Director's Innovation Initiative

The Director's Innovation Initiative provides a risk-tolerant environment to invest across the United States in cutting edge technologies and high payoff concepts relevant to the NRO's mission of Innovative Overhead Intelligence Systems for National Security.

Program Objectives

• Provide continuous access to revolutionary concepts and ideas
• Provide access to non-traditional developers of NRO technology and broaden the developer base
• Establish a risk tolerant environment for conducting potentially high payoff projects

Program Philosophy

• Reach out to a broad range of potential offerors
  • UNCLASSIFIED solicitation via Federal Business Opportunities
  • Open to industry, academia and US Government sources
• Seek a wide range of ideas
  • Areas of Interest reflect the NRO Strategic Goals
  • Most innovative ideas are funded -- no quotas for any given area
• Prove feasibility of key concepts
  • Fund many ideas by limiting project funding and duration
• Goal is 10 – 15% of completed projects developed further

Architecture of the Future Program (ArchF)

The Architecture of the Future (ArchF) Program is an open Broad Area Announcement (BAA), built using the FY19 AS&T BAA/GSSA Framework - Innovation with Intent, with multiple broad Areas of Interest to present traditional and non-traditional developers an opportunity to participate in building the NRO of the 21st century by presenting innovative ideas. Innovative ideas can be submitted through 30 September 2020. Period of Performance not to exceed 12 months. Visit here for more information.

Tactical Defense Space Reconnaissance Program

The Tactical Defense Space Reconnaissance (TacDSR) Program expeditiously develops, matures, and integrates technologies that enhance the access, content, and timeliness of NRO Overhead Systems data products and services for the Warfighter. The program accomplishes this objective by pursuing highly selective, short duration, high pay-off Research and Development activities, funding about 30 such projects each year. 

Request an NRO Speaker

Do you want to invite an NRO speaker to your event?  Fill out the NRO Speaker Invitation Request Form and email to publicaffairs@nro.mil

Contracting Opportunities

Learn about contracting opportunities with the NRO.

May 16, 2019- The National Reconnaissance Office, Advanced Systems and Technology Directorate, Future Concepts Group has released the Director's Innovation Initiative (DII) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and Government Sources Sought Announcement (GSSA). Registration is  from May 16, 2019 1300 ET until July 17, 2019 1300 ET.