The project success team monitors overall project performance and tracks individual milestone progress to ensure completion and timely payment to Performers. NSTXL uses project management software to track milestone numbers, names, amounts, completion dates, completion statuses, billing statuses, and other minutiae to ensure the project stays on track. The PM collects real-time feedback on individual milestone status during their participation in technical and contractual meetings with the Performer and Government teams. During these meetings, the PM also provides updates and oversight on all relevant scheduling, deliverables, and funding statuses. If changes to scope, schedule, etc. are identified, the PM works with the NSTXL Contracting team to begin the modification process.
Upon project award, the NSTXL project success team will organize a project kickoff conference between the Performer and the Government teams. The kickoff will include an administrative overview of the contract, team introductions, technical project overview, schedules, and Q&A. Although commonly held remotely, these kickoffs may be in-person or hybrid to account for technical demonstrations or classification issues.
Upon successful completion of a milestone, the Performer will submit a Certificate of Completion (CoC) to the Government and NSTXL for review and approval. Most CoCs are signed within 2-3 days; however, deliverables that require extensive technical testing may take longer for signature. NSTXL PMs address open CoCs with the Government on a weekly basis to ensure they are reviewed in a timely manner.
For projects that are funded by the Government in advance, NSTXL pays approved invoices within thirty calendar days of receipt.
At the bottom of any NSTXL email, there is a manage preferences button where you can update your email preferences. If you are not able to locate an email, please reach out to our team at membership@nstxl.org and we can assist.
You can find a copy of the PoE and any template of the Performer’s Agreement by OTA under Dashboard > My Account > Important Documents.
We do not provide membership numbers. You can see proof of membership by going to Dashboard > My Account > Subscriptions & User Management.
You can add users by going to Dashboard > My Account > Subscriptions and User Management > Subscriptions > Sub Accounts > Add New Sub Account. Make sure to check the box that says to send them the welcome email as they will receive an email asking them to set their password for login.
To change Point of Contact for your account, please email membership@nstxl.org with the name and email of the new POC.
You can reach out to the corresponding acquisition team and they should be able to help with your request:
S2MARTS: s2marts@nstxl.org
SpEC: space@nstxl.org
Yes, all subscriptions are set to auto-renew when you sign up for membership. If you prefer your account to not be on auto-renewal, please contact our team.
If your billing information is up to date, membership automatically renews one year after your original payment date.
To update your billing information, navigate to My Account > Subscriptions and User Management in the dashboard. Go to Subscriptions and select Update.
Once you input your billing information your membership will automatically renew one year after your “created” date. Your expiration date will be one year from then. If you cancel, you will have access to NSTXL until your membership expires.
For additional renewal payment options including ACH, please email membership@nstxl.org
To locate your W9, login to your member dashboard, click on ‘My Account.’ Under ‘My Account’ click on ‘Important Documents.’ You will find your W9 under this tab.
Networking Nights are exclusive, in-person events for our members, held in conjunction with industry tradeshows. These gatherings usually feature a presentation by a program director or an industry-leading guest speaker. Following the presentation, NSTXL hosts a teaming reception where you can connect with other consortium members working in similar capability areas as you.
Project TALX events ignite conversations around specific opportunities and strengthen industry’s efforts to submit well-informed and effective solutions.
NSTXL’s Project TALX act as a pre-solicitation or post-solicitation virtual industry day, giving interested innovators the chance to hear directly from the government and ask additional questions, leading to more successful projects and eliminating future roadblocks.
Innovator NETWORX events are designed to foster an open discussion between members, facilitated by the NSTXL team. Opportunities that engage multiple innovators can lead to more successful prototypes, which is why we created a program that makes it easy for members to find and vet potential teaming partners.
NSTXL’s Innovator NETWORX is a virtual teaming event that gives our innovators the opportunity to communicate directly with companies who are open to teaming on a specific opportunity. During the hour-long event, participants share the opportunity-specific capabilities their companies offer, their past experience working with the DoD (what projects they worked and in what capacity), why they would be a strong teaming partner, the role they would play in the opportunity (Prime or Sub), and more. Participants are encouraged to continue the conversation after the event by joining the opportunity teaming board on NSTXL Community.
An OTA is an acquisition method authorized under Title 10 U.S.C. §4021– (formerly 2371). Congress authorized its use to accelerate the prototyping and deployment of technologies that address national security needs. OTAs also provide a great deal of flexibility compared to more traditional government contracts for both the Government and industry user to enable rapid acquisition of innovative technologies. They are a quicker, more commercially friendly way of competing for prototype funding from the federal government. What makes OTAs different is their focus on nontraditional contractors, meaning companies with little or no experience working with the Department of Defense. For more information on OTAs, please click here.
