2023 AFRL/RW Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) | FA8651 23 S 0003

Opportunity Information: Apply for FA8651 23 S 0003

The 2023 AFRL/RW Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) notice (FA8651-23-S-0003) is a sources sought/market survey issued by the Department of Defense to assess the availability and interest of qualified organizations that could serve as a “partnership intermediary” for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), specifically AFRL/RW at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. This is not a funding award announcement or a solicitation, and it does not obligate the government to make an award. The government is using the responses strictly to understand the marketplace, refine its approach, and gauge who could potentially support a future PIA effort. Respondents should also understand that participation is voluntary and the government will not reimburse any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response.

At a high level, AFRL is looking for an intermediary organization that can function as a connector between AFRL and external innovation ecosystems. The central idea is to speed up technology transfer out of AFRL into commercial markets, while also accelerating the transition of promising commercial and academic innovations back into AFRL use. The intermediary is expected to play a “matchmaker” role: helping companies and other partners discover AFRL-developed technologies that could be licensed and commercialized, and helping AFRL identify nontraditional companies, universities, and entrepreneurs whose innovations align with AFRL/RW mission needs. The opportunity is aligned under NAICS 541715 (R&D in the physical, engineering, and life sciences except nanotechnology and biotechnology) and is categorized under science and technology and other R&D. The posting indicates an anticipated single award, with an award ceiling listed as $20,000,000, though the notice itself is still only a sources sought step.

AFRL frames the PIA around several program goals that define what success looks like. These goals include pushing AFRL-developed technology into commercial markets, pulling in commercial and academic innovation for AFRL use, building durable partnerships across government, industry, and academia, supporting STEM initiatives that help develop the next generation of technology leaders, encouraging innovation both inside and outside AFRL, and improving the transition pathway for SBIR/STTR-funded technologies across Phase I, II, and III. In practice, the intermediary is envisioned as an enabling organization that can expand awareness of AFRL opportunities, reduce friction in forming agreements, and create real-world engagement mechanisms (events, collaboration spaces, and outreach campaigns) that result in measurable technology transfer and transition outcomes.

The notice breaks the intermediary’s expected work into four major objective areas. First is Technology Transfer (often described as T2). In this area, the intermediary would support AFRL/RW’s technology transfer activities by proactively engaging AFRL inventors, encouraging more invention disclosures, and increasing deal flow for formal agreements such as Technology Licensing Agreements (TLAs), Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), and Educational Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The intermediary is expected to do outward-facing marketing and outreach to entrepreneurs, businesses, and academic institutions, with particular emphasis on expanding AFRL/RW’s reach into nontraditional companies and universities. Another major part of this T2 role is conducting technology and market landscape analyses and forecast studies to help AFRL understand where a technology domain is heading and where commercialization opportunities exist. The intermediary is also expected to help evaluate AFRL/RW’s intellectual property and patent portfolio to identify which patents are most commercially promising, develop marketing summaries for those technologies, identify and contact potential licensees, and assist with brokering and facilitating agreement development and negotiations.

Second is Innovation and Technology Transition, which focuses on moving external innovation into AFRL/RW (sometimes discussed as part of broader “T3” technology transfer and transition activities). Here, the intermediary would promote collaboration between AFRL and outside partners and create pathways for industry and academia to engage with AFRL/RW. The notice explicitly calls out broad communications and outreach functions using channels like websites, digital campaigns, social media, email, press releases, articles, videos, and other content formats, as well as paid advertising when appropriate. AFRL also wants the intermediary to establish and/or manage physical and virtual collaboration spaces to enable engagement. Event execution is a key part of this transition mission, including demonstrations, showcases, industry days, design sprints, hackathons, workshops, and similar convenings designed to surface solutions and accelerate adoption. The transition mission also emphasizes helping mature munitions-related concepts and improving their technology/manufacturing readiness so that they can move toward operational use.

