The Department of the Air Force’s commercial investment arm, AFWERX AFVentures, has announced the release of two program year 24 funding increases on behalf of SpaceWERX. The Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) and Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) notices of opportunity are aimed at supporting space technology submissions.
The STRATFI and TACFI programs are designed to help provide capabilities needed by the DAF. They offer financial support to assist in transitioning Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts onto Phase III work. According to the Air Force Materiel Command website, this initiative is part of a broader effort to foster innovation and support small businesses in developing new technologies for use by the military.
Under the STRATFI program, funding ranges from $3 million to $15 million over a period of 48 months. The TACFI program provides funding between $375,000 and $1.9 million over a 24-month period. Both programs are open to Small Business Concerns with Phase II SBIR or STTR contracts that have been active for at least 90 days or completed within two years of submitting a capability package.
Interested parties must submit a capability package by April 12 in order to be considered for funding under these programs. It is important to note that, for program year 24, the package must be submitted by the SBC’s government point of contact rather than directly by the SBC itself. This reflects a shift towards greater collaboration between small businesses and government agencies in developing new technologies for use by the military.