NSTXL currently manages two different OTA contracts. As a member, you can have access to the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) OTA. As well as the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) OTA, given that a DD2345 form is provided. You can see full lists of S2MARTS tech areas here and SpEC tech areas here. Read more about our different OTAs below.
The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT contracting vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts. You can see full lists of S2MARTS tech areas here.
S²MARTS Research is creating a more connected and streamlined Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) ecosystem, uniquely positioned to better establish the relationship between research and prototyping. Operating under the 10 U.S.C 4021 authority, the S²MARTS Research consortium can carry out research projects that meet the needs and requirements of the government at any stage, allowing for a natural transition from research to prototype development.
The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) was created in 2017 to bridge the cultural gap between military buyers, commercial space startups and small businesses through Other Transaction Authorities (OTA). The OTA innovative contracting process allows SpEC to solicit bids from a mix of member companies including companies that have not previously done work with the Department of Defense. SSC recently awarded management of the SpEC OTA to NSTXL to expedite the contracting between government and industry. NSTXL is focused on building a network of innovators and creators across the most sought-after emerging technology fields.
The Microelectronics Commons program was awarded in 2023 to strengthen American manufacturing, supply chains, and national security. By investing in this network of 8 regional prototyping Hubs with a focus in 6 main technology areas – 5G/6G, AI Hardware, Commercial Leap-Ahead, Electromagnetic Warfare, Secure Edge/IoT Computing and Quantum Technology – the United States is safeguarding our critical microelectronics supply chain. The Microelectronics Commons was awarded through the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) OTA, managed by NSTXL, which is the premier rapid OT contracting vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas.
Those who are interested in contributing their capabilities in support of the Microelectronics Commons program must join a Hub. Connect with a Hub here.
A non-traditional defense contractor is an entity that is not currently performing and has not performed, for at least the one-year period preceding the solicitation of sources by DoD for the procurement or transaction, any contract or subcontract for the DoD that is subject to full coverage under the cost accounting standards prescribed pursuant to section 1502 of title 41 and the regulations implementing such section (see 10 U.S.C. 2302(9)).
Most entities will find they qualify as Non-traditional Defense Contractors, because:
- They are a small business exempt from CAS requirements
- They exclusively perform contracts under commercial procedures
- They perform exclusively under FFP contracts with adequate price competition
- They perform less than $50M in CAS covered efforts during the preceding cost accounting period
Yes. A traditional contractor may still receive project awards under the OTA given that at least one of the following conditions is met: 1) the traditional contractor includes one or more non-traditional contractors or nonprofit research institutions to perform a significant portion of the billable work; 2) the traditional contractor includes a nontraditional contractor with a technology that is critical to the success of the prototype; 3) the traditional contractor provides for a one-third cost share on the project.
A Facility Clearance Level (FCL) is a determination made by the Government that a contractor is eligible for access to classified information. A contractor must have an FCL commensurate with the highest level of classified access (Secret or Top Secret) required for contract performance.
The most valuable benefit of joining NSTXL is the ability to bid on our exclusive solicitations. Our government customers mandate that you must be a member to submit a bid. NSTXL also offers many other benefits to its members, including:
- Membership to all of the OTAs we manage.
- Ability to sign up as many members of your firm as you like, so that multiple team members can track their own areas of interest.
- A Learning Center with webinars, videos, and other member-only content to give you an edge on winning work and preparing for solicitations.
- Access to a member community where your firm can interact with other members (find bidding partners, discuss new prototypes, expand your professional network etc).
- A customizable Opportunity Tracker that allows you to track opportunities and technology areas, ensuring you never miss out on an opportunity.
- Access to exclusive member-only events at major commercial and government conferences.
To become a member of NSTXL, ensure you have a CAGE code, Unique Entity ID (UEI), and if applicable, a JCP-signed Form DD2345. Once you meet these criteria, complete the Membership Application. Submit your application along with payment and following a brief (usually 1 business day) requirement review, your membership will be activated. Should you have any inquiries during the process, don’t hesitate to contact us at membership@nstxl.org.
Yes, each organization is required to have a CAGE code. If a company has conducted business with the U.S. Government, it should include their CAGE code on their Membership Application. All applying members are required to include their CAGE code when submitting the Membership Application.
The Commercial and Government Entity Code, or CAGE Code, is a unique identifier assigned to suppliers to various government or defense agencies, as well as to government agencies themselves and various organizations. CAGE codes provide a standardized method of identifying a given facility at a specific location.
