Awarding FFP subcontracts under CPFF contract with intermittent funding

Experts,

We are currently performing under a DoD CPFF research contract. I would like to award a FFP subcontract to perform a study for us, which ideally would be over a 9 month period. However, the CPFF contract is intermittently funded, and at the time of placing the FFP subcontract, we would not have the funds for the full 9 months. Thinking outside of the box (but still within the FAR), how could I do this? Could I do it in three month periods, with two additional options? Each period would have a final report deliverable. Perhaps I could award a FFP-LOE with subclins, however I do want to avoid the impression that I'm essentially faking a T&M subcontract.

Our contract does have FAR 52.244-2 Subcontracts (2020), and with regards to (c)(2)(I), the overall value would be less than 5% of the total cost of the contract.