Funder: Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command
Due Dates: April 4, 2029 (final deadline) | Rolling submissions accepted until deadline
Funding Amounts: No specified ceiling or floor; award size and duration vary by project. Multiple award types (contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, OTAs) possible.
Summary: Supports basic and applied research on disruptive technologies to enhance Army capabilities, with broad eligibility and flexible funding mechanisms.
Key Information: Whitepaper submission is strongly encouraged before full proposal; topics are broad and proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
Description
This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from the Army Applications Lab (AAL), under the U.S. Army Futures Command, seeks proposals for basic and applied research in disruptive technology areas that can significantly enhance Army capabilities and create first-mover advantages for both military and civilian applications. The BAA is open to a wide range of research topics relevant to Army modernization priorities, including but not limited to autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, advanced sensing, quantum technologies, human performance, contested logistics, and more.
The BAA is designed to foster innovation by engaging academia, industry, non-profits, and other organizations in developing novel solutions that address current and future Army needs. Proposals may include studies, modeling and simulation, technology demonstrators, prototypes, and feasibility analyses. The BAA supports a variety of award instruments, including contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions (OTs).
Due Dates
- Final application deadline: April 4, 2029
- Rolling submissions: Proposals and whitepapers are accepted at any time until the closing date.
- Special topics: May have additional deadlines, announced on the AAL website.
Funding Amount
- Award size: No specified minimum or maximum; varies by project scope and funding mechanism.
- Award types: Contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions (OTs) are possible.
- Number of awards: Up to 1,000 anticipated, subject to availability of funds.
- Cost sharing: Not required for most awards; may be required for certain OT agreements.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants:
- Institutions of higher education (domestic and foreign)
- Nonprofit organizations
- State and local governments
- For-profit organizations (large and small businesses)
- Foreign organizations and public entities
- Research focus: Proposals must be for basic or applied research, not for the development of a specific system or hardware procurement.
- Place of performance: No restrictions.
- Special notes: Security restrictions may apply to foreign entities; FFRDCs may apply if allowed by their sponsor.
Application Process
1. Preliminary Inquiry (Optional)
- Applicants are encouraged to make preliminary inquiries via the AAL website to assess alignment with Army needs.
2. Whitepaper Submission (Strongly Encouraged)
- Submit a whitepaper through the AAL website.
- Whitepapers should outline the proposed research, innovation, Army relevance, and potential impact.
- Feedback is typically provided within 30 days if requested.
3. Full Proposal Submission
- If encouraged, submit a full proposal via Grants.gov (for grants/cooperative agreements) or by email (for contracts).
- Proposals must follow the detailed instructions in the BAA, including required forms, technical content, budget, and supporting documents.
- Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) is required prior to award.
4. Review and Selection
- Proposals are evaluated on scientific/technical merit, Army relevance, cost realism, team qualifications, and past performance.
- Awards are subject to availability of funds and may be made at any time during the open period.
Additional Information
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Research Areas of Interest:
- Autonomous platforms (ground/air)
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Data visualization and synthetic environments
- Assured position, navigation, and timing (PNT)
- Power generation and management
- Advanced sensing
- Secure communications and networks
- High-performance computation
- Space technologies
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Quantum technologies
- Signature reduction
- Soldier protection and human performance
- Contested logistics
- Kinetic payloads
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Award Administration:
- Awards may be made as contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or OTAs, at the government's discretion.
- Reporting requirements and compliance with federal regulations apply.
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Cost Sharing:
- Not required for most awards, but may be proposed or required for certain OTAs.
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Amendments:
- Applicants should regularly check Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and the AAL website for updates or amendments.
External Links
Contact Information