Other Transactions (OTs) are procurement instruments other than contracts, grants or cooperative agreements that provide an opportunity for flexible business arrangements to acquire R&D to support technology advancement or to quickly develop a prototype. Most laws and regulations governing federal contracts do not apply to OTs (i.e., Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)), however, the Procurement Integrity Act applies, and competitive practices are applicable.  OTs provide flexibility that allows for increased speed, flexibility, and accessibility for research and prototyping activities than permitted under statutes and regulations that apply to traditional FAR based contracts.

• Federal funding can be obligated quickly. 
• An OTA is not a contract, grant or cooperative agreement. As a result, an OTA is not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or its supplements.
• Government rights to intellectual property are generally minimal and negotiable.
• Competition is required only to the maximum extent practicable.
• Government is permitted to openly discuss requirements and to collaborate with contractors to obtain the best approach for developing technology.
• OTA projects generally are awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis. 

Cornerstone Other Transaction Authority (OTA) is established to create a flexible mechanism for a public-private collaboration across a range of specific Industrial Base sectors and requirements in order to strengthen the US Industrial Base and improve US competitiveness. Cornerstone will provide the means to bring together industry (to include private funding entities) and government stakeholders through a structured engagement forum.

SpEC builds partnerships between commercial industry, the civil space sector and others to leverage increased flexibility and agility, reduce cost, improve technology and capability insertion and decrease cycles in the development and deployment of next generation space technologies. SpEC collaboration and prototype development reduces risk and increases constellation refresh rates to improve the availability of new technology on-orbit and improve system responsiveness and survivability. The goals emphasize more frequent, regularly scheduled launches and spacecraft designed to fit on standardized launchers with standardized interfaces for faster, more predictable access to space.

Customers supported: Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center

The Consortium was specifically formed to address the needs of the Department of Defense (DoD). It is founded on a simple concept that collaboration, innovation, and cooperation among a broad spectrum of industry, academia and non-profits vastly improves the products and services delivered to its clients. This concept, combined with a competitive environment among Consortium membership, supported by quality oversight by SOSSEC, Inc., ensures low-risk, lowest-cost and the best-of-breed delivery of prototype solutions to our clients. Most traditional companies do not provide the breadth of capabilities the Consortium can provide.

Customers supported: Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, etc.