# NSF X-Labs Initiative – AI for Physical Systems Topic Announcement

Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/nsftopic3fy26xlabsphysicalai

- Solicitation number: NSF-Topic3-FY26-XLabsPhysicalAI
- Notice type: Solicitation
- Status: Open. Offers due January 7, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST
- Department: National Science Foundation
- Contracting office: Directorate for Technology, Innovation, & Partnerships (491500)
- NAICS: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Product or service code: AJ12 General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Applied Research
- Place of performance: Alexandria, Virginia
- County: City of Alexandria (FIPS 51510). https://abierto.us/counties/city-of-alexandria-va-51510
- City: Alexandria. https://abierto.us/cities/alexandria-va-5101000
- First posted: September 16, 2026
- Last posted: September 16, 2026
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d1c1cd8147fb4a3e88ba6c58402748fe/view

## Description

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), is soliciting Written Proposals under the NSF X-Labs Initiative for the AI for Physical Systems Topic. NSF seeks innovative, early stage platform technologies that advance intelligent, adaptive, and scalable AI systems operating in or interfacing with the physical world, including robotics, embodied systems, human robot interfaces, advanced sensing, and cyber physical systems. NSF anticipates making one or more Other Transaction (OT) awards under 42 U.S.C. § 19116.

## Attachments

- [Attachment C - Question Submission Template.pdf](https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/7bd3bad064cb405fbdc1e8ae068f9289/download)

## Publications

- September 16, 2026: Solicitation, due January 7, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST. Notice 2f43e8f885e64afa84b831f1357824f0. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/2f43e8f885e64afa84b831f1357824f0/view
- September 16, 2026: Solicitation, due January 7, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST. Notice 4e209132c1cd4720856b490f43ec19e4. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/4e209132c1cd4720856b490f43ec19e4/view
- September 16, 2026: Solicitation, due January 7, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST. Notice 51965d0b5dcf4b5ab00551239b765874. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/51965d0b5dcf4b5ab00551239b765874/view
- September 16, 2026: Solicitation, due January 7, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST. Notice d1c1cd8147fb4a3e88ba6c58402748fe. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d1c1cd8147fb4a3e88ba6c58402748fe/view

## Points of contact

- X-Labs, XLabs@nsf.gov

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Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/nsftopic3fy26xlabsphysicalai.