What types of technical expertise does the Division of Astronomical Sciences prioritize?

The division prioritizes vendors with expertise in precision mechanical engineering, advanced optics, radio frequency instrumentation, and high-performance computing required for processing massive astronomical datasets.

Does this division primarily award contracts for research or for facility operations?

It awards both, but a significant portion of procurement is dedicated to the long-term operations, maintenance, and technical upgrades of large-scale, ground-based observatory facilities and their scientific infrastructure.

How can small businesses position themselves for work with this division?

Small businesses should highlight their capabilities in specialized hardware fabrication or niche scientific software development, as the division frequently seeks innovative solutions for upgrading existing telescope systems rather than just general facility support.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION · Contracting Office

DIVISION OF ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES

1 solicitations and awards tracked for this contracting office.

Contracting office1 solicitationsUnder NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Solicitations

Federal records indexed

Source

Federal

Federal procurement data

Sub-Agency

NATIONAL SCIENCE

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Agency

NATIONAL

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

About

Acquisition authority and contracting profile of DIVISION OF ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES.

The Division of Astronomical Sciences supports the development and operation of ground-based optical and radio telescopes and associated instrumentation. Vendors compete for contracts involving specialized engineering, high-precision optical manufacturing, facility maintenance for remote observatories, and scientific data management software.

Hierarchy: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION · NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.

Contracting officers at this office issue solicitations under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Vendors must be registered in the federal procurement system with a valid CAGE code to receive awards.

Opportunity activity heatmap (2024-present)

Monthly posted opportunity volume from 2024 onward. Darker = more indexed records.

Count-basedPeak month: 12024-2026

2024

2025

2026

This view uses monthly opportunity counts from the public dataset. Monthly obligation dollars are not available on these pages.

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DIVISION OF ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES contracting FAQ

Common questions about DIVISION OF ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES, the parent hierarchy, and how vendors should track this contracting office.