STRATFI/TACFI
The Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) and Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) program catalyze the relationships between the United States Space Force (USSF), private-sector innovators, and investors. These programs bridge the capability gap between current SBIR/STTR Phase II efforts and Phase III scaling efforts, facilitating the delivery of strategic capabilities for the USSF.
In 2023, the SpaceWERX team invested $72M in its strategic and tactical funding increase matching program. The matching program provided additional development reach for both dual use and military specific technologies. The program by capturing the outside investments stretched that investment to over $125M benefit across 14 promising technologies programs to accelerate these war winning technologies to the field and into the hands of our guardians. Our program is designed to mature technology through additional investments to mature technology by utilizing small business ingenuity to get after national space needs.
SpaceWERX awarded 142 space-focused contracts through the technology-agnostic Open Topic Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program in 2023. These awards, reflecting SpaceWERX’s dedication to fostering technology excellence, boast a projected value of $151 million. The breadth of research and development work being conducted underscores our pivotal role in shaping the future of the industry.
SpaceWERX STRATFI Spotlight
Check out what some of the SpaceWERX STRATFI awardees have to say about how the program has helped their small business, presented during a panel presentation at Fed Supernova 2024.
Starfish Space
Program Year 24.1 Awardee
Orbit Fab
Program Year 22 Awardee
STRATFI/TACFI Showcase
The below list represents the recent history of SpaceWERX STRATFI/TACFI awards. Further detail about each of these can be viewed in the SpaceWERX Portfolio.
| Award Date | STRATFI-TACFI Portfolio | Organization Name | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-12 | Hypersonics | VARDA SPACE INDUSTRIES, INC. | Orbital reentry capsule with reentry capabilities from low earth orbit with land recovery. |
| 2023-09-15 | Space | ABL Space Systems | Provide operational flexibility for low-cost tactical launches via low-cost, modular systems can be distributed at multiple parallel sites until needed, then tasked. |
| 2023-06-26 | Human Systems | OMNI FED LLC | Develop and enhance Digital U Platform’s by advancing new eLearning tools; empowering the warfighter of tomorrow through education. |
| 2023-06-07 | Software-Cyber | MZA ASSOCIATES CORPORATION | Software module to improve usage of high energy laser on B-52 aircraft. |
| 2022-09-20 | Space | Orbital Sidekick, Inc. | Six imaging satellite constellation used for hyperspectral monitoring capabilities. |
| 2022-09-18 | Space | ORBIT FAB INC | Operationalize in-orbit refueling for the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) future missions. |
| 2022-08-24 | Hypersonics | CFD RESEARCH CORPORATION | Hypersonic wind tunnel test bed capable of a run time greater than 15 minutes. |
| 2022-08-16 | Energy | Zeno Power Systems, Inc. | A nuclear radioisotope power system (RPS) to power Very Low Earth Orbit satellites; recycles nuclear waste for clean energy in space. |
| 2022-07-11 | Energy | MicroLink Devices | Extensive radiation testing to qualify light-weight and flexible solar cells for space applications; creates 3rd domestic supplier. |
| 2022-02-23 | Space | Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. | Software that addresses the space domain warfighting challenges with the tools to model real operational threats, analyze alternatives and courses of action. |