Third is SBIR/STTR support, where the intermediary is expected to strengthen the effectiveness of AFRL/RW’s SBIR and STTR programs by improving how small business innovations move beyond early phases and into Phase III transition or broader commercialization. The requested support includes technology scouting to identify and recruit small businesses into SBIR/STTR topics, as well as hands-on assistance to help awardees navigate the SBIR/STTR process and overcome common transition bottlenecks after Phase II. The notice specifically references Tactical Funding Increases (TACFI) and Strategic Funding Increases (STRAFI) as mechanisms the intermediary may help small businesses leverage to extend and transition efforts. The intermediary is also expected to help identify promising Phase I and Phase II performers and then “canvas” the Department of Defense ecosystem to find government users or partners who can pull those technologies into Phase III. In addition, the intermediary would support SBIR program managers by helping transition later-stage SBIR technologies into programs of record and/or commercial product lines. Analytical work is also included, such as studies on economic outcomes and impacts from SBIR/STTR funding, best practices for commercialization and transition, and assessing new approaches to improve SBIR/STTR effectiveness. Finally, the intermediary is expected to support SBIR/STTR Pitch Days by helping develop topics, organizing and facilitating events, providing facility support, and ensuring appropriate security and safety measures, while also broadly promoting SBIR/STTR successes to internal and external stakeholders including the Pentagon, Congress, industry, and the general public.

Fourth is STEM outreach, which extends beyond immediate R&D and contracting outcomes to workforce and pipeline development. Under this objective, the intermediary would coordinate with AFRL and regional or national education organizations to expose students to high-value STEM learning opportunities connected to AFRL’s mission areas. The notice highlights leveraging local, state, regional, and national efforts to strengthen STEM programs and increase proficiency in fields relevant to AFRL. It also calls for identifying trends in K-12 STEM programming and compiling demographic data so AFRL can design programming that reaches students and families effectively. A specific emphasis is placed on identifying partnerships that support underserved or underrepresented students and communities, suggesting AFRL wants the intermediary to help broaden participation in STEM pathways connected to defense-relevant technology areas.

On eligibility and organizational fit, the notice indicates eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). It also explains the statutory concept of a “partnership intermediary” and stresses that state and local government entities (and certain affiliated nonprofits) may qualify. For a nonprofit to qualify as a partnership intermediary, it must be able to demonstrate a nexus to a state or local government, which could be shown through legislative sponsorship, partial funding, a defined role for the government in its operations (even if limited), or another form of government action indicating the organization is authorized to act on behalf of a state or local government. Operationally, AFRL anticipates the place of performance to be within 20 miles of Eglin AFB, Florida, which is important for organizations assessing whether they can credibly provide on-site or locally supported engagement, facilities, and event execution.

For the sources sought response itself, AFRL asks for two broad categories of information: business information and a capability statement. The business information section is essentially a standardized identification and classification package, including the organization name, address, point of contact, CAGE code, phone and email, website, and business size under the NAICS. Respondents must also indicate small business and socioeconomic statuses (woman-owned, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned), and whether they are interested in potential subcontracting opportunities. The capability statement portion must briefly describe the organization’s capabilities and the nature of services provided, and also describe past experience performing projects of similar complexity. Responses are limited to five pages, with the clarification that the five-page limit does not include the cover page, and contractor format is acceptable.

Finally, the submission instructions are straightforward: responses were to be emailed to Laura Kirkman at laura.kirkman@us.af.mil with the subject line “Sources Sought Response to AFRL/RW Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA)” and were due by 1600 CST on April 7, 2023. The notice repeatedly emphasizes the non-binding nature of the announcement: it is meant to collect market intelligence and does not guarantee a future solicitation or award, but it signals AFRL/RW’s intent to identify an intermediary capable of building partnerships, increasing licensing and collaborative agreements, strengthening SBIR/STTR transitions, and expanding STEM engagement in support of AFRL’s mission.

• The Department of Defense in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2023 AFRL/RW Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 08, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 07, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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