SPACE PROPULSION RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOR NEUTRALIZING SATELLITE THREATS (SPRINT) BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Air Force has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) titled "SPACE PROPULSION RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOR NEUTRALIZING SATELLITE THREATS (SPRINT)." This unrestricted solicitation seeks innovative research proposals for in-space propulsion technologies to enhance spacecraft resiliency. White papers are accepted on a rolling basis, with the current BAA open period ending January 23, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
This BAA, managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RQ-West), aims to solicit research and development efforts to mature in-space propulsion technologies. The program covers study efforts on novel concepts and R&D contracts to advance technologies to appropriate Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The overall BAA has an extended open period of 20 years.
Key Requirements / Areas of Interest
The SPRINT program focuses on improving spacecraft propulsion technology for resiliency applications. Specific areas of interest include:
- Chemical monopropellant and bipropellant thrusters, components, and systems.
- Electric propulsion thrusters, components, and systems.
- Multi-mode thrusters, components, and systems.
- Plume phenomenology (experimental and modeling/simulation).
- Mission utility of propulsion research concepts and operational architectures. Some research areas may require access to classified information up to Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).
Contract Details
- Contract Type: The Air Force reserves the right to award any appropriate contract type under the FAR, with Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) anticipated. Multiple awards are expected.
- Period of Performance: Individual awards are anticipated to be between 3 to 60 months.
- Estimated Program Cost: $95M
- Individual Award Range: $100K to $10M per contract.
Submission & Evaluation
- White Papers: Accepted on a rolling basis. They must be limited to 5 pages and include a technical approach and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost. White papers are held for an updated length of time (details in Amendment 9).
- Proposals: Offerors whose white papers are selected will be invited to submit full technical and cost proposals via a letter RFP. Evaluation criteria will be detailed in each specific call.
- Current BAA End Date: January 23, 2026.
Eligibility & Notes
- Set-Aside: Unrestricted solicitation; small businesses are encouraged to propose.
- Restrictions: Foreign persons or foreign-owned firms are precluded from proposing. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may be eligible under specific conditions.
- Registration: Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).
- Contact: Jillian Marroquin (jillian.marroquin@us.af.mil) for inquiries.