly contested space domain was discernible during SmallSat’s keynote speech, technical sessions, and across each of their booths.
During the two day event in Los Angeles, California, over 400 SpEC members were joined by government program leaders as they discussed future program initiatives and were able to collaborate on current opportunities.
Since its inception in 2019, S²MARTS has effectively been able to move forward multiple contracts to support the Department of the Navy and America’s Warfighters. Within three years, S²MARTS has partnered with 38 active performers, and seen a total of 28 project awards obligating a total of over $1 Billion in funds. Every project S²MARTS manages has a direct impact on our military and national security. Projects vary based on technology and need, as some will support the desperate need to bolster America’s microelectronics industrial base and others advance our military’s hypersonic fleet through advanced manufacturing and other capabilities. Through every opportunity within the past three years, the S²MARTS team has exemplified its criticality to the advancement of U.S. national security efforts and is proud to support the DoD mission.
In December, we hosted key Microelectronics Commons program leaders, over 350 industry members, and saw presentations from more than 42 speakers, in Washington D.C. The mission? Collaborate to change the American landscape of microelectronics manufacturing and innovation.
Additive Manufacturing is a technology that can build 3D structures using methods that add material, as opposed to traditional subtractive methods which remove material from a blank starting form. The potential for building near-arbitrary 3D structures has led to significant investment and growth of the AM industry.
This critical technology area is being advanced by a team comprising of GE, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Lockheed Martin RMS, Mercury Systems, ReLogic Research, and The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
AMTP
Mission Area
Additive Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing (AM) for Technology Protection (TP)
“AM research and application specific to TP threats is limited. This investment allows respondents to apply AM technology to TP threats with aim to demonstrate improvement over current TP techniques, with the end goal of delivering more secured Warfighter solutions.”
Dr. Kyle Werner
Global Deterrence and Defense Department Director
Hypersonics Advanced Manufacturing Test Capability
Mission Area
Hypersonics
Contract
S2MARTS
HAMTC
Contract
S2MARTS
"Make no mistake, the U.S. is preparing to fight, and Indiana is taking a leadership role. Hypersonics research and development is happening right here in southern Indiana. More than 300 Hoosiers—engineers and scientists—are working non-stop at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) to increase U.S. hypersonic capability."
Mike Dodd
Vice President, Business Development, NSTXL
Related
FORGE SSP
Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) SBIRS Sensor Specific Processing (SSP)
Mission Area
Hypersonics
Contract
SpEC
David Simenc
Executive Director, SciTech, FORGE Project Lead
Awarded to Northrop Grumman Corporation through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) by Space Systems Command (SSC), the request for prototype was released as a part of the larger DARC program created to enhance our nation’s capabilities in Space Domain Awareness (SDA). The solutions created through DARC will be vital in creating a resilient space enterprise. Upon successful delivery of this prototype, Northrop Grumman will produce a DARC rapid prototype that maximizes the mission functionality, is compliant with the DARC RP SOW, Government Reference Architecture (GRA), Open System Architecture (OSA), and meets the affordability target. This prototype solution will provide an operational leave behind capability by 2025.
“We are very honored to have been chosen by Space Systems Command to provide this important SDA capability for our nation. Given Northrop Grumman’s exceptional capabilities in radar development, digital engineering, and agile software delivery, we were able to leverage technology and expertise from across the company to craft a solution we felt best meets the mission need. We are pleased SSC saw the value of our approach, and our entire team is eager to begin working on this important program.”
DARC
Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability
Mission Area
Space Domain
Contract
SpEC
Pablo Pezzimenti
Vice President of the Integrated Systems Business Unit, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Tetra-5
Mission Area
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)
Contract
SpEC
IDF
Mission Area
Virtual Reality
Contract
SpEC
This project will focus on emerging warfighting capabilities that are not represented by current T&E approaches or on a broader infrastructure challenge. EWT will support advanced technology development, demonstration, and transition to new DoD T&E capabilities. It will also address test technology or capability needs (also referred to as gaps or shortfalls within the community) spanning DoD-wide and consist of a portfolio of technology development projects.
A Request for Solutions for these efforts was issued through TReX on 07 October 2021, which resulted in the submittal of 9 total responses. As a result of the competition, the prototype project was awarded to National Security Technology Accelerator Strategic and Spectrum Mission Advanced Managing as the managing prime to Gryphon Technologies L.C. located in Washington, D.C. The total value of this prototype project, if all milestones and options are exercised, is $89,967,370.28.
EWT
Mission Area
EF & RF
Contract
TReX
PADM
Mission Area
Cyber
Contract
TReX
Microelectronics Commons
Microelectronics
Expanding our domestic microelectronics infrastructure is a top DoD priority. But, without a new approach, innovative microelectronics ideas are at risk of not transitioning from research laboratories to prototyping in fabs (lab-to-fab).
The SHIP Program – also referred to as State of the Art Heterogeneous Integrated Packaging – is developing four prototype Multichip Packages (MCPs). Building off of the successful SHIP program, a pilot will be established to facilitate the transition of these MCPs to military systems by partnering with the Defense Industrial Base. The pilot program will be called Stimulating Transition for Advanced Microelectronics Packaging (STAMP).
In an effort to avoid the "Valley of Death", the Microelectronics Commons program announces a need for domestic prototyping capability to accelerate technology that will collaborate to advance American-made microelectronics.
The end-state goal is to develop a national network of regional innovation hubs and core facilities distributed across the U.S. that will reduce barriers to innovation, mature emerging microelectronics technologies, enhance existing microelectronics infrastructure, and foster a pipeline of domestic talent and innovative ideas.
Stimulating Transition for Advanced Microelectronics Packaging (STAMP)
AREA OF IMPACT
Space Symposium
SOFIC Networking Nights
SmallSat
SpEC GMM
Microelectronics Commons Industry Days
S2MARTS Reaches $1B
AREA OF IMPACT
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At NSTXL, we are on a mission to transform Government innovation efforts with commercial best practices, tools, and expertise that compress timelines, decrease costs, and improve outcomes.
Our humble beginnings were in a spare bedroom of my rented condo. Today, we have a growing team across 14 states and an engaged network of thousands of top innovators and experts.
What began as a network focused specifically on advanced energy technologies has now expanded to cover a wide array of technologies spanning the entire innovation ecosystem. We have supported projects that are redefining satellite communication in space, building a new generation of microelectronics foundries on U.S. soil, expanding United States Hypersonic capabilities, and engineering virtual training simulators to support our warfighters and first responders. And the potential for innovation doesn’t stop there.
In 2022, we released 44 opportunities across each program supported by 224 performers. We hosted more than 90 events, both in person and virtually, utilizing Human-Centric Design Thinking to support problem definition and requirement development.
And though we’ve made a tremendous impact, the journey is far from over. Much remains to be done. Recent world events illustrate just how quickly technological edge can be lost and how important eternal vigilance in technological excellence is to a more peaceful, prosperous world.
Today, our growing network of engaged innovators is larger and stronger than ever. We look forward to continuing to lean in, innovate, and lead from the front as we always have. It’s the only way we know how.
I am excited to see what we can accomplish together moving forward and proud to share with you our successes in 2022.
Tim Greeff
NSTXL, Founder & CEO
NSTXL brings the smartest people together to solve the government’s toughest challenges. Driven by a shared passion to quickly deliver critical technologies to the end-user, we are redefining government and industry collaboration.
