Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STFP)

CONTRACT INFORMATION: This is a pre-solicitation notice for a full and open Request for Proposal (RFP) for a non-personal services contract to provide Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STFP) services to be overseen by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The overall purpose of the STFP is to enlist highly-qualified non-government Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers (S&Es) to enhance the scientific and technological (S&T) research capabilities and accomplishments of the DAF S&T organizations.

The overall purpose of the STFP is to enlist highly qualified non-government Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers (S&Es) to enhance the scientific and technological (S&T) research capabilities and accomplishments of the DAF S&T organizations. These organizations include, but are not limited to, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the United States Air Force Academy (DAFA), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and the United States Space Force (USSF). To accomplish this purpose, two goals must be met. The first goal is to attract Ph.D.-level S&Es, hire them on limited-term appointments, and place these S&Es (referred to from this point forward as research associates) in DAF laboratories. Two categories of research associates are specifically sought. The first category (junior research associate) is for S&Es who received their Ph.D. five or fewer years prior to the time of their application to this program. The second category (senior research associate) is for S&Es who received their Ph.D. five or more years prior to their application and/or have gained national and/or international reputations for the quality and impact of their research. The second goal of the STFP is to ensure that the research conducted by these research associates is well connected to the existing research teams of the laboratories to which the research associates are assigned. In particular, each research associate must be connected with a qualified government S&E who serves as a research advisor and the technical lead for the research opportunity offered to the research associates.

The objectives of the STFP include:

Attraction of applicants: The intent of the STFP is to attract a broad and diverse spectrum of applicants with PhDs who are highly qualified to conduct research of relevance to the USAF laboratories where they are placed. An outreach plan is required to address diversity and inclusion of underrepresented communities, Tier 1-3 institutions, and professional societies and organizations.

Evaluation of applicants: To ensure the stature of the program and the quality of the research associates selected to participate in this program, the STFP contractor should employ review panels that consist of a mixture of recognized experts in at least five scientific & engineering research disciplines. The panel shall be comprised of at least 85% fellows from a professional society and/or distinguished/recognized endowed chairs from academia, industry, and government. The review panels will evaluate applicant packages to identify those applicants that are qualified for the program in general and for the specific opportunity that he/she is applying for. Final selection of an applicant to become a research associate will be made by the Government based upon the review panel’s recommendations.

Evaluation of Government research advisors and proposed research topics: All DAF organizations seeking to place research associates at their location through STFP must provide the STFP contractor with names of Government research advisors and research topic area descriptions for which they are advisors. The STFP contractor shall have executed and managed review boards within the last five years (01 January 2018 – Present). The STFP contractor will recommend a set of criteria to the Government Program Manager (GPM) that the Government research advisors and the S&T areas must satisfy to be included in the program. Upon approval of these criteria, the STFP contractor will provide external review panels that consist of highly qualified experts to evaluate the qualifications, in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria, of the proposed Government research advisors and their research topics provided by the DAF organizations. Final selection of a proposed Government research advisor will be made by the government based upon the review panel’s recommendations

Placement and management of research associates: The STFP contractor will continue to have a relationship with the applicants who are selected to become research associates by the Government and place them at designated locations on the Government's behalf. The STFP contractor shall remain in charge of all research associates, accomplishing all the relevant activities that are necessary.

We anticipate issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) in early October at www.sam.gov., but all dates in this notice are subject to change. All responsible sources may submit a proposal upon release of the solicitation. The due date for the proposal is anticipated to be within 30 days upon issuance of the solicitation. Paper copies will not be available. To be eligible for contract award offerors must be registered and marked active in the System for Award Management (SAM). Register via the SAM website www.sam.gov.

The solicitation is anticipated to result in award of a single Firm Fixed Price (FFP) -w/Cost CLINs contract with a 12-month base period of performance and 4 one-year options.

This preliminary notice is not a Request for Proposals (RFP). All offerors are advised that this project may be canceled or revised at any time during solicitation, selection, evaluation, negotiation and up to final award. The attachements are all draft may be subject to change. 

All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation and modifications, will be distributed solely through this website. Potential offerors are responsible for monitoring this site for the release of this solicitation package and subsequent modifications.

NAICS Code of Acquisition: 541990. The Small Business size standard is $19,500,000.