A CAGE code and a DUNS number are required to become a member at NSTXL.
The DD2345 form is a Military Critical Technical Data Agreement and is required to access SpEC opportunities. You will find the most helpful information about the DD2345 form process on the DLA website, where you can see a link to the form itself as well as instructions and FAQs. According to Joint Certification Program (JCP), the office that approves DD2345 forms, the processing time for the application fluctuates depending on delivery method to their office and the volume of applications received.
If you do not currently have a DD2345 form but plan to get one, you can still apply to become a member at NSTXL and we will update your access to SpEC opportunities as soon as you send the form over to our team.
Membership dues are based on company total annual revenue in the previous 12-month period. You can see where you would fall on the chart at the bottom of this page.
By becoming a member of NSTXL, you have the ability to add unlimited users from your team to your account! For more information about how to do this, you can reach out to membership@nstxl.org.
Yes, teaming is allowed and encouraged. Find your next teaming partner(s) on NSTXL Community!
When completing your membership application, be sure to click “opt-in” to share your company’s information. This will add your company to our Membership Database, allowing other members to explore your capability areas. If you missed this step, simply contact our membership team to be included in the database.
Additionally, when you sign up for NSTXL Community, you can highlight your company’s technology areas in your profile for others to see.
The primary POC for your company’s account can register unlimited additional users. For more information on how to do this, please reach out to membership@nstxl.org.
We offer membership to NSTXL, which provides your firm access to all of our OTAs. NSTXL is currently the consortium manager for two OTAs: Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) and Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC), but we are bidding on many more. As we manage more OTAs, there is no additional membership fee – just more opportunities for your firm to grow.
No, NSTXL does not add a cost on top of the Performer’s Project invoice or take a percentage of the invoice. NSTXL is paid a management fee by the Government which is a percentage of the total Project Award. This fee does not affect the nominal value of the award to the Performer.
Once a performer(s) has been selected based on the evaluation of white papers or solutions by the government, NSTXL will enter into a Performers Agreement with the selected vendor(s). This takes approximately 3-5 business days after NSTXL has been notified of the selection by the government. Every agreement is different and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the vendor and government program office.
Can a large company benefit from being a NSTXL member, or is it only for nontraditional contractors?
Traditional defense contractors can greatly benefit from engaging with NSTXL in a variety of ways: NSTXL encourages teaming agreements among members (traditional and non-traditional) to deliver solutions. NSTXL events also offer traditional contractors opportunities to identify business opportunities with innovative technologies from start-ups, universities, and incubators that engage in technology challenges and showcases.
Yes, the NDAA FY18 made changes to the Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) and Small Business Technology Transfer (“STTR”) programs (Section 864: Other Transaction Authority for Certain Prototype Projects). This (1) increases the amount of funding that can be authorized through the rapid prototyping program from $50 to $100 million for Department Secretaries and from $250 to $500 million for the Secretary of Defense and (2) specifically authorizes SBIR and STTR firms to compete for such funding through the Other Transaction Authority (“OTA”) contracting vehicle. 10 U.S.C. §4022– (formerly 2371b).
You can easily find teaming partners on NSTXL Community. On this member-only platform, you can search and filter through the membership database to identify potential teaming partners that can meet your project needs (i.e. based on technology area, compliance status, and more). Once you find someone that is a good fit, you can talk with them directly by using the chat feature. If you have any further questions about navigating Community, you can reach out to membership@nstxl.org.
NSTXL Community is a members-only platform that provides invaluable connections to hundreds of like-minded innovators, along with insider access to opportunity updates, upcoming events, and more. You can join groups centered around specific opportunities, ask questions, vet skills, curate connections, and discover new partners.
Click here to go to NSTXL Community. Signing up is easy, as you will create a login with the same email that you use for your NSTXL account.
The Acquisition Team at NSTXL supports members in the following:
- Provides subject matter expertise in Government contracting and Other Transactions requirements, processes, and associated documents
- Facilitates and coordinates Solicitation Release and Q&A
- Receives proposed solutions and provides to Government for evaluation (note: NSTXL is not involved in the selection process or final decision)
- Provide Government selection decision notifications to all respondents
- Coordinate & host follow-on exchanges, including clarifications, discussions, and/or negotiations with selected performer and Government, as necessary
- Prepares and administers project prototype agreements, awards and modifications, with Government-selected Performers
- Engages, informs, and collaborates with Government and Performer on strategies and modifications in support of the customer missions
Contract announcements and “Coming Soon” opportunities include technology areas that are defined and described by government clients and in alignment with technology areas listed above and on the NSTXL website. NSTXL will help to clarify matches with your technology capabilities when needed.
S2MARTS prototype project requests are publicly posted on the NSTXL and specific consortium websites. Non-members will be able to download and review the full request and requirement for S2MARTS opportunities. However, SpEC is not publicly released and requires a DD2345 to be completed and membership to access. You must be a member of NSTXL to submit a response to any request. For more information on NSTXL membership, click here.
All contracts and subcontracts with small businesses are exempt from all CAS requirements (FAR 9903.201-1(b)(3)).
The Government’s requirements and desired outcomes are defined for each project solicitation. Note that the solicitation for S2MARTS is referred to as Request for Solutions (RFS) and SpEC is referred to as Request for Prototype Proposal (RPP). Included in the solicitation are specific instructions regarding the contents and format for your submission. It is critical that you review and comply with all the stated requirements and submission instructions to ensure your submission is compliant. If there are any areas of uncertainty or further clarification is needed, please submit your question(s) to NSTXL to assist.
A non-traditional defense contractor is an entity that is not currently performing and has not performed, for at least the one-year period preceding the solicitation of sources by DoD for the procurement or transaction, any contract or subcontract for the DoD that is subject to full coverage under the cost accounting standards prescribed pursuant to section 1502 of title 41 and the regulations implementing such section (see 10 U.S.C. 2302(9)).
Most entities will find they qualify as non-traditional defense contractors, because:
- They are a small business exempt from CAS requirements
- They exclusively perform contracts under commercial procedures
- They perform exclusively under FFP contracts with adequate price competition
- They perform less than $50M in CAS covered efforts during the preceding cost accounting period
NSTXL releases prototype project requests on demand, year-round. The requesting program offices will determine the frequency of the release of prototype project requests.
The Government requirement sponsor will identify subject matter experts appropriate to conduct a fair and reasonable evaluation and provide selection recommendations to the Agreements Officer. NSTXL is not involved in the selection process or final decision.
Each project timeline differs in complexity and structure based on the requirement.
Under an OTA, IP and Data Rights are negotiated on a project-by-project basis prior to the final agreement. Each solicitation provides the SUPPLEMENTAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & PATENT RIGHTS AGREEMENT (SIPRA) for review and completion to be submitted with your solution for Government consideration and evaluation. Consideration is given to existing IP and data. Commercial and proprietary IP and data developed prior to engagement on specific prototype efforts remain the sole property of the vendor.
Cost sharing is a statutory requirement for an Other Transaction when a non-traditional contractor is not participating to a significant extent. Cost Sharing is when one-third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be provided by sources other than the Federal Government. Cost sharing can be represented as cash or in-kind value.
A prototype project can generally be described as a preliminary pilot, test, evaluation, demonstration, or agile development activity used to evaluate the technical or manufacturing feasibility or military utility of a particular technology, process, concept, end item, effect, or other discrete feature. Prototype projects may include systems, subsystems, components, materials, methodology, technology, or processes. By way of illustration, a prototype project may involve: a proof of concept, a pilot, a novel application of commercial technologies for defense purposes; a creation, design, development, validation, demonstration of technical or operational utility; or combinations of the foregoing, related to a prototype.
There is no statutory definition of “Significant Extent/Participation”; however, examples of what might be considered a significant contribution include:
- Will supply a new key technology, product or process
- Will supply a novel application or approach to an existing technology, product or process
- Will provide a material increase in the performance, efficiency, quality or versatility of a key technology, product or process
- Will accomplish a significant amount of the prototype project
- Will cause a material reduction in the cost or schedule of the prototype project
- Will provide for a material increase in performance of the prototype project
The Government will determine “significant extent/participation” in their evaluation of the solutions. It is the responsibility of the prime to provide justification to support how they meet this requirement when utilizing non-traditional teaming to meet the statutory requirement to participate a traditional Prime in an OT agreement.
Yes, compliance with EARS and ITAR is mandatory for all firms, regardless of size. Both the Government and NSTXL understand that complying with Export Controls (EARS and ITAR) demands more resources. The Government is required to identify projects requiring Export Control at the project’s ideation stage. This early identification gives Consortium Members sufficient information to decide whether to participate, as these projects will require additional steps and resources.
Yes, some projects may be classified programs. The Government will identify projects requiring use of classified data in the solicitation and provide additional information regarding receipt and submissions of classified documentation. Classified programs require the close involvement of the Government’s security staff to assess and approve Consortium Members for access and control of classified data.
